The Easiest Way to Make Backyard Charcoal

Charcoal is one of those things that you just accept that you need to buy, and never really think about how it's made. Once you learn how easy it is, you won't ever go back to the store bought garbage!

[@TheDrunkenBBQ]

If you don’t have what you like, you have to learn to like what you have. Fantastic saying and true🔥👍

[@wantedwastaken]

It's a life motto!

[@jayway8612]

@@wantedwastaken i have to tell myself this about my wife everyday, sometimes multiple times a day

[@pharaohsmagician8329]

Sometimes it's bad advice it makes you stay comfortable in bad situations and stop trying to get what you like and what you want and instead just be content living with less than you deserve and a lower quality of life than you're capable of getting. Sometimes getting comfortable and learning to love less than ideal circumstances makes us be comfortable with unpleasant situations and stay in them for way longer than we need to !

[@DoverDanny]

Thank you for this key lesson in making charcoal I’m getting started into making biochar for organic gardening compost. What you said is Nothing new though, it’s in the Bible just said in different order and words. 👊🏻👍🏻👊🏻

[@pyrotech7210]

Learn to build what you like.

[@danspotdub]

“Just store it in a box to admire.” - too true!

[@johnbutler5208]

Great video. One thing I found out is to plug up the hole in the top of the can so it won't reignite. Take away all air while it's cooling. Food for thought.

[@karlfredriksson6299]

Potassium is one of the chemicals that definitely stays in the charcoal: it is one of the main components of the ash that is left after you burn the charcoal. This is how they used to make black powder: mix nitrates with wood ash and you get potassium nitrate

[@o5245607]

I appreciate your information its important for those who aren't aware of these things. Thank you.

[@jimherchak7505]

Your comment at the end; "...or restart the Industrial Revolution" earned my thumbs up!

[@WHCAudio]

Finally, someone else who understands storing charcoal in a box solely for admiring.

[@hxhdfjifzirstc894]

It's not just charcoal, it's home made, organic, natural LUMP charcoal -- just look at it!

[@Wakeywhodat]

Would ya look at it!

[@MichaelKelly-ts5ll]

Excellent and well portrayed video.

[@mickles2968]

Dude, you made me laugh many times, and you broke down a subject that seemed very complicated. Thank you. 🔥🔥🔥

[@saltrock9642]

The best charcoal video for me because I happen to have everything I see here. Plus you do a great job explaining everything. Thanks👍

[@therealsparkman]

A very rudimentary process with no high tech gadgets to help out. I liked the way you explained everything in a very succinct way. Thanks for taking the time to make and share this video. Cheers!

[@williamcox3412]

I subscribed because I really was looking for an explanation on how to make charcoal, AND because of the pic of the dog wearing a bow tie. why? Damned if I know. I just liked it. - Your video was time well spent.

[@wdwdHenry9022]

another guy he put the charcoal in a composting bin for a few months to let it soak and fill up he then takes the charcoal an puts in the soil of his plants. He called it Permanent composting biochar super healthy for the soil and plants.

[@philipp6682]

If the coal pak value is not high

[@jamesburns8247]

You produced a muck better program than the one I watched 15 min ago, Thank You.

[@normalisoverrated]

I have watched a couple of dozen how to make charcoal videos. Not Joking, this was by FAR the best. You covered all the important points that after watching so many others, I was still unsure of. Awesome work, I subscribed. Cheers!

[@dizzysdoings]

Good video. If you're wanting to move the bucket around and not get burned, welding gloves are great for that.

[@faelwolf1177]

I live in a cabin in the woods, that has an abundance of oak and pine. Too much, in fact, this year I'm going to be doing a bunch of thinning. This will be a great way to put it all to good use, Lord knows I already have more than enough firewood cut and dried to last me for years. Thanks for a timely reminder! :)

[@TrashTube-rt9jw]

Be sure to make some pine pitch as well.

[@faelwolf1177]

@@TrashTube-rt9jw Good idea!

