Traditional Woodland Crafts in the UK: Charcoal Burning | RIng Kiln

Ever wondered how charcoal is made? Well here is an episode on how to make charcoal using a ring kiln charcoal burner in the woods. The ring kiln has several chimneys for outlets to let smoke out, and several inlets to let air in. A fire is lit at the bottom of the kiln and then the lid is put on. This then prevents the wood inside from igniting, but instead it smoulders and "chars". After several hours of slow burning, what remains is high quality organic charcoal from the woods!
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[@TAOutdoors]

This is a very old traditional woodland craft that is STILL DONE in Britain & Europe today. It was a pleasure filming this for you guys and I hope you all enjoy it. Watch more videos like this in my Woodland Life playlist: kzbin.info/aero/PLxnadpeGdTxCwRkZTLMhjbT_EAu6bAIZy

[@haroldkane9714]

Ben gave a great lesson on camera, precise and simple, no waffling, enjoyed it thoroughly

[@jbaidley]

Fascinating video. Thank you. Obviously that's a modern kiln, do you know what they would have made the kiln out of in the past? Was it brick?

[@desydukuk291]

@@jbaidley Would I go to war with him, no!

[@georgeallen8781]

I did some traditional charcoal kiln work a few years ago, and wrote, it is s tricky skill

[@josephmuthinja804]

​@@jbaidley timbar sondarst saccor

[@fearthehoneybadger]

The old skills need to be kept alive. We may need them again someday.

[@theimperialist2686]

Agreed

[@WinterInTheForest]

Without a doubt

[@haroldkane9714]

I don't want to agree but I have too

[@TobiasKornmayer]

Absolutely. That condensate could also be used for fuel destillation or hydrating of diesel etc

[@kinglouiesshed8995]

Need them if pootin fires his mad nukes at us 😢

[@ryanwisbey3387]

That was one of the most entertaining and informative vids you've done. So many channels are not doing what you are. Just churning out camping with cooking and calling it bushcraft.

[@rataca100]

Well i wouldnt call this bushcraft

[@JapanScott1]

Mike , give your dad a hug for me. I lost my dad several years ago and I’d been living far away for many years before that and wasn’t able to spend a lot of time with him. Every video that you include him in I really enjoy. Thank you for sharing your relationship with your father with us.

[@zof822]

I was recently wondering how the charcoal was made and here it is. Thank you

[@thatplant]

these are the guys you want on your team during the apocalypse...thanks for the video!

[@BartBuzz]

The "old" ways are always interesting to learn about. Thanks for sharing.

[@JamesYoung61]

I do enjoy watching Ben doing his thing, spindles, tiles or charcoal he is so clear in his explanation, a master of the forest.

[@petewatson9866]

I have just caught up with woodland playlist. There is nothing I have found on KZbin better than this channel, the peace and quiet with nature in your own woodland.

[@Richardjdocherty]

This series is excellent and Ben is getting much more confident on camera too - great job

[@funkyprepper]

Certainly makes you appreciate the work that goes into this traditional method. Stop buying charcoal at the rip off garages guys. Support local charcoal makers. Nice video Mike 📹👍🏻

[@jamesellsworth9673]

Another fascinating episode of 'traditional' work in the forest.

[@MainAltAccount]

i litterally can’t say how much ur channel is to everyone, every thing is perfect, i can’t say one thing to improve, 👍 keep it up

[@TAOutdoors]

Cheers!

[@maxinedurling3425]

Oh I wanted to see how Ben cleaned the kiln especially the chimneys. And yet another great video

[@mikebennett6713aceadventures]

Mike this was awesome, very interesting on how that is made. Thank you my friend

[@paulliddle8008]

Thank you Mike and Ben. Its great to see traditional practices being continued and taught, never knew about the stool 😂. Thanks guys, see you soon Mike at the WIU festival. 👍🏻🔥

[@12stepsbeyondtheeventhorizon]

Ben's one of the coolest dudes I've seen. Legend.

[@tammaragill9347]

What an amazing lesson on how charcoal is made! TY for sharing this video.

