O.J., thank you for the great content! I have two questions. 1. How do you clean out the kiln after a burn? 2. You mentioned that you use old varnish cans. Do you clean them before using? If so, how. I would think that they'd be pretty toxic from the varnish. Any feedback would be appreciated!
Luke, 1. What little ash that is left in the bottom of the brick kiln is pulled out through the bottom holes with a square point shovel. This only needs to be done about every 3rd burn. 2. You can burn out a can first before using if you like, especially if making BBQ charcoal. I've gone to using an old 7 gallon milk can with 4 half inch holes drilled an inch from the bottom of the can for out gassing. Much longer longevity. The most efficient system I've seen used is 'Charcoal Charlie' on youtube. The best features of our kiln are that it's easy to build and once lit, you walk away. Down side…it doesn't make a lot at a time. In relation to store bought lump charcoal, ours lights easier and burns more even. Thanks, O.J.
Not sure if you’re still monitoring comments and answering questions. I don’t have a ready source to get and replace 5gallon tin buckets. Instead I’m planning on having a local maestro fabricate a stainless internal drum for biochar. I can have it made any size I choose. My question is what is the optimal ratio of volume inside/outside the drum?
I've been using an old 7 gallon milk can of late. Drilled 4 half inch holes an inch from the bottom for outgassing. Thicker metal. Holding up well so far. Thanks, O.J.
Why you dont buid it underground? Like TANDIR Turkish traditional ovens. it will be safer and it will not risk environment so much. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-eaguphK9XAs.html it is used to bake bred, roast meat, sometimes whole lamb.... so it will be multipurpose, not only for biochar.
I got a backhoe ans though about digging hole down for a 55 gallon metal barrel and doing somthing like this make a trench for with a pipe for air intake and cap the top with a metal cap and Is chimney. Any thoughts?
In an earlier comment meredithromo said: " The bucket goes in upside down so when it outgasses the flames go up the side of the bucket further heating its contents...just more efficient that shooting off the top if put in right side up. The contents of the bucket are what you are turning into char."
"I had no idea what biochar was, but it sounded like it would be fun to make because you get to play with fire" I 100% totally understand this feeling. If there isn't fire, it's probably not all that fun.
I really wish we people were not so geocentric. The are billions of people in the world, some who have good ideas. Not all are in the USA. Retorts are the main /only barrel design I see in the US. Very inefficient. All that sin gas you burn off could be used to heat instead of additional feedstock. Here is a design that does this from outside the US. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-JIrgNosdRFE.html
OJ thank you i have been studying this subject after making a small amount for myself in some old dryer drums. Thank you for the content, educational and entertainng !!! God Bless
Great, this is the one.! Looks it will work well with commercial poultry litter in the bin. But, temps will need to be kept as low as possible. Maybe can be done with a firebox at the bottom and feed it slowly.
Quit acting like a clown pops, your kiln is not very inefficient. You should take advantage of the wood gasses by popping 1 3/4” hole in the bottom center so the wood gasses can escape and help cook the wood even more
Really glad to have this video show up. I live in a town, but mine is one of the few properties to still have what they used to use as property dividers. 18 100 year old trees: white oak, maple and a few pines. They drop both large and small branches all the time. I collect them in part of my yard and planned to start using them to make biochar. I could turn my rocket stove into a much larger brick chimney kilm. I also have a metal fire ring. I'm 75 but that seems easy enough even for me. Last year there was a burning ban, crossing my finger this year.
Carmen, I have the exact same trees, so I can relate to your situation. I currently use a 5 ft diameter, 2 ft. tall metal kiln to make biochar using tree falls. Oak is really a mess to cut, so a big kiln is nice…even bigger pieces can hang over the sides of the kiln and when they fall off..throw them in. The key is never put anything over 3" thick. The kiln gets real hot to approach…use boots, an old coat and hat…nothing made of nylon. Nylon melts. You could adapt your fire ring or dig a pit. Once you get your fire going and are beginning to show white ash, throw another layer of wood on. Keep repeating this layering until you are out of wood or the kiln is filled. The bottom layers are void of oxygen and stay charcoal instead of turning to ash. Extinguish with water or if a pit, cover with old sheet metal and dirt to shut out the oxygen supply…wait 5 days for it to totally cool. You can really get rid of a mountain of dead branches this way. Least labor intensive method I've found. O.J.
Thanks for sharing! Through the process, a lot of energy is wasted. We have the mission to fix this and many many other things related. If you want to join as an investor or project member, check my channel for more information. An English channel is in the works.
Thanks very much for your informative video :) A bit off topic, but I have a dog almost identical to your large black and white one. Mine is a rescue, so I don't know her lineage. Is yours a specific breed, or just a mongrel? Cheers
@@meredithromo6353 Many thanks for that: I've been calling her a Collie Borzoi cross, as those were the images on line that appeared to match her the best, but, seeing as she comes from Romania, Bucovina makes total sense :)
OJ what a brilliant video you have made here. I've recently been looking into this and found your video one of the best available. easy to follow and keeping it low cost as well. thanks for taking the time to do this for the benefit of others like me. all the best to you in oregon usa from western australia....
Great economical build, will likely use this exact idea for my first setup! Pardon the nitpick, but maybe spare the plastic bag for something that won’t leave toxic residue in your system. This is supposed to be material you can use to grow consumable goods with. The potash is no exception, and you don’t need to risk that kind of contamination for something as simple as kindling.
