Homemade Charcoal - Building a Charcoal Retort

[@akryeguy]

I like it! My challenge up here (Rye, Colorado) is trying to use tons of pine needles and pine cones to fuel the retort. And I mean tons. One year I collected 23 bags 55 gallons each to burn under the supervision of the Fire Protection District. (They were plastic, so I had to unpack them, and keep them) This was done at the local gravel pit away from the forest. So, I figure I might create several special chambers fillled with the needles assisted with either forced air though the center, or just a lot if drill holes in an iron pipe. Any time I've ever tried to burn pine needles they just soldered. During a forest fire I imagine they get so hot that they suck oxygen right in regardless of how piled up they are. Anyway, good design!

[@droopy_eyes]

Why not just grind needles, soak them, and press bio briquettes out of them? Seems like less hassle and better end result in this scenario to me.

[@barthanes1]

Really nice design, and robust. I would put a longer pipe with some holes drilled in it to distribute the flames under the retort chamber more evenly. Also, you could turn it around on the trailer. This would allow you to tilt it backward for easier tighter filling of the retort chamber. With a charcoal retort you really want to pack it in there as tight as it will go.

[@buildfixeat]

You are right, it needs the pipe with directed heat. I was just worried about plugging the holes....Once the snow stops flying I'll bring it in and perform some much needed upgrades. Many Thanks

[@barthanes1]

@buildfixeat I understand about the holes getting plugged up, but they don't have to be that small. They only need to be small enough so it doesn't dump all of the flames in one spot. You could also make it removable.

[@Allison225merc]

Great looking retort! Mine isn't built as fance, but it's very efficient. It's almost as much fun making charcoal as it is making bbq.

[@buildfixeat]

It sure is!

[@cobre7717]

Made it too nice! Best bring it back inside. Living room charcoal production definitely wont fail wife inspections.

[@buildfixeat]

Thanks Cobre

[@chadjones4255]

This is so cool. I wish someone would manufacture a retort like this.

[@buildfixeat]

Thanks

[@bob-the-Millwright]

I like it! I will build one like it this fall / winter. Thank you for the video. Great idea.

[@xerlingx]

Among the smartest things I've seen on youtube and I've seen many!

[@buildfixeat]

Many Thanks, however I watched a lot of you tube videos before I figured it out lol

[@randalmoroski1184]

You nailed it man! Nice!

[@zodd0001]

It is a very good machine, but you should convert into a pyrolyzer, that means fumes emitted from woods are recovered. The tar collected has a very high value in the chemical industry.

[@buildfixeat]

Interesting

[@MrSeadawg123]

Who the hell buys that stuff though

[@koltoncrane3099]

Well it depends. Some wood makes pine tar or if you distill the gas by running it through a pipe and water condenser then it condenses into a liquid or gas. I think that’s how they make turpentine or other volatiles from wood.

[@koltoncrane3099]

But ya unless if you’re wanting to collect pine tar for water proofing or something you might as well burn it in the process of making charcoal.

[@bernardkeal5834]

Good welding skill well done.

[@MrGordy61]

One of the best builds I have seen 👍 I'll keep an eye out to see what tweeks you make. (1) I'd consider making a removable standpipe for the gas discharge hole in side the retort to keep char from falling in while burning, and a flat cap for that hole to keep char from falling in when you empty the char. (2) others already mentioned the extended tube with holes for a burner under the chamber. (3) If you still have the water heater outer shell, i'd put it over the outer tank and fill the gap with cheap fiberglass insulation. Google say's fiberglass melts at 1,300F, so should be fine, or go with rockwool which melts at 2,150f. Keeping the heat in should reduce your burn time.

[@dogdazetravellergarrett1367]

Excellent build....😎👍👍

[@oscarsagenev3717]

Simplemente exelente gracias

[@hardwareful]

Recessed grips would be awesome on the inner plate. And perhaps keyhole slots on the inner plate so that it can be just pushed inwards and dropped into place without removing the nuts every time. Inspiring build. Looking forward to tweaks and refinements.

[@buildfixeat]

Thanks Hardwareful, defiantly have some tweaks to do

[@watchthe1369]

I like the way you reuse the volatiles instead of just venting them. I would set up that burner tube to extend toward the middle of the retort, or maybe seal the end and drill some holes spaced to give you an even heat.

[@buildfixeat]

I agree. She will get some upgrades in the spring.

[@rayherriott6517]

You might consider directing the gas generated into the fire box.

[@DazFab_Metalworks]

Again nice work. turned out great.

[@buildfixeat]

Thank you so much 😃

[@Shvitty]

High quality charcoal, Time for a forge lol!

[@buildfixeat]

Lol it is next!!!!

[@gentoftevej]

Great job 👍👍👍👍

[@firsasjahdial1399]

thank

[@bilttsamson]

nice one..good job

[@mattwynia]

How you liking that Lincoln welder? Is that a 215? Thinking about getting one.

[@buildfixeat]

It is the 215. So far I'm really enjoying it. No issues with it yet.........only time will tell

[@bettinaripperger4159]

Any updates on this ? Did you do any modifications?

[@johnsykes706]

The only thing I missed was how the cook chamber lid sealed, was it a slide fit? By far the best build I have seen

[@buildfixeat]

Sorry for the delayed response. Its not a perfect seal, but the bottom head from the water tank fits in the pipe snug. There is enough back pressure that oxygen cant get in.

[@johnsykes706]

​@@buildfixeat Thanks for the reply I will be building a slightly smaller version of this soon. As I said, by far the best build I have seen.

[@QuiChiYang2]

Perfect biochar. Just needs 2b activated.

[@patriots1needed]

Nicely done.

[@buildfixeat]

Thanks!

[@samajier2566]

Mantab kawan

[@buildfixeat]

Thanks

[@CarbonConscious]

How is this holding up 10 months later? I'm building something similar at the moment out of stainless steel and will insulate the outer drum plus fire the whole thing with a biochar producing TLUD gasifier so I'm not burning any wood down to ashes

[@buildfixeat]

Still going strong, I've done about 12 batches this year. Stainless would be nice, could get it even hotter. Hope to see it on your channel.

[@rimzalia1362]

To increase the efficiency; wrap all the outer cylinder surface with Rockwool insulation to reduce heat loss to environment

[@tapovanfarms5517]

How can you use the excess heat productively?

[@MikeTrieu]

Isn't he already using it productively to drive off the wood gasses and to fully dry the product? Stealing heat from that process would only slow it down or even cause incomplete pyrolysis. Maybe you could use a little of that for cooking if you welded a flat plate somewhere near the burn chamber, kinda like how wood stoves are traditionally used.

[@ryan7829]

Very cool

[@buildfixeat]

Thanks

[@rayherriott6517]

My bad - I just realized that the generated gas is indeed going into the firebox!

[@EssGeeSee]

Every year I buy 1 bag of charcoal. We have 2 barbecues then get bored of all the faff. Starts again next year.

[@buildfixeat]

Your doing it wrong, you need to BBQ every week if not more.

[@SunilArora-x1o]

Soo gud

[@notgivennotgiven7776]

Never go full retort

[@buildfixeat]

I know who I am. I'm the dude playing the dude, disguised as another dude!

[@JavierJrSuico]

you have to burn a lot of good wood to make a bit of charcoal. I think there is no economic benefits.

[@hayrosapiens]

You need coal to reach higher temperature. By only this way Web can melt some kind of metals.