[@riuphane]

It's always interesting to me when you're not controlling the camera to see the difference in the editing and style. Great video, really interesting and good for people to see

[@markhyde1970]

Used to make it in Hodgemoor Woods in Buckinghamshire when I was a kid. There's a woodland full of resources!! 👍🏾

[@PawPawMountain]

Well done, very interesting process! Thanks for the demo, it was amazing! Now let's cook something up with the charcoal... Thanks again and Keep'em coming!!

[@elihutson4553]

Have a nice day 😊

[@pauljconroysr4080]

Excellant video !! TYVM for showing this and bringing this out , it was very imformative and what a great use for what most people would either just burn or thru in a chipper here in the states .

[@TheObnoxiousMrPug]

I learnt about charcoal burning from reading Swallows and Amazons (the Dutch translation) and the technique with the sand or soil hill which needed constant attention from the burners. Very interesting to see how it's done with a slightly more modern method which is still traditional.

[@glennwilck5459]

This bloke ben is a good chap thanks for showing this and sharing the knowledge!

[@M.A.S.Ked-Crusader]

Definitely gonna try this sometime, brilliant video 👍

[@dannyoutdoors5322]

Very informative thanks will give it ago next year when I've got a hall of wood on a smaller scale.. Keep up the great content.

[@richarddiss1643]

AWESOME! Always wanted to know the process of making charcoal. Thank You very much guys. Greetings from France ^_^

[@mattbrown5511]

I've done earthen kiln charcoal before. It was very interesting seeing a steel kiln being used. Thank you bring this to us.

[@firstnamesurname1743]

Great video. Making charcoal and biochar for growing produce are two fascinating elements of potential woodland production.

[@susanbell2771]

Yay! thanks for doing this one, been patiently waiting for this there are so many of these woodland crafts to explore, thanks again

[@skeetsmcgrew3282]

This has become a bit of a recent fascination of mine. The EXTREMELY old method involves essentially just making a pile of wood in this same shape and covering the pile on soil. Then you manage the oxygen by piling soil on the parts you don't want burning and vice versa. Apparently it could take as long as a week or more, done by two guys who take turns taking naps and dealing with any other responsibilities

[@michelle-vl3me]

all you need to do is burn wood in an oxygen deprived environment. this can be done in a wood stove or a metal trash can with a lid.

[@davesprague2445]

As always another great video, thanks Mike.

[@sonofagun9856]

i love all the traditional crafts you two show us and always great and interesting topics keep up the great work

[@goldenscales]

Perfect char, lads! Well done those men!

[@timhyatt9185]

had a friend of mine who made his own charcoal in 55 gal barrels.. he kept the lids cuz they could be closed up and get a good seal around the rim. Used a couple of the holes in the botttom for air flow control and a stack in the back corner he'd load it up with black spruce (which grow in super dense copses but they're never much bigger around than your arm; find stands of them all over Central Alaskan valley usually in low lying areas, so cutting was done in the winter when the ground was frozen and they could be skidded out easily) he'd load the barrel up, really jam it full of half-splits , light the lower front of it, close the lid and leave the bung open. let it get going until the back of the drum got hot, watching the smoke. When it goes "gray", close it, and let it smoulder closed up like that for the rest of the afternoon. close up completely in the evening, The next morning it's ready to unload. If he was careful about the timing he'd get about half a barrel of charcoal he could feed to his wood stove, burned cleaner than raw wood (spruce has lots of pitch in it) He'd even drain off the turpentine and sold it to another friend who used it for an ingredient in a homemade skin balm that worked wonders on husky feet that had developed cracks from mushing.

[@ArielleViking]

Brilliant video and very interesting to see how charcoal can be made on a more modern process than a hole in the ground. 👍

[@murrayhebert4500]

really nice setup and technique excellent work

[@ThomasLeBlanc-v6b]

Great video guys, great sound quality. That kiln is really nice. Thanks for sharing with us. Cheers from the U.S.!

[@stephengraham8629]

Thanks Mike, really interesting vid, keep up the good work

[@TexasRy]

AWESOME, can't wait to try one of these on my next trip to the woods, thanks guys, great video!

[@TarotLadyLissa]

I want to bring a piece of pottery to that party!!! It looks like it definitely gets hot enough for stoneware!

[@DD-vl4ih]

A modern take on things guys, well done. 40yrs in the business and there's some tricks I could show you 😛 larger burns are definitely easier to deal with.

