Making Charcoal at Home Part 2: The Method(s)

Here in part 2 we get stuck into the actual making. Two methods go head to head, the way I used to do it many years ago verses one I've only just learnt about. After a bit of a poor first go we get a decent result second time around. I've described all my mistakes in detail so you can avoid them!
I ended up with 2 binloads of high quality charcoal which will be used in my next forging project.
The videos I mentioned are:
The new (to me) method
• Homestead Charcoal mak...
The barrel as pit kiln method
• Simplest Method For Pr...
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[@michaelashton2032]

I used to make charcoal. I used to get a catering sized coffee tin or similar, punch a few holes in it and pack it with varying diameter stripped willow. This went into the kiln with the normal logs and produced lovely charcoal drawing sticks

[@jimwood9849]

About 40 years ago I spent a few months living in Burgau in Portugal. I helped the villagers make charcoal on the beach. They dug a huge hole in the sand and lit a massive bonfire. Once the fire had burnt down to a huge pile of glowing embers, they covered it with sand until there was no sign of smoke. In the morning the sand was shoveled off, revealing a very large pile of perfect coals. I came home and adapted the method which ended up being identical to your first method. Only difference was, I kept feeding the fire until the embers were near the top of the drum and then covered them in sand. I probably used about 3-4 drums worth of wood which produced about 3/4 of a drum of charcoal.

[@TheInfoworks]

The joy of experimenting on camera, cheerts

[@rajeevadesilva7951]

As always maximum entertainment, thank you so much for sharing your knowledge

[@pauljones2633]

I’ve seen a retort method where they use a smaller drum inside a 45 gallon one instead of building a full on one. I’ve always wanted to try it.

[@ericcoyne6891]

Your videos really are some of the best on you tube. Keep it up max, much appreciated.. 👍

[@mattthescrapwhisperer]

Nice work Max! In the eastern portion of the state of Nevada here in the U.S., is a place called Beehive State Park. The park is on the site of an old charcoal facility. The place gets its name from the old kilns still on site that are shaped like beehives. The endeavor failed because they built it in the Eastern Nevada desert where wood is scarce (not very good planning) and long distances to towns and railroads.

[@melsmith2887]

We used to make charcoal in a big kiln; put a vertical post in the centre, fill with layers of wood, take central post out, drop in bucket of fire (burning kindling), white smoke is lignins being burnt off. when smoke becomes thin and only slightly blue put lid on, leave one small airhole facing away from wind, bank rest up with soil. Only exclude all air if burning too fast, roaring and smoke thickens again. Leave to smoulder all night. About 1/3rd volume yield.

[@ThyCorylus]

Brian Williamson is the Woodsman of Silk Wood in Westonbirt Arboretum. The wood is 45 acres, much of which I believe, was coppiced extensively in the past. That being said, they use the harvested wood and timber (from the oaks) for various purposes. One of which it charcoal, they use an Exeter Retort Kiln and some traditional ring kilns if I recall correctly. Brian is very knowledgeable and would probably be open to a visit and chat if you mucked in. The coppicing is overseen by Brian but volunteers play a major part too. That aside another classic Ironthumper practical experiment, entertaining and informative! The flue method will work best for us given proximity of neighbours.

[@fxm5715]

I've had pretty good luck with the open pit method, adding more wood as soon as the big flames start to die down, then dousing the fire with water when the pit is full and the big flames have died. I think using a barrel for an "open pit" charcoal burn doesn't let enough air in the sides, making it rather hit or miss as to how fully the wood is converted. Also dousing with water ensures there's no slow burn that eats up the remaining charcoal. Of course, you do end up with wet charcoal that needs time to dry out, but it seems to consistently give much higher yield for any given mass of source material. Thank you for sharing your experiment.

[@johncourtneidge]

Yes my Alltment masters wouldn't allow fires of any kind on site . . .

[@MartsGarage]

That was very interesting, Max. Showing the first attempt proves the lesson to always try again. Always an good watch when you post one up. All the best, Mart in Solihull.

[@gillie-monger3394]

I'd love to try this for myself Max - but the guy in the apartment below me probably wouldn't be too pleased!

