Would this produce charcoal suitable for forging?

[Gromgor]

Would this style of retort produce charcoal suitable for use in a forge? I've heard it thrown around as being used to make biochar for use in gardens and I'm curious to get your thoughts.

 

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.katanabuilders.com/katanablog/wp-content/gallery/55-gallon-drum-retort/barrel2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.katanabuilders.com/katanablog/55-gallon-drum-retort/&h=480&w=640&sz=75&tbnid=7ZDvpW-Vmxr3uM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=120&zoom=1&usg=__7_2eHmZtRC6tAo3mjTOlbbF9GJI=&docid=ooK7S7GYVFX9BM&sa=X&ei=cYRPUqObMsSVrAGr7YBo&ved=0CDcQ9QEwAQ

[EarthJuice]

I would think it would work

[Stephen Olivo]

That is actually what one sword smith used for a long time and then he started experimenting with different ways to get what he deemed to be the more desirable charcoal.  It all depends on what works.  all charcoal works just differently.  The more of the volitiles out seems to be less desirable as you want it turned to fully charcoaled but slowly and with out blasting the wood apart in the process as the volitiles are worth keeping for burning later.  There is some interesting information about what he does  http://www.katanabuilders.com/katanablog/55-gallon-drum-retort/

http://www.katanabuilders.com/katanablog/page/2/

Its like finishing something.  Its done when you decide it is.  They will make charcoal and you can forge with it.  

[Marksnagel]

This one works well for me.

 

'?do=embed' frameborder='0' data-embedContent>>

[Gromgor]

Found this while looking further into the links mentioned in this thread and then googling for more information.

 

http://www.whitecharcoal.com/history_country.php

 

It goes briefly in to how they make high grade charcoal that has a metallic sound to it when struck/snapped.

[eco redneck]

you need a lot of heat for it to work

[BIGGUNDOCTOR]

I have started with just chunks of wood in the forge, and had good results. I didn't want to wait for charcoal, and that is what it became anyways, soooooo.

[Frosty]

To get efficiency from that type of retort it needs to be covered to help retain heat or you end up building quite a fire under it just to get it going and even when it's burning pyrolization gasses most of the heat is lost to open air.

 

Except for an oven-like enclosure that's the basic design for an indirect charcoal retort. It's also the basic model for a wood heating system that's gaining popularity for it's efficiency the "wood gas" furnace. The more popular type is the outdoor wood boiler you may be familiar with, more are popping up up here all the time.

 

Frosty The Lucky.