Charcoal Making Report

[Frosty]

Remember split the wood so it's no more than 3" in at least one direction so it'll pyrolize efficiently. For instance a 2" x 12" x 20' board is just fine because one dimension is under 3". Thicker and you'll start burning up charcoal as the centers coal, it's the point of diminishing returns.

Keeping it all about the same size is more efficient as well because the smaller wood will burn up while the thicker is coaling.

Have fun, I wish I were there. We could swap BS, roast some tasty campfire nibblets and maybe mash something while we watch the fire.

Frosty

[m_brothers]

I'm going to be making my charcoal tomorrow, got two 55gals. But I think they might be a little bigger. Im using one for my coal bin. It can easily hold about 400lb, max 500lb. I'm going to take pictures of the process and total results from tomorrow. 120lb. Hopefully gonna get 40-60lb.

[m_brothers]

Okay well for some reason, I can't edit my post(GRRRRRR). So the pictures are here. I won;t know until tomorrow morning how much I got back, but I'm thinking in the 40-50lb range. Started with 110lb about. Pictures attached. Glenn or Andrew if you could move the pictures to the second post that'd be great, otherwise, here are the pictures guys.

Picture 1- About 45 minutes before I put the lid on.
Picture 2- 3/5 through the burn.
Picture 3- Fire is finally going real good.
Picture 4- Lighting the fire.
Picture 5- The end result. Approx 47lb.

Weighed the wheel barrow on a scale and the wheel barrow with charcoal. Equals 47lb. Already used some of it, reaches welding heat easily, no fleas. (That's cool!!!) And doesn't burn up that fast. So It's kind of like a hybrid charcoal I think. Lol. In between coke and charcoal.


Many times when posts or images are moved up, or added to an existing earlier post, the flow of the thread is lost, due to new material being added out of sequence.

[HWooldridge]

The coalers in most third world countries make a brick retort big enough that you can walk inside. I also recall seeing them placing the logs vertically. It looks like you lost quite a bit of material before covering it so you may not get more than a few pounds. Of course, it's a good learning experience and you'll only get better with time.

[m_brothers]

I covered it when it was about halfway down and just starting to cool. I got a lot of charcoal. The pictures don't justify it. Lol.

[m_brothers]

Sorry for the double post, but I wanted to say that I got the resulting charcoal out today after school and did some forge welding. Just messing around, took a 3/8" round bar, and have welded itself back onto itself about 6 times. 32 layers. It's not damascus, but I wire brushed it and you can see the layers, kinda cool. Link to the pictures: Charcoal Making Report

[Scratch]

So how much charcoal did you end up with?

Maybe in terms of 5 gallon bucketfulls...?



You started with what, about 110 pounds of wood right?

EDIT: Never mind... I didn't see you added pics to that post above...

[m_brothers]

Yep, about 3 5 gallon buckets if I had to guess. Largest peice was about 3x3 or 2x2, but it was charcoal, and the smallest around 0.5x0.5. I think it went real good. I might do this more often. I will update this post with more information later.

[ChrisB]

Was the wood seasoned?

[m_brothers]

Sorry, I don't understand yor question Chris. WE cut the tree that I got the wood from about a year and two months ago. NOt compltely dry, but it was pretty dry. Pine wood, btw.