[@cannabico6621]

Id turn it all into biochar and use that heat while at ir for various purposes, water heating, drying biochar stock, cooking, baking clayware, making other materials that need heat,

[@timhicks2866]

I watched a logging outfit make charcoal and they use the 55 gallon drums set in an elevated larger steel bin. But they do it to sell. I like the smaller batch approach for my personal use. Hearing mention of neighbors a stones throw away and neighborhood association makes me glad I don't have to deal with either and if I have anything to do with it, that will never happen. Live and let live. Charcoal -on brutha!

[@LygarZeroX]

neighbors a stone throw away all died of mysterious head injuries.

[@Adamcito.]

@@LygarZeroX everybody was found with charcoal in theirs eyes

[@Michael-rg7mx]

When you need 15 pounds of high quality finely powdered charcoal this is a great method. Installing a bail like you did is great. Crush and screen out of the wind. While you re fill the can and do it again. Thanks for the ideas.

[@rickfalk9319]

That's the easiest method I've seen yet. Basically making charcloth on a larger scale. Definitely going to try it!

[@faelwolf1177]

A friend of mine used to make charcloth by laying the cut cotton cloth in a aluminum pan from the dollar store. He'd get it burning good, then just place another pan from the stack on top of it, putting the fire out and keeping it there until it was cool enough not to burn. I was a bit lazier, I put it into an Altoids tin with a nail hole in it, and put it on the edge of the campfire while camping out. :)

[@Twobirdsbreakingfree]

The easiest method is to make a big fire and once it burns down to embers pour water on it. You end up with a ton of charcoal.

[@rickfalk9319]

@@Twobirdsbreakingfree Very true! But you also get some pieces that aren't completely 'charcoalized' that can screw things up when the wood inside starts on fire...I know what you're saying though, if you're careful you can get some good charcoal that way!

[@Twobirdsbreakingfree]

@@rickfalk9319 only downside is that you're probably going to have damp charcoal that needs to be dried in the sun, unless you managed to pour just the right amount of water to fully extinguish the embers and have the remaining heat in the embers evaporate away any excess water as steam

[@theluth9046]

That is a great way of making a lot of charcoal at one time. Charcoal like that is actually really good for blacksmithing as it does get very hot and its Purity is a whole lot better than the coal. And it burns up to nothing but Ash and it makes a really hot far so thank you very much for showing us a easy way of making charcoal!

[@watchthe1369]

2 inches square, about 10 inches long has given me good results when it comes to wood size. The coals and ash from the cooking side of the process makes great garden fertilizer.

[@SolarCookingGermany]

If you have a wood stove just get a stainless steel container, drill some air holes in it (important), then fill it with wood and put it in your wood stove. This will produce smaller amounts of charcoal, but you don't need to maintain a big fire outdoors, all the energy goes into heating your home. If you prepare several containers you can put one into your stove every time you put in wood and you'll have a large amount of charcoal soon :) Watch *"Make Your Own Charcoal In Your Wood Stove (Wood Gasification) DIY"* to see what I mean.

[@SovereignDarina]

Thank you for that, as I was wondering what type of steel was better for this and the idea of combining with heating the house at the same time, rather than just burning wood outside is so spot on 👍🙂

[@Luke-open-minded-sceptic]

Best idea ever, thank you, I will be doing that this winter, now I know.

[@SolarCookingGermany]

@@Luke-open-minded-sceptic Wasn't my idea, I saw it on Edible Acres channel and it works great for me 👍

[@MrKongatthegates]

You can also draw with it even make black paint with some linseed oil

[@firstname-qq3xp]

why stainless steel?

[@OpenSourceLowTech]

Good info, cheers. Be aware tho that the container looks like galvanised steel, which can release zinc oxide when hot, which is highly toxic. Look up welders fever. But it does have to reach a higher temperature to do so than it might get from an open conventional fire, and is a bit less of an issue in open air. Something to watch out for tho.

[@mostawesome9610]

Jamaica in the house, by far the easiest way to make some charcoal. Yeah man I'm going that way, thanks

[@someguydino6770]

To create "activated charcoal" which is the best type for a soil amendment = once the pyrolysis is complete (off gassing ) but the material is still at its HOTTEST temperature; quench your charcoal with water. This will cause microfractures to propagate uniformly throughout the charcoal which increases the surface area and allows microbes to enter and multiply. Activated charcoal is also much easier to grind; which is the final step for making charcoal to be used as a soil amendment .

