I'm trying to make charcoal. But it keeps burning; long bright flame sticking out of the can!

[Ubehage]

I tried to make some charcoal today. Just a little experimenting, to see which of my woods will work.

 

I used a cylindrical aluminum-can with a tight lid. I drilled a 8mm-hole in the lid, and put the can with woods into my grill-starter filled with BBQ-coals.

 

But, a long flame shoots out the can. In my mind, this means that the wood is actually burning and not being charred.

 

Any ideas as to what I have done wrong?

[dagabu]

Not to worry! The flame is all of the volatile organic compounds burning off. This is what you WANT! Keep cooking it until the flame goes out and you cannot light it with a match or lighter then let it sit for another 15-30 minutes.

 

Remove it from the fire and PLUG THE HOLE! If you let oxygen in, it will burn your charcoal, dont let that happen. Dont open it to look, even for a moment, let it cool overnight.

 

A MUCH better way is to use the Top Light Up Draft method, or TLUD. Also known as biochar.

 

Look on this thread: http://www.amateurpyro.com/forums/topic/8557-tlud-cooker/?p=112291

[Ubehage]

Thank you!