[@martinjustice]

What a lovely little shovel, and another good video. Many thanks.

[@marksweetman8765]

Very interesting and well presented. Thanks for sharing 👍🏼

[@johnshaw4140]

Nice one Max , very informative

[@grenvillephillips6998]

Not quite Le quattro volte, but definitely getting there!

[@douglasgordon3530]

Great informative video using field experimentation. Would be great if you could one day do some field experiments making black diesel and biodiesel using your diesel landie. Thanks Max.

[@InfernalPasquale]

Wonderful as always. I've always been impressed with CodysLab charcoal videos, if you don't know about him already...

[@lisahodges8299]

Not many use an old fashioned range for cooking and heat, the hedge trimming are excellent for the job. I have processed many this year ready for winter. Birdy

[@---Kevin-J-Ripley---]

Thanks for a good watch of this v-log.

[@S1monH]

I have seen people using a smaller drum and sealing their wood inside it with only a couple of exhaust holes in the top and then dropping that into the larger drum like you have there and lighting a fire around it. Could be worth a try as well!

[@alaricsnellpym]

I've been experimenting with making charcoal to power a forge, too! I used your "old method" in an oil drum. I made sure the drum was full to the top with the wood on top burning merrily before I sealed it, rather than letting it be as burnt down as you did - the theory being that when it's sealed, although the fire goes out, the residual heat continues the reaction as it cools down so it's OK to seal it when there's still unconverted wood. I've now got a stainless steel beer keg I'm going to slice the top off of and reconnect with removable bolts (making sure it's not a tight seal so gas can escape) and will try packing it with good wood, then burying it in an oil drum fire with the leaky seal at the bottom so that emerging wood gas gets to burn in the outer fire. That way, the wood inside the keg should charcoal perfectly as it's always starved of oxygen and I don't need to be so careful with timings. Wish me luck!

[@gearsandtears7643]

Loving the video buddy

[@gigi3242]

Nice charcoal! Thanks Max

[@denveready3486]

Love the video, very informative I’ve watched hundreds of charcoal and biochar making videos and the retorts are the way to go Far less materials used and greater yields A 60 litre drum inside a 44 gallon drum design with steel pipe with holes in it back down to the fire underneath to re burn the wood gasses is definitely the most efficient way I’ve seen to make good quality charcoal consistently with no ash If you want to make smaller charcoal pieces to add to the soil to save on crushing time use wood chips , often you can get them for free Keep up the great work

[@byronmiddleton9943]

I use a slightly smaller barrel, fill with wood, plug the end with cardboard to stop the wood falling out. Upside down in your main fire barrel. surround with wood and set fire. the gas from the small barrel will leak out from cardboard and fuel your fire. you know its cooked when the outside fire suddenly consumes all the wood as the gas stops. then just chuck a bucket of water in the outer barrel to seal the inner barrel and put the fire out. you'll then have a full inner barrel of charcoal. reliable100% of the time without the guess work

[@torque9889]

Great methods, used the first one to make biochar several times but I’m liking the chimney style one.

[@blademan175]

I made a lot of charcoal for my forge and for bbq. I no longer have much land so I used Christmas popcorn tins with a few holes poke in top, packed full as I could with live oak, and set them in my backyard fire pit . I’d cook them with small twigs and scraps not suitable for charcoal. You know it’s working when the gases coming out the holes catch fire. Takes time but saves $ if you use a lot like I do!

[@DOSn3rd]

Great video! I think burning from the top down smokes less because the unburnt smoke from below needs to pass through the raging fire on its way up. The unburnt smoke also adds to the the fire that way instead of just escaping as losses. As i see it the new method seemed more efficient as a process but the old one was more efficient from a amount of charcoal per unit of time perspective.

[@Lutonbodyhome]

Excellent watch and thanks for doing the learning process for us. Cant wait to make some now

[@dustymiller7758]

Great entertainment Max.

[@dancarter482]

It's dark now and raining - for a change - itching to get out there and give it a go!

[@RobertsBulgaria]

Lovely Jubbly.