[@Luke-open-minded-sceptic]

thanks so much

[@tcotroneo]

Yes.. and add it to your chicken coop so it neutralizes odors and retains the mineral content of your chicken litter.. Then after it ages, you have some nice stuff for your soil..

[@cannabico6621]

Speaking of chicken litter, ground egg shells would be a high source of minerales.

[@fakename287]

So take the container out of the flame and dump water into it? Gonna have to try this soon, thanks 👍

[@tipping_scales]

I'm new to the process so correct me if Im wrong, but doesn't activated charcoal require an acid, commonly lemon juice, for the carbon activation process?

[@trumpzilla4193]

Well explained with some humor - thank-you!

[@urbanlumberjack]

Love it! Suspending it is genius. I’ve seen a lot of “two container” methods this is more simple

[@inuiechoi193]

I tried making charcoals with my barbecue grill, lol Thanks for the help

[@danielmonk6866]

I thought your video was excellent, very well made, and I especially liked the steam engine because I had one exactly like it when I was a kid.

[@marklohnes6313]

Another excellent use for charcoal and one that gives back to the land that provides the trees for the wood used: Grind up some charcoal and add it to your soil and compost to augment the soil. Also, it might be good with the size of fire you used in the video to make the charcoal is to have another pail ready to go for a second batch. Good video!

[@SilvaDreams]

All charcoal does is help with water shed and retention since it allows water to pass through it easier than the dirt and then traps some in the porous nature of it.

[@melisboregard]

You should make some compost tea in a bucket and take a piss in it as well for good measure. Throw in the charcoal and let it sit. Then you have a good start of some nice terra preta.

[@thecurrentmoment]

It also provides a home for microbes and absorbs and retains nutrients. It can make a huge impact on crop yields in some cases but not all. There is still a lot of research going into it. Look up 'biochar' if you want to know more

[@tomc8930]

I have a raised bed garden and I also live out in the country. This year I wanted to experiment so I build a new raised bed 4’x16’x18” deep and filled it with old burned wood and dirt from that same area. FYI I’m always burning fallen trees and brush.. I planted 6 tomato plants in that raised bed and my wife and I canned a little over 80 pounds of tomato sauce, salsa and diced tomatoes. What I found is the charcoal chunks held water and slowly dried out and fed the plants and moisturized the dirt.

[@lynnbeltz6001]

That's why I live in a small village we don't worry about HOA

[@michaelsiddle837]

The steel drum is excellent to use as the burner. I put a galvanised garbage can filled with wood in a steel drum and then pile twigs around and on top of the garbage can and set it alight. It works brilliantly. Note that I have put air holes in the bottom rim of the steel drum for airflow. The steel drum makes a safe receptacle to ensure there is no risk of the fire spreading.

[@justinlewis8889]

Excellent video! With that being said… you’ve convinced me to just buy my charcoal. Lol

[@Romanek1]

Very good video, love the fish pole grilling/ charcoaling set up. Looking forward to watch other videos.

[@TheNormanmurk]

Dude you are really funny and it was the calm way you talk that made me forget what I was actually looking for on KZbin. SUBSCRIBED!

[@simonjack8122]

You can even have the hole half the size of that, also best to put the coal completely out with water soon as it's done so there's no chance it can keep burning away and will make all the char crack open too which is good

[@aok2727]

I do trust you!! This is the most approachable method for backyard charcoal making. Living in rural Oregon means I can have a fire anytime in the winter. Don’t even think about it from 1 May to 1 October!!

[@seahorseist]

Brilliant video thanks for showing us the different stages needed on how to make it

[@Jammaster1972]

Dude, I wish I had seen your video last year. I went the way of the 55 gallon drum and made a bunch of charred wood and some charcoal. I think I ran out of fuel trying to cook the thing which explains the incomplete pieces. Small metal can is perfect. I would suggest if the hole in the can was pointing downward toward the fire, then that extra smoke could combust and fuel the fire more.

