I made this biochar last weekend. I used up brush I got from a cedar tree that I needed to clear up.
Essentially this is a substitute for a burn pile. It took me a bit to figure out why it works as well as it does. I have two barrels that both look about the same that I did together.
I'll soak it in water for a while and try to activate it with something and chip it.
I also threw some old bovine bones in the dogs had brought up from somewhere.
#grownostr
It took me awhile to figure out why this barrel design works as well as it does. It's in a similar class as an open cone or barrel with a saddle cut. A similar design is a barrel with no holes that is tipped over about 45° up from the ground. I like the latter but it is more complicated because you need a way to prop up the barrel.
There's really nothing wrong
with a barrel with a saddle cut, but it is harder to cut out the hole for that than it is to drill the holes, and it requires water to quench it. Also the saddle cut is typically left with a sharp edge which is a bit of a hazard.
I've never tried an open conekiln, but generally it would need to be quenched with water as well. The purchased variety are expensive and heavy, but I imagine they're very nice to use. The dug variety, well I live in the Ozarks, so digging is too much work and it isn't portable.
My barrel design does require a lid, although you can probably modify a barrel with a solid end. Otherwise it is as easy as drilling holes, burning off the paint, and presto you have another charcoal kiln! It's easy to move around and can go anywhere on the property without needing quench water. If you feed it carefully and have dry feed stock it doesn't make too much smoke, but obviously there is no spark arrestor.
That's awesome. I recommend you chip it before you charge it. They way you don't pulverize the good little creatures inside
I need to figure out how I'm going to do this
