Lump Charcoal

[SmokerBuilder]

made my own Lump charcoal using the tutorial from the naked wizz's site
homemade charcoal kiln
he mentions the degassing process and I thought it was really cool so I made a short Video of it.
youtube video I made

here is mine on the right and Royal oak on the left.


I have not cooked with it yet. I hope to have some time soon.

[Richtee]

Without looking... (my puter hates vids...)

You using the outgassing to fuel the cook?

[Fishawn]

Pretty Cool Stuff.... Nice Job

[SmokerBuilder]

Without looking... (my puter hates vids...)

You using the outgassing to fuel the cook?

it definitely helps, being my first time makin lump I thought it was really cool to see the process happening.

[Adiochiro3]

Ive thought about doing this many times. thanks for a great tutorial!

[davidmcg]

Well thats certainly one method. But in this video they don't do the de-gassing like you have shown and his barrel doesn't blow;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIuXB...layer_embedded

and Part 2;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aARJXCV_v4&NR=1

Plus his is made from only 1 barrel. He doesn't have an inner and outer barrel.

[aczeller]

well, with all of this being said, does it really matter what wood you use, as long as it's a hardwood? I've got a ton of mulberry and apple, but would rather save the apple for actual smoke production, rather than charcoal.

[Richtee]

well, with all of this being said, does it really matter what wood you use, as long as it's a hardwood? I've got a ton of mulberry and apple, but would rather save the apple for actual smoke production, rather than charcoal.

If it were perfect lump... charcoal...C (carbon) probably not. But some characteristics remain usually... I smell differences in lump all the time.

And I agree on the apple. Good point. But if ya had an orchard...

[aczeller]

But if ya had an orchard...

trust me... if i had an orchard, y'all would never see my fat ass again! lol

[Fishawn]

Rob (Blues_n_Cues) makes his own also I believe

[SmokerBuilder]

It was really a good learning experience to do this. I have decided to make a different kiln or change this one around. In the tutorial I used they tell you to leave the lids cracked at different points and I think that during the process I had the lids closed too much. So I have decided to put a stack that runs from the inner barrel and exits through the outer barrel so I can install a flapper valve to control how much the inner barrel is drafting and do the same for the outer barrel with it's own separate vent. When I built mine I used a weber charcoal grate to hold my inner barrel up. Well the old grate didn't hold up too well, so I would recommend using the fire bricks like they recommended.


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[Richtee]

OK I checked the vid out..if you are rebuilding...vent the exhaust gas out a tube back UNDER the cooker..the gas burns! Free heat! I had a pict of this lemme look...

[SmokerBuilder]

Well thats certainly one method. But in this video they don't do the de-gassing like you have shown and his barrel doesn't blow;

Plus his is made from only 1 barrel. He doesn't have an inner and outer barrel.

looks like he has used a direct fired method, I used the indirect fired method where my barrel is fired from below it. The degassing process happens after the moisture has been mostly removed, at that point the barrel lid is closed completely off so the volatile elements are forced down to burn off. This is what causes the flames shooting down out of the inner barrel. Although his videos didn't show this happening, I'm sure it did. The method he used seems to work just as well tho. And it seems a little easier to start with.


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[SmokerBuilder]

OK I checked the vid out..if you are rebuilding...vent the exhaust gas out a tube back UNDER the cooker..the gas burns! Free heat! I had a pict of this lemme look...

That's a great idea! :)
But I think I would still do one at the top for the moisture. I will post a pic later of the amount of moisture that comes out... It was a lot!

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[Richtee]

OK...you lay the barrel sideways build fire underneath...support with "X" "horses.... and the gasses venting out will assist in the burn. When the gas quits burning, have a cap to slip over pipe...

That moistre won't matter... it'll get vaporized again and vent out the pipe... AND deposit 512 calories per gram upon the barrel bottom too...MORE free heat.