Trying the afterburner charcoal making method again...

[Missourian]

Tried this before and wasn't impressed...but Missus MO wanted me to try it again. She wants me to melt aluminum cans into ingots to maybe sandcast some things for her.

So afterburner charcoal making part two.

Original thread here.

Here is the video I'm attempting to emulate.



Video says look for red coals in the air vents...about 2½ hours.

Last time I went 2 hours.

This time within an hour the bottom barrel had a good bit of red coals in the air vents...so I sealed it up.

We'll know in the morning if it worked better this time.

Pics ...


Loaded barrel.

And we're off.

Good burn.

No flash.

Seal the airholes with dirt...or sand an slap a lid on the lower barrel.

Snuffed and sealed...here is when the magic happens.

 

[HereWeGoAgain]

While it's cool to make your own if I really wanted hardwood charcoal I just order it on the internet.

 

[1srelluc]

In my ancestor's AO they made charcoal for the Tredegar Iron Works in Richmond, Virginia during the Civil War....Their work was considered so vital that they were excused from the draft.

 

[Missourian]

While it's cool to make your own if I really wanted hardwood charcoal I just order it on the internet.

I'm with ya...but we're going to burn this yard debris either way. Might as well make it into something useful.

If this works, it actually takes less active time than just burning it.

Started at 7pm. The active part was done by 8:20.

 

[Missourian]

Sneaked a peek...

Promising, but not sure if there's enough penetration. Didn't want to give it too much air just it case.

 

[HereWeGoAgain]

I'm with ya...but we're going to burn this yard debris either way. Might as well make it into something useful.

If this works, it actually takes less active time than just burning it.

Started at 7pm. The active part was done by 8:20.

True.
If ya gotta burn it ya might as well make some charcoal with it.

 

[Grumblenuts]

Rocket stove, bit of fan action, no charcoal necessary:

Just grab balls and stick weld barefoot.

 

[Missourian]

Rocket stove, bit of fan action, no charcoal necessary:

Just grab balls and stick weld barefoot.

Might give that a shot. I have an expired air tank I could use for that.

 

[Missourian]

As I feared...an hour wasn't long enough...about half of the total didn't get enough heat penetration to make the transition into charcoal.

But I did get a good haul of charcoal and very little ash

Reloaded the wood that didn't make the transition...

...and then refilled the barrel for next time.

 

[The Duke]

As I feared...an hour wasn't long enough...about half of the total didn't get enough heat penetration to make the transition into charcoal.

View attachment 847152

But I did get a good haul of charcoal and very little ash

View attachment 847155

Reloaded the wood that didn't make the transition...

View attachment 847153

...and then refilled the barrel for next time.

View attachment 847154

What do you need charcoal for?

 

[Missourian]

What do you need charcoal for?

We have a coal forge and mrs mo wants me to build a coal fired foundry...plus BBQ of course.

 

[Grumblenuts]

Coke refreshes coal best.

 

[Missourian]

Two hours is tooooooo long.

Need a happy medium...

 

[Missourian]

Best haul yet yesterday.

Loaded it up and lit it, but then I kept adding wood to the top.

Burned two hours.

Capped it about four pm yesterday, opened at 11am.

Super penetration all the way through.


Still warm in the middle, so I capped it again.

It's almost a full drum... so it will last me awhile.