[@ed7540]

I was a charcoal burner for Singelton open-air museum. I had 3 kilns about 3m round the museum bought the timber in I would burn about 26 tonnes a week. I’m not saying your way is wrong because as long as you get good hard charcoal then that’s fine, but he is over complicating the job. 🤣🤣nice to see my trade still being done as us old woodsmen die jobs like that die with us keep up the good work. The best wood for charcoal is Hornbeam.

[@heathermurray6134]

How would you have done it ? Without a fire lighter I’m thinking, just start the fire then fill it up with wood ?

[@ed7540]

@@heathermurray6134 hi. I’d have to show you really but. When you start to lay out the wood in the kiln at each chimney part put a row of charcoal soaked with red diesel leading back to the Centre of the kiln wear you put some diesel soaked charcoal, then as you stack your wood make a bridge over the lines of charcoal. Then when your ready to light it get some rag soaked in red diesel rap it round a stick light it and push it through the feet of the chimneys. The lines of charcoal will ignite through to Centre and ignite your kiln. Hope that helps

[@heathermurray6134]

Cheers that’s helpful, watched a guy just do a direct burn in an oil drum with a locking ring looked pretty straightforward Cheers

[@ed7540]

@@heathermurray6134 hi. Good luck!! I’ve only ever used the 3m round kilns. Not use petrol !!!! I used red diesel because it’s not as flammable and try not to over soak your charcoal or your burn will smell of diesel. What you want is good hard charcoal that burns for at least 15/20mins.

[@MindbodyMedic]

26 tonnes a week? Yikes. For a museum? Whats special about hornbeam?

[@davidmcgrath9581]

Brilliant !!! Cheers from Ireland☘

[@civiprepper]

Excellent setup. Thanks for sharing your experience in this old skill.

[@jacksonrussell3645]

I really want to thank you, I am a hobby blacksmith and charcoal is my bane it isn't worth buying and making it is a pain but now I have a better idea then burning in a hole in the ground

[@jamesla1015]

Great work lads, especially the guy who ran through it all.. As many have said we definitely need to keep these ideas and skills alive properly or when the skills are needed eventual, we'll be stuck reading from books

[@T_B]

This is new to me. GREAT VIDEO!!

[@victormanuelluna4098]

Reciba un abrazo y un saludo respectuoso fesde Rep. Dominicana por lo didáctico y bien explicado de su vídeo y el gran interes que usted muestra para que sus lectores. Rs usted un Gran ser Humano.Grscias y Fios lo Bendiga a ustedy a toda su familia

[@Admiral_Pumpout]

This will be very interesting to a friend of mine who hopes to do just this with the leftovers from a partial thinning of his beech woodland.

[@gerritdutoit4833]

Amazing video with all the info one needs! Thanks guys!

[@boblordylordyhowie]

I did this once back in the 90s when I was at agricultural college. That burner was larger and had 4 chimneys and because there were a lot of us involved we didn't need any one legged stools.

[@christiansorensen7567]

I have an old Blacksmithing book that shows how to make charcoal using dirt. It's all the same principles as here, except instead of having a metal kiln, you pack the outside with dirt. I believe it's an 1830 volume. It has all kinds of interesting small details, like keeping your sawdust, to use a handful re-igniting fires. Btw, I love the sound of that dried hazel hitting together. That's the good stuff.

[@johnbaldwin143]

Knowledgable bloke there. I agree that these are the skills we need to keep alive. Otherwise we are just consumers! I still enjoy the whole Jack Hargreaves ethos and this fits perfectly.

[@JohnDoe-qw4gc]

Fascinating! Thank you very much, gentlemen!

[@nooneknows6060]

Nicely done!

[@rwun283]

For those blessed with fast growing and recovering trees, this is a great thing. If you run a forge, it's a great way to make fuel for an old school forge (if you can't get coal.)

[@williamkleinsLost40Lodge]

I’ve never done a direct burn before. I’ve used a retort it comes out great

[@kyletomorug6780]

LOVED learning about this!

[@pault1289]

What a great video - really interesting to see the process explained. Thanks to you and Ben!

[@TobiasKornmayer]

Awesome Episode! Guess one could use a regular barrel as well to do this or even a big old cooking pot. Maybe that'd be a cool idea for a future episode?

