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  1. #1
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    Default Charcoal making : the process

    Good day members

    Since I commenced with some experimental forging work I noticed the need to make my own charcoal ..it will not be financial viable to purchase charcoal for use in my forge.

    Thus I had to surf the web for answers.
    I did find different methods to make charcoal and decided on two specific methods. I really think this method is extremely cheap/easy and fast...anybody can do it...please give feedback when you have made your first batch ...when packed full allow the fire to burn two hours with the after-burner drum on to in place . remove the afterburner drum and seal the bottom drum with the lid by placing heavy stones on the lid..close the holes at the bottom as well with sand so no air/oxygen can enter the drum...

    The first method is a charcoal burn from top to bottom...
    You need a :
    210 lt drum with a lid that can lock out the oxygen.
    210lt drum cut open on both sides
    wood to convert to charcoal.

    I used off-cut pine I got from a supplier. The best wood to use is black wattle and it is in large supply around the country since it is an invasive plant as well.

    Here is a few photos of the process:
    Filling the drum with dry wood pieces.



    The drum filled with wood ready to pack the fire on top:


    Starting the fire :


    Placing the afterburner drum on top :


    Burning for two hours, remove the afterburner drum and close with the lid..put something heavy on top and close holes with sand at the bottom.




    Excellent quality charcoal as the product:




    It is that easy....

  2. #2
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    Jun 2011
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    Cape Town
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    Default Re: Charcoal making : the process

    Awesome

    What size should the wood be, we have tons of black wattle on the farm

  3. #3
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    Feb 2012
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    Pretoria
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    Default Re: Charcoal making : the process

    Thanks for sharing, very interesting.

  4. #4
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    Nov 2014
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    Default Re: Charcoal making : the process

    Wow, would never of thought about this. Would love to see how the finished product works.. Nice find.

  5. #5
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    Virtutopia
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    Default Re: Charcoal making : the process

    Always with the interesting stuff Gert! Very cool!

  6. #6
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    Dec 2009
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    JHB
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    Default Re: Charcoal making : the process

    Anyone know where to get black wattle in JHB?

  7. #7
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    Jul 2009
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    Port Elizabeth
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    Default Re: Charcoal making : the process

    You sure about the Black Wattle?
    Here in the Eastern Cape, all its good for is making flames as it burns out quickly.
    Rooikrantz is the minimum for a decent braai

  8. #8
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    Default Re: Charcoal making : the process

    Quote Originally Posted by Nooby View Post
    Wow, would never of thought about this. Would love to see how the finished product works.. Nice find.
    Nooby, I have just braai some boere wors and sixty patties for a hamburger sale..the charcoal is extremely hot and burn very well...remember this is pine and not yet Black wattel that will for sure burn hotter...

  9. #9
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    Default Re: Charcoal making : the process

    I still will do two more projects in this regards....the bio-char charcoal ( charcoal burning in zero oxygen ) using the wood gasses coming from the wood to burn under the charcoal burner..using the gasses to burn the charcoal fire..and then converting standard coal to coke..by burning coal in and enclosed environment ( old geyser) to purify the coal and turn it into coke ( pure form of coal that burns at very high temperatures)..

    Will update as I make progress...

  10. #10
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    Default Re: Charcoal making : the process

    Quote Originally Posted by MyLani View Post
    You sure about the Black Wattle?
    Here in the Eastern Cape, all its good for is making flames as it burns out quickly.
    Rooikrantz is the minimum for a decent braai
    MyLani
    Black wattle /invasive trees are all excellent for making charcoal..remember..the wood will not burn away ..the afterburner is burning off all gases that escapes from the wood..without burning out..even the small thin pieces of wood I use to start the fire on top of the pine in the drum turns to charcoal without burning out..it is a chemical process ....

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