[TheForge] charcoal

[Jerry Frost]

Exactly Bruce.

Why in the world would somebody mess with the second to the worst of all 
direct combustion (pit) coaling techniques? It's about as poor a method as 
you'll see. Pit coaling is lucky to return 20% if you're good at it. If 
you're a hobbyist you'll do well with 10-15%.

Let's compare:

Put 1,000lbs of wood in a pit and maybe get 150-200 lbs back. (I'm granting 
some experience)

Put 200lbs of wood in a 55gl. drum and get maybe 60lbs. back. (Again 
granting a little experience or at least an ability to follow simple 
directions.)

The plain worst of all charcoaling techniques is raking the coals out of an 
open fire though I've done this for decades while camping.

Frosty
-------------------------------
If it ain't forged
it ain't real.
Wrought iron is.
The FrostWorks

Meadow Lakes, AK.

http://www.artmetalradio.com/

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bruce Freeman" <FREEMAB at pt.fdah.com>
To: <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Friday, April 07, 2006 4:46 AM
Subject: Re: [TheForge] charcoal


> Frosty,
>
> I was referring to the old-fashioned charcoal "pit" in which some of
> the wood is burned to heat the rest.  SOME air is needed.  But in any
> case, some space around the wood chips is needed in order that they will
> all get heated.
>
> In an externally-heated retort, this all changes.  Complete exclusion
> of air would then be best (but not all that important).
>
> Bruce
> NJ
>
>>>> frosty at customcpu.com 4/6/2006 9:23:38 PM >>>
> The potential problem using small pieces of wood isn't lack of air. You
>
> don't want any air if you can avoid it; you're just cooking off the
> volitiles, water, etc. This is the difference between the direct and
> indirect combustion methods.
>
> I think the only potential problem would be the insulation effect of
> the
> chips but I don't think it's likely. At worst it'll take more time.
> Using
> charcoal that small might be more of a problem though.
>
> Frosty
> -------------------------------
> If it ain't forged
> it ain't real.
> Wrought iron is.
> The FrostWorks
>
> Meadow Lakes, AK.
>
> http://www.artmetalradio.com/
>
>
> From: "Bruce Freeman" <FREEMAB at pt.fdah.com>
>
>
>> 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
>
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