[@pyeitme508]

Amazing 🤩

[@tonyjedioftheforest1364]

Very relaxing video, thanks for sharing

[@jthepickle7]

That is some well made charcoal there! Sounds like glass.

[@bradley200711]

charcoal making by the Bun-master! (no Bun intended).

[@ralphrutherford2583]

Another job well done

[@bobmcelroy7289]

Awesome stuff!

[@aareminer7600]

Great video, what I am totally missing is he indication when you have to stop the fire. You mentioned that the smoke will change. Seeing that would be nice to have a better understanding what you have to pay attention to.

[@Skans-Gustav]

Very interesting. Charcoal was traditionally made in the woods in Sweden before. They used big earth covered kilns. One can still see large barren circular surfaces here and there in the woods. Nothing grows there, presumably due to the tar that leaked into the ground.

[@1scottdees]

If you had a copper tube or multiple tubes at the bottom of the kiln leading to a metal container, the resins will flow down into the container. Making an awesome pitch that has many uses. Drilling holes and attaching with hardware of course.

[@andyc972]

Good to see this, so thank you Mike & Ben, seen film of the process a number of times but Ben added some interesting practical detail, also this was a really quick burn due to the small kiln, most I've seen seem to take 36-48 hours ! Always a bit of a lottery what you'll find on lifting the lid, but there was some great looking charcoal there, much nicer than the mass produced stuff.

[@MASI_forging]

Great work dude. 😃😃

[@BraxxJuventa]

THanks MIke! 😁👍

[@HPugwash]

I remember seeing a video about this by John Hargreaves, love the process

[@carpevinum5497]

Thanks for sharing this video. Most excellent!

[@roymills2564]

that was awesome very interesting. thanks for sharing

[@henrybowden9907]

It's a lot quicker than I expected, even though the wood was really dry. Those one-legged stools were also used by Lime burners but they didn't sit too close because the fumes would knock them out and there are stories of the people left in charge of the kilns falling in and being burned to death.

[@pascalsauvage2275]

Hahahaha really?!!! 😂😂😂😂😂 can you show me a link or something so I can look it up please. Thank you very kindly!!

[@henrybowden9907]

Unfortunately I can't find any references online. I first heard about them from an archaeology documentary on TV many years ago.

[@BillSmith-fx7xx]

Died and cremated all in the same day ! How convienient !

[@freddyoutdoors]

Wow really enjoyed this looks ace

[@johnscrivy]

Thanks, a very good informative video

[@jackypearcejustme]

I've been lucky enough to make charcoal using this process. You can make a much smaller one with an old metal dustbin.

[@Kapplin1]

Really good video, it's about the same procedure as making chare clothe

[@musahali4878]

You're my favourite KZbinr of all time

[@TAOutdoors]

Cheers!

[@dwyanejetersr6470]

Great stuff guys I really like your method, well thought out, feel like we are mates, my great, great, great grandfather was from Great Brittan and I am still seeking how to make good quality lump charcoal.

[@mattshaffer5935]

So cool! Thanks!

[@sapakmichael]

Thanks for sharing

[@michelsaucy4629]

Excellente méthode.😊

[@annemariemoormann996]

Loved this! :)

[@kilbonrobert]

Thank you for sharing.

[@dillonkasel9070]

Awesome video. Very fascinating

[@jimimurray9601]

I’ve had ago at making charcoal I put a steel bucket full of small sticks on a fire with a pice of steel on the top

[@thatfunkymonkey]

Really cool video! I enjoyed that a lot.

[@m2hmghb]

I use a smoker to cook food on, it does a great job making charcoal as well.

[@Sigurther]

Good stuff.

[@ZoonCrypticon]

@14:00 That lathing attachment for the drill was cool ! Which brand was it and what was the name of this tool ?

[@Atomist1k]

Tenon Cutter

[@waterisgold]

Thank you for this✨💛

[@cinemaipswich4636]

I remember seeing a Japanese kiln where white charcoal was made. It ended up making a ceramic/metallic "ring" when struck.

[@Se05239]

An interesting watch.

[@baddonkey6876]

I was hoping to see you fire up the grill with some

[@vlogsfavorsphileco8788]

That's efficient and high yielding process per batch for a home scale volume by that large diameter drum with only few were not well charred.