Zaka Posted January 28, 2012 Irie, So got round to hacking down my biggest mango tree. Decided it was time to do some Coals..... First off; Chop down the tree & stack the branches & leaves on the side, we'll be using those later..... Cut logs in to suitable/movable pieces. Next Dig a pit.... Then stack the logs in parallel to each other. Using the branches with leaves on, stuff into any open spaces. Get some old galvanize & shore up the sides.... Get some freshly cut grass, banana leaf or anything green....Lay on the top of the pile. Now it's time to pack soil on top to seal everything. The pit is lit at the bottom end & two holes are made at the top end, to the center of the pit.... Bottom end is seal up with a sheet of galvanize and more soil is put on top to complete the seal...... Digging out the pit Monday?? But will take photos. Respect, Z 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sallubrious Posted January 28, 2012 How do you light it once it's all sealed up ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dionysus Posted January 28, 2012 sallyd, i think he means he lights the bottom end before sealing that particular section up. this is cool, i've not thought about doing this myself before. would a similar process work on a much smaller scale to make drawing/art style charcoal? if so, this is something i will be doing often thanks zaka Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
naja naja Posted January 29, 2012 I have seen hugh fernly-wittingstall have this done to his hedgerow trimmings. Essentially it was a large metal water tank like things, they packed it full of the timber, placed a small ember in the middle, maybe with sum starter material, I forget exactly, but yeah. Put the lid on and sealed with dirt, it had a few small chimenies built ininto it as it was obviously purpose built. Looks like u got the principals sussed, will be really interesting to see results. On the TV, the wood looked just like when it went in, just all black and crumbly.. Kinda off topic, any1 ever noticed that charcol that falls out of the fireplace as it tends to do, once cooled sometimes has a very metallic sound to it? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
niggles Posted January 29, 2012 (edited) Ive noticed the lovely glass-like cracking sounds as it cools... do you mean metallic sounds from hitting the bricks or from cooling or other? --edit--- Thanks for sharing your charcoal creating, its thought provoking! Edited January 29, 2012 by niggles Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
naja naja Posted January 29, 2012 on the bricks and sometimes against other pieces of charcol. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
niggles Posted January 29, 2012 I never regretted my handheld microscope purchase! I shall look at some upon arrival home. unfortunately It has no camera attachment, (anyone know what sort of cost that would be?) so I will have to describe it to you. Id really like a microscope attatchment for my dSLR. I like looking at minituare things! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dionysus Posted January 29, 2012 perhaps upon turning into charcoal some of the carbon arranges its self as graphite? i'm not sure how that would work, but i have always thought graphite to be the only 'metal like' allotrope of carbon Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zaka Posted February 9, 2012 Irie, Sorry kinda dropped the ball on this one! I was crook for a few days after, & now it's been raining for a week..... Needless to say the pit went out! Should be dry season next week or so!! I re-packed the pit today. Depending on the rain, I'll lite it in the next few days.... btw, We use the Coals mostly for cooking with + lots of barbies... Respect, Z Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