[@gringopines3476]

OUTSTANDIN' , THANX FOR THE KILLER VIDEO. STAY COOL... PEACE, FROM CREEL CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO.

[@o5245607]

Great video, simple and effective way to make charcoal. Thank you.

[@survivalcomms]

Excellent ! Information packed no nonsense video. Thanks for sharing !

[@wardrobelion]

Great instructional video. Very interesting 🧐👍😎

[@edgeofentropy3492]

You placed the hot coals in a plastic bin?😂 That's a pyro 101 no no. I bet you got a shot of adrenaline when you saw the flames.🤣 I only find it funny because I did dumb pyro stuff too.

[@signmeinnow78]

I live in an apt and will never do this.. but this was a very interesting informative video!

[@johnknight5485]

It would be hilarious if you did...lolol

[@outthere9370]

Well done! Very informative. Thank you.

[@r.awilliams9815]

I use a 5 gallon steel shipping bucket with a tab-lock lid, but the principal is the same. I drilled a half inch hole in the lid and burn it with the hole down. It doesn't make a lot of charcoal in a batch, but I use it for pyrotechnic purposes so I don't need large amounts.

[@davidblood9882]

Well done! I’m inspired! Thank you!

[@microsnook3]

This seems like a great method. For gardening purposes, you can also inoculate the charcoal with bacteria and get it to host nutrients for your garden and then it will release them over the years while also not breaking down to maintain soil composition. I am making charcoal now but just use what's left at the end of our fire. This seems to be way faster to get a good chunk of it! Thanks.

[@undergroundpatriot1714]

This was very helpful! Thank you!

[@smitty8350]

Very good insight. Thanks

[@InvasionEnjoyer]

Your channel is great and you're an extremely likeable guy. Keep up the good work!

[@mikemcmanus2815]

Thank you for this! I've always wondered how it was made

[@mvblitzyo]

great video really easy instructions .. looking forward to making a small batch ..

[@lorq3370]

Clear and concise - thank you.

[@georgeneacsu1]

thank you , very well explaind , your voice sirr is very relaxing .. thank you

[@kc7136]

Best charcoal making video!!

[@scottandersen420]

Great stuff, great teacher!

[@RanchoTexano]

This is awesome and entertaining! Thank you!

[@TheThasadar]

very informative and very endearing humour

[@bradbishop-atfulldraw7491]

Thank you for this! I will certainly be doing this

[@BlindDude]

Great video bro. Thanks!

[@SweetTea265]

Fascinating! So aesthetic

[@jameslast3192]

A great no fuss simple guide. Thanks mate from New Zealand 🇳🇿! Would have liked to see how that actual batch worked out though.

[@joshnetherland5795]

Awsome job thanks very informative

[@tezzanewton]

Hey mate, this one’s great. Cheers from Australia 🇦🇺

[@hk47meatbag16]

This is a great video. It's a curiosity that peeks for me once in awhile. Thanks for explaining the process of the stages and the off gassing as well, I'm the guy that takes the lid off things to early to check on progress, so thanks for the info on how to tell when it's done.

[@jacobhalon4330]

Oh so THAT'S what was cooking!

[@josephscroggins1071]

Great video sir! I loved it! At the end you could have forged with that charcoal too! I've done it and it gets hot enough if you give it plenty of air😊

[@leinsterUltra]

good video straight to the point cheers matey

[@biffmalibu3733]

You can vent the exhaust back into the fire if you put it on the side and pipe it to the fire below. You'll gain some BTu and clean up the burn.

[@thecurrentmoment]

Or even have the hole on the underside of the drum so the gas escapes into the fire, if you can manage it

[@thecurrentmoment]

@username that's a good idea, I might try that

[@danny-li6io]

What a great no nonsense video 👍

[@danny-li6io]

Not ruined with tacky screeching guitars or hip hop techno music which is as annoying and irrelevant as it is distracting. Thank you

[@gregsmarth3581]

@4:42 there may be some smoke coming out at first, but as time goes on the smoke turns into Wood Gas, which if properly collected, can be used pretty much the way propane in a Coleman lantern is used to light a home. This was done at least during the 1800s.

