Almostparadise Posted September 11 Posted September 11 I've seen on you tube people making hybrid charcoal cookers by putting a retort inside of an actual TLUD. I'm not sure why they don't just choose one or the other? What is the advantage? Both methods produce charcoal. I am still pretty new at this so what am I missing? I recently started cooking my 5 gallon retort in a 55 gallon drum. I drilled 15 1/2" holes in the bottom and set it on a few bricks. Wow, what a difference compared to cooking in a fire pit. It's much quicker and takes a lot less firewood. I figure if I need to make a big batch or cook an entire bale of ERC I can modify the 55 gallon into a TLUD. I just can't figure out the benefit of a hybrid cooker.
Richtee Posted September 12 Posted September 12 IN my opinion...yer not gonna want ERC for cooking. Now..I never cooked shavings. I cook splits. And..it’s a great charcoal for cooking. But use hardwoods. And the 55 with a gas return below it is about the same thing. Sooo YMMV.
cmjlab Posted September 12 Posted September 12 Are you sure it's a retort and not one of the "gassifiers" you are seeing. The gassifiers have an outer and inner container, and uses burning wood to make "char" I think it's called. Some of them resemble a retort inside a TLUD. I'm not questioning your knowledge, just making sure you didn't make the same mistake I did when I first saw the "bio char" cookers (in fact I didn't switch to a TLUD for a long time because of very similar thoughts about double the work, and a complex contraptuon)
Almostparadise Posted September 15 Author Posted September 15 On 9/11/2024 at 8:22 PM, Richtee said: IN my opinion...yer not gonna want ERC for cooking. Now..I never cooked shavings. I cook splits. And..it’s a great charcoal for cooking. But use hardwoods. And the 55 with a gas return below it is about the same thing. Sooo YMMV. My apologies. I should have titled the post "making charcoal". The work "cooking" always comes to mind instead. I'll need to break that habit. I am making the charcoal for pyro endeavors. My last batch was red maple. It makes descent bp but what I really want it for is to try in glitter compositions. I'm wondering if I'll notice any difference between it and the white pine I use for charcoal streamers. I use staghorn sumac for lift and break. On 9/11/2024 at 10:16 PM, cmjlab said: Are you sure it's a retort and not one of the "gassifiers" you are seeing. The gassifiers have an outer and inner container, and uses burning wood to make "char" I think it's called. Some of them resemble a retort inside a TLUD. I'm not questioning your knowledge, just making sure you didn't make the same mistake I did when I first saw the "bio char" cookers (in fact I didn't switch to a TLUD for a long time because of very similar thoughts about double the work, and a complex contraptuon) I may have been a bit hasty. One video in particular mentioned "hybrid". The others I looked at did reference biochar.
Richtee Posted September 15 Posted September 15 LOL..OK. I also happen to be a BBQ fan, and sausage and cured meat maker. Soo... yeah cooking is another thing to me
cmjlab Posted September 15 Posted September 15 8 hours ago, Almostparadise said: I use staghorn sumac for lift and break. I really want to try Staggorn Sumac for charcoal. When I learned about it I was excited because I live in Northern VA and have a ton of "Staggorn Sumac" around me! It turned out NONE of it is Sumac, they were all Mimosa trees..... I was very disappointed to say the elastic, and have yet to find any! Plus I read it makes great iced tea (assuming the bugs don't beat you to it).
Almostparadise Posted September 15 Author Posted September 15 1 hour ago, Richtee said: LOL..OK. I also happen to be a BBQ fan, and sausage and cured meat maker. Soo... yeah cooking is another thing to me I am a fan as well. Mainly the eating part! If I put as much into it as I do my bp, I might have something then. 😉 40 minutes ago, cmjlab said: I really want to try Staggorn Sumac for charcoal. When I learned about it I was excited because I live in Northern VA and have a ton of "Staggorn Sumac" around me! It turned out NONE of it is Sumac, they were all Mimosa trees..... I was very disappointed to say the elastic, and have yet to find any! Plus I read it makes great iced tea (assuming the bugs don't beat you to it). Wow, they do look similar. Looks like those Mimosa trees grow a bit taller. The Staghorn Sumac flowers will make something closer to tart lemonade I've heard. They grow all around here in Southern NH. Easy pickins! I've wanted to try Glossy Buckthorn (Rhamnus Frangula) as it grown all over these parts. Everywhere but the places I look! I'll come across a stand of it one of these days.
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