[TheForge] charcoal

[Bruce Freeman]

The chips I've seen are maybe 2" square and about one-half inch thick. 
That strikes me as an awkward size for charcoal.  Also, a 55-gal drum of
such chips might not coal properly due to packing and lack of air
access.  I'd stick with logs and branches if I were doing this.

BTW, branches of <1/2" are coaled and sold to artists, so you might get
a "higher valued" product out of this...

Bruce
NJ

>>> ayen at homeport.org 4/3/2006 9:02:59 PM >>>

Since we're aiming for some fairly small pices of charcaol (at least
for
what I'm doing, mostly smelting) is there any reason not to use large
chippings for to make the charcoal? I'm thinking retort-style
conversion, externally fueled.

--doug


Thus Spake Bruce Freeman (FREEMAB at pt.fdah.com): 
> Phlip,
> There's a lot of prunings going to waste that could be turned into
> charcoal.  For some reason, folks don't like <4" for firewood, and
end
> up chipping the stuff.  Get there before the chipper, or make a deal
> with a tree service.
> 
> But, anyway, charcoal is one heck of a lot easier to break than is
> wood.  Burn whatever logs you get.  If it doesn't check and break
while
> coaling, you can easily break it apart after the burn.
> Bruce
> NJ
> 
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