Double barrel charcoal retort

Making charcoal with a two barrel retort

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Double
• barrel
• charcoal
• retort

[SKBTE]

The biggest problem with this device is that it is made from carbon steel parts, which cannot tolerate the heat, and will soon burn through. The sheet metal liner inside the insulation has burned through in just a few runs and has had to be replaced twice. I've considered using a hardened, castable refractory material, poured into a form lining the inside of the outer barrel.

[SKBTE]

The insulation is high temperature, 1"" blanket made of a ceramic, magnesium, and silica material. It can sustain temperatures of 1832F.  I bought it from McMasterCarr. It works great!

[1969626]

what's the advantige in useing charcoal other then useing it in a forge

[SuperPks1]

does the smaller retort drum have any holes in it??how many?? just in lid ??or did u put it in upside down with no lid ??this device is perfect for the subub i live in !!

no smoke!!!No fire dept knocking on my door thnx!!!

[Unibomber2u]

Real Nice! You managed to convert to char materials that are no threat to the environment using a technology in such a rudementary form none have realized how many materials are easily converted. Quit referring to the process as a four letter word "Burn" your stereotyping the public into thinking your an incincerator Bozo. I would thnk it is the way you insist it is being burned as opposed to being converted into char not ash. None of you realize you have a basic solution to solid waste.

[Unibomber2u]

Your flaring off the most useful by-product of this process Methane or produced gas. You can convert any bio-mass not just wood in a retort tube. But you havn't made the connection for a continuous feed retort tube that is not batch fed. I know how this is done and can explain it easily to a person familiar even with this process. If anyone is interested in advancing this technology which has almost zero emissions send me a email with your experience and some of your knowledge. I will explain.

[Unibomber2u]

@Firefly804 The big kiln is just a larger version of the one shown. It is still a batch type conversion technique which is slow and not very useful on a commercial scale.

[TheDudeRulez09]

@TheDudeRulez09 here is the links, its a 4 part video series, not knocking your method just know that when that insulation is heated up it becomes toxic as it off gases....... v=RxW7g3IwD1k

[TheDudeRulez09]

how about EARTH? like the old Pennsylvania charcoal makers used?

[couloir007]

How about a stainless steel drum?

[panstriato2]

@SKBTE Hello, I just made one before reading this, I suspected it would not last that much though. Could you please tell me how many burns your´s lasted? Is the isnulation really necesary? I live in a tropical area and I was planing not to use insulation in my first burn, maybe I wont get so hi a temperature but use the kiln longer. Also, I am planing to make the outer layer with briks for the next one and thus only replace the iner barrel from time to time. Thanks