Made some Charcoal

[fliptetlow]

Since I have a ton of live oak on 3 different brush piles I decided to made some charcoal. Using a 55 gal drum and the indirect method with scrap brush as a fuel source; first try did not turn out too bad.

Need to modify method and insulate the drum a bit more.

Ended up filling 2 1/2 large RO bags, 3 plastic Kingsford charcoal storage containers and filled both grill.

A bit of modification and I think it should work well.

Overall cook took about 6 hours yesterday.

 

[Tallbald]

That is very interesting to me. A few years ago I had to buy a bag of chunk charcoal in order to forge a railroad spike knife in a little bitty homemade forge. The charcoal was pricey of course. I read up on how it's made in third world countries (digging a burn pit, covering the fire with a sheet of metal and then dirt, to exclude oxygen, digging it out some time later) and wished I had the land again to try it myself. Congratulations! I'm tickled for you and would enjoy hearing how the results work. Don.

 

[fliptetlow]

Yea, Pine and other softwoods are used for open forge work along with true coal. Going to enlarge the pipe to 2" or 4" and make a steel frame to turn the whole thing horizontal and insulate the sides and top to hold the heat in.

 

[bluewhisper]

I've thought about making charcoal in the Weber kettle. I can snuff a fire if I close all of the vents.

 

[daveomak]

Have you read about using the "gas" that comes off of the heated, wood for a heat source ??

 

[fliptetlow]

The pipe runs below the drum and help heat the wood,just a bit too small. Needs to be 2-4" for better flow.