[@iansmith7369]

Hi I’m a first time viewer I’ve just 👍& subscribed, great video hope to watch/enjoy more of your work ,

[@pjofurey6239]

Great savings to be had with charcoal going to over £30 for 25kgs!!!! Metallic love to the landy and all Russian trucks

[@gerryheynes5082]

Max “I keep this area clear ...” 😂😂😂😂😂😂 must be the only bit that isn’t magic then!

[@twocvbloke]

Just goes to show that these things just can't be rushed really, but at least the chimney barrel method shows what a difference having a good draw has on the fire, giving a nice clean burn versus the "anti-social" smoke most people make when burning things outdoors... :)

[@AbellTo]

Thanks for this. I did a similar video last year with a barrel on its side method

[@AbellTo]

Just to add, my barrel on its side method takes a good 3-4 hours to convert

[@bernardhill1622]

i used to do a similair process for cooking competitions in Scouting in the late '50 s with 20 L Drum both ends removed, Sawdust well compacted around an old 4" metal Dpwnpipe which is pulled out before lihhting with a paper wick down the middle flue made by removing downpipe, entire drum stacked on 3- 4 Bricks to allow air draft from ground upward thru' compacted Sawdust ❗ it becomes a litral Giant size Sawdust Brickett..that you're cooking on..❗

[@alanargent5422]

I actually use the small crushed charcoal in my potting mix instead of perlite/vermiculite.

[@stevek3036]

many many years ago I used an old oil drum to burn green wood to get rid of it - we had an old oil drum and Dad cut the bottom off and put it on top of two high bricks with large air gap at the bottom - the result was the wood fire equivalent of a jet engine - maybe the secret is to go large with the air input at the bottom to get some serious updraft that will fully burn the wood?

[@terryatkinson899]

I do like playing with fire but couldn't do this living in an estate, my busybody neighbours would call the firebrigade🙄👍🇮🇪

[@handycrowd]

Ya can't beat wiggly wood :-)

[@alastairmackay4589]

V interesting.

[@worldofrandometry6912]

And I thought it came from charcoal mines.😀

[@chriscoulthard4947]

I made a double skin burning barrel, like a giant bean tin stove to cut down on the smoke when burning 'rubbish'

[@katehirst6046]

Very useful to have both goes to compare. The newer method is remarkably low on smoke! I used to work with a bloke who did outdoors and farming skills with adults with learning disabilities. They loved making charcoal. I'm fairly sure we just used dead wood we gathered, and used an oildrum method like yours. Ours was set over a fire made on top of old metal springs, once the drum was in place on top we threw in wood until we reached the top, waited until we saw the fire take, then whacked a metal plate on top and banked up the whole thing with earth. It seemed to work well, often making about a half- wheelbarrow's worth of decent charcoal. Rather than sift it, we tipped out the drum onto a big tarp or sheet and then picked out what was worth having - when you've got a group doing it, it doesn't take long. I still find charcoal making a magical process. ❤

[@ScorpioxA1]

Must make charcoal like one makes charcloth.

[@tomjohns8498]

Really enjoying these videos 😊 have you got any plans to build a small retort kiln ? ❤

[@dragontattooee]

I'd love to give this a go. But living in the town centre and nosey neighbours might put a stop to any smokey fires

[@Pemmican]

Would be good to see your take on a retort type burner. One for next time.

[@TheLidlClan]

As someone has said , have a look at a Retort kiln burns off the wood gases as well, much cleaner burn.

[@maximusironthumper]

I've built a retort kiln, the pro and cons were discussed in part 1 - but the idea for this series was to provide a method for easy home production using the minimum of time, cost and materials. The second method shown here burns very clean.

[@gshingles]

So now I've seen this on four channels, this one, Primitive Technology and Cody's Lab. 🙂

[@grahameroberts8109]

That’s 3 🤷‍♂️

[@gshingles]

@@grahameroberts8109 yes, yes it is. 👍

[@colliedogjoy]

I worked with a charcoal maker decades ago, who had big steel kilns you could live in - maybe ten or 12 feet across. He used 4 chimneys and banked it up when the smoke turned from grey to blue. Amazing process. Around a third of the volume of wood would be the expected yield. Managing the chimneys and inlets was magic. Keep it up! Great vid.