[@brewswillas6635]

If you capture those gasses being vented and precipitate them, you can end up with a number of useful compounds. As the gasses cool, you'll get tar, paint thinner and gasses you can use to run your generator.

[@thejuanderful]

Put the fire in the 55 gallon drum (with proper holes for ventilation), make the holes in the charcoal bucket much smaller and place it upside down on top of the fire in the 55 gallon drum. That way the burning methane adds to the heat to make the charcoal. Uses less wood and less pollution.

[@wantedwastaken]

You can do that, but I like to sit around campfires and relax. This is just something you can do in the meantime

[@MarshallBLewis]

Great video. Thanks

[@shannobailey2917]

Saved me alot of money.

[@Klaatu-ij9uz]

GREAT tutorial!!

[@PBandJsandwich]

Excellent! Thank you.

[@WhatDadIsUpTo]

I made a concentrating tracking solar mirror to make charcoal anytime skies are clear. My mirror has a 10 foot diameter. I make "fireplace logs" out of whole oak logs 20" x 4" one at a time. Charcoal "logs" do not produce smoke when I burn them in my bedroom fireplace and no smoke is what I'm after in case anyone wondered.

[@Bernieclark45]

Your information is great. I use a small biscuit tin in my fire at home.

[@donbxman7080]

Great video presented in such a way even I could understand! lol

[@buckstarchaser2376]

That was quite the bodacious steak you had going there. 10/10 would savor.

[@oneminutepodcast]

Very informative. Subscribed

[@glennjohnston7115]

Good method, and simple

[@pigfigjig]

Legendary.. 🤔🤔😁😁😋Got me thinking

[@chriskazaglis]

Thank you for this video I was looking at advice on how to start the industrial revolution so I appreciate it lol

[@jkg6211]

Awesome video! Very informative and detailed - except the part about zinc poisoning. 😮

[@davidbryan9568]

My concern exactly , galvanised trash cans and buckets give me pause every time I see them used in videos - you CANNOT ignore the fact that zinc is toxic when exposed to high temps , its irresponsible

[@jkg6211]

@@davidbryan9568 Ed-Zackery. Wood generally burns (on average) around 1,100 F and often hotter, while Zinc is molten around 785 F.

[@TheRockstarNathan]

Takes a lot of direct breathing it in and not permanent, I highly doubt you'd have any issues with it in an outdoor setting

[@jkg6211]

@@TheRockstarNathan How many years do *you* have in the Medical Field?

[@TheRockstarNathan]

@@jkg6211 one Google search

[@supramby]

Thanks for the video I will be trying it out soon

[@muniradlan3659]

awesome video

[@georgevanvalkenburg2560]

GREAT EZPZ INFO.............. KISS: KEEP IT SIMPLE SMART!

[@tadanoshumi]

Excellent video. Keep it up

[@BigPeter1313]

When the gasses ignite it's the gasification process that's happening. It was actually used to power motor vehicles and other combustion engines as well as a technology used in some higher-end pellet stoves for more efficient heating.

[@smbeefjerky]

Great job!!

[@rekekongen1]

Ok,Now im going to make moonshine :) Nice video :)

[@pacificodeluta7507]

Good job sir

[@gwfranklin1]

This was awesome

[@puddin94]

That was cool. Thank you👍😊

[@robert4027]

paint cans work i use them all the time

[@ashleymarie7452]

Heating galvanized metal can potentially be dangerous due to the release of toxic fumes. Galvanized metal is steel that has been coated with a layer of zinc to protect it from corrosion. When galvanized metal is heated to high temperatures, such as during welding, cutting, or other thermal processes, the zinc coating can vaporize and release zinc oxide fumes, which can be harmful when inhaled. Zinc oxide fumes can cause a variety of health effects, including respiratory irritation, dizziness, nausea, and in some cases, metal fume fever, which is a temporary flu-like illness. Prolonged or repeated exposure to zinc oxide fumes can potentially lead to more serious health issues, such as respiratory problems and other long-term health effects.

[@CaptainHowdy420]

Great job!

[@wantedwastaken]

Thank you!