Arthur Posted March 19 Posted March 19 I've lost my usual supplier of charcoal, so I have to make some. Does anyone have good ideas of the process for cooking a pint can of wood to it's charcoal over a camping gas stove? Is there a good cook time? I don't have the yard space to build a big fire and keep it hot for hours, but I do want properly cooked charcoal. I tried one batch cooked for an hour after the smoke started, it wasn't as hot a charcoal as I hoped, do I try another half hour or another hour or.... I'm even thinking of building an electric oven with heater, thermostat and timer so that I can make a batch when needed and it be exactly the same as the batch before.
All10Fingers Posted March 19 Posted March 19 Its less about the time and more about allowing the wood to fully oxidize. Different sizes of wood pieces. Different temperatures and different airflow variables all take different times. Just watch for the smoke to stop jetting out the vent hole. It won't stop completely but after it's no longer pressurized gas coming out and just simple smoke gently wafting out. Then take it off the fire and cover the hole. Let it sit and cool off slowly and it should be ready by the next morning. I'm by no means an expert but that's what I do and it works for me.
Almostparadise Posted March 19 Posted March 19 I take mine out once the flames sprouting from the vent holes die.
Norsepyro Posted March 19 Posted March 19 If you keep a steady fire then the rule is to cook until the gases stop, and a litle longer perhaps 5-10 minutes. Wood pieces should be 12-15mm thick. One tip is to turn the can upside down so the gases ignite and contribute to the heating. I can cook 2 6 liter cans with about 3kg of charcoal briquettes this way. I often do this in my wood stove indoors in the winter so the heat is not wasted. I need to reduce the air flow on the stove when the gases are escaping at maximum rate so the heating will be restricted. I have never measured the cooking temperature, but my softwood alder charcoal always performs well. The cooking usually takes a little over 1 hour with soft woods, hardwoods maybe 90 minutes.
Norsepyro Posted March 19 Posted March 19 I meant to say that I cook 2 cans each 6 liters of wood pieces, by using a bed of charcoal briquettes under. This gives a steady heating, and you will easily see when the gases stop as the flame will then go out.
SKC Posted March 22 Posted March 22 On 3/19/2025 at 6:47 AM, Arthur said: I've lost my usual supplier of charcoal, so I have to make some. Does anyone have good ideas of the process for cooking a pint can of wood to it's charcoal over a camping gas stove? Is there a good cook time? I don't have the yard space to build a big fire and keep it hot for hours, but I do want properly cooked charcoal. I tried one batch cooked for an hour after the smoke started, it wasn't as hot a charcoal as I hoped, do I try another half hour or another hour or.... I'm even thinking of building an electric oven with heater, thermostat and timer so that I can make a batch when needed and it be exactly the same as the batch before. Worry not, charcoal making is not tough but time consuming. There is no fixed cooking time, depends upon dryness of the wood. So debark and leave them under Sun for 2-3 weeks. You don't need a yard for this, just few square feet ground area. Try to produce a vigorous heat. When the smoke dies, a flame will appear at the vent hole. And when the flame goes off you are done. Remove the can and cover the hole with wet cloth. (This is to prevent to stop passing oxygen into the heated can). Charcoal is ready.
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