[@bernardhill1622]

Old Shipping Container works well..❗🙇‍♂️

[@mariotibbrine1]

I'd use the partly charred in the middle the stack fresh on top ignite from the bottom

[@275simon]

I do mine in a bin with no holes. Make a fire in the bottom, when it is white hot put another layer of wood on, this smothers the first layer so it stops burning. When you get to the top put the hosepipe on it. Job done a full bin of charcoal, just a bit wet

[@275simon]

I wrote this before I’d watched full vid, and you gone and done it

[@shortbuslife3440]

There is another method you could try, this involves taking your oil drums filling them with your wood and sealing them up with just a small hole in bottom and one in top to allow water vapour and oils to drain off into a fire, no more than about 1/2 inch in size, the fire is made below and engulfing the whole barrel and this is supposed to make excellent charcoal, this method I saw probably 10 years ago so can't remember how long the burn time was but I'd guess around 4hrs but they did use modified gas cylinders to do it so quite a bit smaller.

[@maximusironthumper]

Yep, a retort kiln as discussed in part 1. I do have one but was aiming to show simpler methods here.

[@johncourtneidge]

Excellent! I'm reading (eventually) 'The Wealden Iron Industry' by Jeremy Hodgkinson. Another possible project for you! (Which I would happily join in.

[@meemeemeemeemee]

🎉

[@AbellTo]

I heard some blacksmiths like softwood charcoal because it burns hot and quick? Also Alder is top notch charcoal but not really a dense hardwood. Hope that helps a bit. Darren Woodsman in Derbyshire

[@kalliste23]

Yes but now you have to build the charcoal producing pressure cooker machine that uses the off-gassing volatiles to power itself built from old barrels and parts from scrapped cars.

[@raymondpenn1066]

Just a thought Max. How about creating tightly packed bundles of sticks (tied with string) for the final burn in the "original" metal barrel? When the fire reaches the lower third line for the send time, put in the bundles and then cover. PS Would you consider using the tiny bits of charcoal to make briquettes? Grind the charcoal, add starch (6-7%) and water (enough to create the texture of thick porridge), place in a mould and bake at a fraction over 100degC to force the water out? During a period of warm days, briquettes could be left on sheets of corrugated metal in direct sunshine.

[@maximusironthumper]

The chap I referenced with his pit burn method tried that with the adding sticks just before sealing up and it seemed a bit hit and miss as to converting them to charcoal. As for briquettes, I have somewhere a couple of designs for moulds to compress them, one using a jack, the other a very long lever, might be fun to try one day!

[@dandandan389]

In Norse myth the Huldr were known to be kind to charcoal burners watching their kilns while they slept.....thats as close to an interesting/relevant fact as i could get!

[@excossack]

Whats next a homemade retort kiln? :-)

[@MrWIB]

Very interesting, but I will still buy my coal for the barbecue 😬😉

[@Electradaz]

Hi max , could you not weld a bit of exhaust pipe off the top down to bottom sit the drum (without air holes in the bottom) over a fire and make the type of burner you described at the start? Daz in Aus

[@maximusironthumper]

You could, but it would have to be sat on a hell of a fire to make it work. I think a retort only makes sense if the fire and the kiln are insulated - so then we're back to it being a lot of work to setup. The nice thing about these two methods is they're both so simple!

[@JoeC0rnell]

Very interesting. I guess you would have to be time rich and cash poor to make it worthwhile. But I think that would be missing the point. The process seems to be fun, fishing or golfing might take a similar chunk of a day and certainly be less productive.

[@allenenabnit7078]

I’ve had the best luck using a smaller container sealed up at only a small hole it top with wood packed inside then build fire around it in a larger container till there is no more smoke coming out of hole in smaller container seal off hole till it all comes down to cool then open small container and will be full of all charcoal

[@DrMunns]

Could you show us the retort kiln, if it is still working?

[@maximusironthumper]

It's been out of action for a very long time! There's a glimpse of it at the end of episode 6 of Project Awesome: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nn6sZHmdi7Z5n6Msi=8E4PKHQD0t-KvL8Z&t=1097

[@chrisbond8821]

Have you ever used a Ring Kiln, Max? I've got a couple sat here looking for a new home. Both need work, but I don't have the time or inclination!

