5 replies to this topic

[sasman]

hi
Just about to make some willow charcoal.have read the passfire article on charcoal,but have decided not to use the 45 gallon drum technique as i think its a bit messy and not sure if i can control the temp enuf....So i have decided to use an electric kiln.What is the best temprature for carbonization?..
i'm looking to make a nice fast bp for lift, etc...My kiln wont be able to make large batches of charcoal as would the 45 gallon drum but im hoping the more accurate temp control will make better consistancy.. my guess is about 800 centigrade? Also should i let the wood dry ? before i put it in the Kiln...Its a freshly cut willow tree....
Cheers
sasman

[bernie]

Sasman,

I have e-mailed you some information that might help. If you did not get the mail just drop me a PM.

Making charcaol has been done for ages without the use of an electric kiln. Have you set up the furnace and/or retort so the gases produced by the carbonization process are vented properly?

Making large batches of charcoal is just about as easy as small quantities in my opinion. The yield so low that getting a bit messy pays off in the long run.

Let us know how you make out.

(Rev. Lancaster notes on page 102 of P & P that somewhere below 500 C is recommended)

Edited by bernie, 19 February 2004 - 03:31 AM.

[Stuart]

When I make my charcoal I dont leave it to dry, I just cut the branch, strip it, saw, chop it and then I throw it in the cooker. There is usualy a lot left over to change to charcoal on diffrent occasions as there are some realy big trees in my garden.

Stuart

[sasman]

Cheers Bernie
Thanks for the info! I would have never thought to have looked in a book about about glitter..To find out about charcoal .Did you type all that info from the book?It must have took ages..the funny thing is .. i got that book for Xmas but not had time to read it yet.. (Glitter The Chemistry & Techniques.By L S Oglesby) The excerpt was pg 11 to pg 16.. quite a lot of typing to do! thanks for taking the time

As i write this i have 3lb of willow cooking in my electric Kiln at about 800.C ..Like you say Lancaster says about 500 C so i may be over cooking it, ill make severall batches at different temps and test them when i get around to making some BP ...

sasman

[Stuart]

I dont think you can over cook your charcoal as all your trying to do is to remove most of the impurities in the wood to get the carbon. Some stuff does stay behind though.

[bernie]

There's no way in hell I would have typed all that.

I looked all over the place last night in an effort to find an optimal cooking temp. I'm ashamed that the last place I looked was P & P. Your findings will prove very interesting.