50AE Posted October 18, 2009 Posted October 18, 2009 Because I live in an appartment and not in a house and I can't go out to light a fire every day, I'd like to know a cheap way to make small batches of charcoal, like 200-300 grams at a time. I've been many fuels, but my best is 2 litters of alcohol, of acetone per 300 grams. I haven't tried with gasoline. Laquer thinner and naphta produce lampblack around the metal drum and this lowers the heat transfer.Is there a more efficient way ? Also, what shape of the burner should I make ?And what about compact butan stoves with a small bottle ?
firetech Posted October 18, 2009 Posted October 18, 2009 You could certainly do it on an outdoor grill with some charcoal briquettes as the heat source. Keep in mind 200-300g of charcoal turns out to be a lot of wood. The only issue if you did it in a grill would be the amount of smoke...right?
50AE Posted October 18, 2009 Author Posted October 18, 2009 That could be a good idea. The problem is - I don't have a grill and don't have the place for it.
NightHawkInLight Posted October 18, 2009 Posted October 18, 2009 That could be a good idea. The problem is - I don't have a grill and don't have the place for it.Buy a $20 charcoal grill at any hardware store. Consider it an investment that pays for itself in one use compared to using several liters of acetone. If you don't have the 4 square feet required for a grill, you are not in a location you have any business making charcoal in to begin with - buy it. You'll find it's far cheaper than cooking it with volatile liquids. Not to mention it's just plain irresponsible to have a liquid fire like that indoors, let alone in a building that you do not own. 1
FREAKYDUTCHMEN Posted October 18, 2009 Posted October 18, 2009 Make a campfire somewhere and make a large batch, so you don't have to do it very often. It's a messy job and almost impossible inside of an apartment or house.
flying fish Posted October 18, 2009 Posted October 18, 2009 I agree... Find a friend or relative that is able to (legally and safely) burn, and make a big bonfire and throw on your charcoal cooking container. You'll get plenty of high quality charcoal in no time. I don't know if he actually meant he was doing that indoors, but obviously that would not be a bright idea, lol. If not for the fire hazard from the cooking flame, for the combustible/ carcinogenic/ toxic fumes that would build up. I've cooked charcoal on a camp stove, and the fumes typically won't ignite right away because they are not given off a fast enough a rate. But if the fumes are allowed to collect in one area you will get flare-ups. It take a lot of time and fuel with camp stoves. But when you throw it on a hot bonfire, you'll see jets of flames coming from the top and get your charcoal in no time!
Seymour Posted October 18, 2009 Posted October 18, 2009 I agree with Freakydutchmen and flying fish. While I certainly do not live in an apartment, and indeed have plenty of back yard, I found it easier to do a big batch, instead of annoying neighbors and family with constant fires. So, I found a good willow tree. Since it was not too big, I cut it all down. It filled two 200L barrels. One big fire, and a year later, I still keep finding yet another bucket full stashed here or there. 1
Twotails Posted October 18, 2009 Posted October 18, 2009 I do small batches indoors ( after i wood chip a tree, i get alot of wood.) I set up a coffiee can, with a fitted aluminium lid, on a metal bar that roatates (like a grill rotisserie) I set up two butane torches on there lowest setting ( it will burn on a full tank for roughly 2 hours each, before it needs filling, a regular butane refill will fill my torch 2-3 times) I load the canister 1/2 full of small wood chips, and let it go for an hour and a half. then i let it cool, refill the tanks, check the charcoal, and if it needs more times, i let it go. it works for me, in small batches, when im in a pinch.
KruseMissile Posted October 19, 2009 Posted October 19, 2009 when i go camping i bring my containers and cook every night. So if im gone for 1 week, i have about 5lbs of charcoal Or when i go to the desert i will cook alot of it!
Ventsi Posted October 19, 2009 Posted October 19, 2009 If you can find the small methanol gel cooking cans , I'd say get a whole bunch of them, they burn for approx ~2 hours. Or you can go to a remote location and make enough charcoal to last you a life time.
50AE Posted October 19, 2009 Author Posted October 19, 2009 (edited) It's not really inside, I do it outside, on the balcony, which is opened. The problem is - I need the charcoal now. Ventsi, I'll search for this methanol gel. Or could I make/buy something like a charcoal chimney which you guys use for making MgAl ? Edited October 19, 2009 by 50AE
dagabu Posted October 19, 2009 Posted October 19, 2009 (edited) It's not really inside, I do it outside, on the balcony, which is opened. The problem is - I need the charcoal now. Ventsi, I'll search for this methanol gel. Or could I make/buy something like a charcoal chimney which you guys use for making MgAl ? There a bunch of ways to make charcoal, the simplest is to fill a can with your wood, light it on fire, let it burn until the flame is almost diminished then put the cap with a hole on it and let it finish. Yes, there is ash to deal with but if you have the time (and you don't) you can wash charcoal to remove all ash etc. the lid fit does not have to be perfect, just close enough so that you don't get any O2 into the can. Charcoal is made elsewhere by filling a 55 gal can full of twigs, starting them on fire and dropping a steel disk just about the opening size into the can and using mud to seal the can. I throw my retort onto my gas grill and crank all four burners up to high until the smoke is just rolling out of the retort, I drop the heat down to medium until there is no more smoke coming out and shut off the heat until the can is cool to the touch. D Edited October 19, 2009 by dagabu
Twotails Posted October 19, 2009 Posted October 19, 2009 I wonder if one could use a microwave. Not a good one mind you, and not indoors, but is you where to say, take a fireproof bowl/ect, and loosly cover it with another heat proof disk, might it work? I think it might work if you used sawdust, or small chipped wood. Might work for newspaper at the least.
Mumbles Posted October 19, 2009 Posted October 19, 2009 In a pinch before I have used an electric hotplate and a metal coffee can with a few layers of Al foil as a lid. It takes longer, but beggars can't be choosers I suppose. After it's done another layer or two of Al foil over the top is enough to keep the majority of oxygen out.
dagabu Posted October 19, 2009 Posted October 19, 2009 In a pinch before I have used an electric hotplate and a metal coffee can with a few layers of Al foil as a lid. It takes longer, but beggars can't be choosers I suppose. After it's done another layer or two of Al foil over the top is enough to keep the majority of oxygen out. I just got done posting two upright pianos in the free catergory and saw a turkey deep fryer a guy was offering for free! Apparently he used it to cook things other than turkeys, "I made a bunch of charcoal for my Weber from oak and my girlfriends brother was pissed and said ruined it, so I'm giving it away for free and gotta buy a new one." Why didn't I think of that? D
Mumbles Posted October 19, 2009 Posted October 19, 2009 The girlfriends brother sounds like a moron. I could see potentially ruining the pot given the amount of tar and other nasties that get given off, but the burner is 100% fine, but new pots aren't that expensive. As a side note, they're good to use to make beer with too. Really hot and directed flame.
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