[@maximusironthumper]

Thank you for the offer but I already have a large retort kiln here I need to fix up!

[@DaveStevis]

How much would it cost to buy that much? £200/300 ??

[@grahameroberts8109]

What about the smoke pollution if everyone was to do this? 😱🙈

[@maximusironthumper]

The second method doesn't make smoke.

[@jybuis3939]

That's not a retort. Here's what worked for me: - outer barrel = 55 gal, removable lid with a 4" stove pipe flange and a 4" stack on top. Lots of holes around the circumference at the bottom - inner barrel = 35 gal, set it inside the 55 gal barrel open-end up - there's a 2-3" pipe in the center of the 35 gal barrel thru the bottom of that barrel and extending up the middle nearly to the top. use electrical lock nuts either side of the bottom barrel to keep it in place - pack the 35 gal with pieces of seasoned hardwood, then slap the lid on it. lid is solid, no openings. only connection to the outside of the 35 gal barrel is the pipe that leads out thru the bottom - pack around the outside of the 35 gal barrel with softwood or whatever you have - start the fire in the 55 gal barrel, feed as necessary. once it gets rolling put the lid on the big barrel and let the stack draw - when the contents of the 35 gal barrel starts to out-gas it will sustain the fire in the outer barrel. the gas will escape thru the pipe to the bottom and keep the 35 gal barrel hot until it produces no more gas - just let it go, when everything cools remove the lid of the 55 gal barrel and then the 35 gal barrel - inside the 35 gal barrel all the wood you packed in there which burned anaerobically leaving only really great charcoal. PM me if you want photos or video of it burning. I found it works very well.

[@louistaylor8808]

Don’t do what I did and burnt a shed on some sandstone and concrete slabs had 30ft rock explosions happening everywhere 😆

[@noddybray]

Smoko Joe.. ref, book "Brenden Chase" by BB

[@jackinthegreen1000]

Whats that little saw like Max?

[@maximusironthumper]

It's handy on occasion (very handy if climbing a tree or going up a ladder), though I only bought it as I already had the batteries.

[@jackinthegreen1000]

@@maximusironthumper I use a little echo 2511 tes a little 2 stroke, if you're not familiar. Is yours a Makita?

[@maximusironthumper]

@@jackinthegreen1000 Yep, single battery Makita

[@DustyKorpse]

🪵🔥🪨👍🏻

[@willtricks9432]

How are you getting on with the Makita saw? I bought one and its good but the chain skips off. Cheers

[@maximusironthumper]

it's handy for occasional use. I have a electric log saw which is much more effective for processing large amounts of small stuff.

[@willtricks9432]

@@maximusironthumper I have seen another charcoal method where a holed barrel on bricks is filled with short pieces of wood on end in layers around a central post about 4 inch, The post is then removed and burning charcoal is loaded in to the cavity, allowed to burn and capped with a sand layer on top. I am going to have a go as I have a mass of logs. Cheers .

[@mrMacGoover]

Well... the WEF isn't going to like this, you might have just used up all your carbon credits for the year, no traveling outside your district or going outside Maximus. 😅😉

[@roberthill9011]

You want a gas bottle weed killer work every time 😅

[@TheDinnermoney]

Wholistic af.

[@colinmcnamara9956]

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[@taiwaneil]

I think it’s also better to have the wood ready, not have to carry on cutting and preparing the wood to go in the kiln while it’s already lit.

[@goat4sale708]

Nice video sir informative... new Subscriber here pls. Thankyou and Godbless 🙏

[@shimmeringtrashpile]

Great video! My creativity-mantra this year has been “It takes at least 3 times to get it right” so by that logic you’re still one ahead! 😁

[@benholroyd5221]

is a wood gas powered charcoal maker not a thing? ie you capture the burnt off wood gas to heat the container.

[@darronjknight]

Yep, he covered that in part one.

[@spoplehughes]

You need a one legged stool now you are making charcoal

[@HeavensGremlin]

You needs some bellows matey.....