Lonestar Grillz 24x36 offset smoker, grill, w/ main chamber charcoal grate and 3 tel-tru thermometers - left, right and center
Yoke Up custom charcoal basket and a Grill Wraps cover.
22.5 copper kettle w/ SnS, DnG, BBQ vortex, gasket and stainless steel hinge kit.
Napoleon gas grill (soon to go bye bye) rotting out.
1 maverick et-733 digital thermometer - black
1 maverick et-733 - gray
1 new standard grilling remote digital thermometer
1 thermoworks thermopen mk4 - red
1 thermoworks thermopop - red
Pre Miala flavor injector
taylor digital scale
TSM meat grinder
chefs choice food slicer
cuisinhart food processor
food saver vacuum sealer
TSM harvest food dehydrator
Hi, my name is Darrell. I'm an OTR truck driver for over 25 years. During my off time I love doing backyard cooks. I have a 48" Lang Deluxe smoker, Rec-Tec pellet smoker,1 Weber Genesis 330, 1 Weber Performer (blue), 2 Weber kettles (1 black and 1 Copper), 1 26" Weber kettle, a WSM, 8 Maverick Redi Chek thermometers, a PartyQ, 2 SnS, Grill Grates, Cast Iron grates, 1 ThermoPop (orange) and 2 ThermoPens (pink and orange) and planning on adding more cooking accessories. Now I have an Anova sous vide, the Dragon blower and 2 Chef alarms from Thermoworks.
I remember it too. I used to make lump charcoal back a couple of years before joining the Pit. I need to get me another burning barrel since the last one got destroyed by heat and rust.
Disclaimer: Lots of ways to make biochar and charcoal. This is just the method I adapted based on what I gathered on the subject.
I use a retort method but I let that off gas vent and burn. I dont capture to use in the process as many do. The basic idea is to heat the wood in a low/no oxygen environment to release the volatile organic compounds and convert the wood to carbon/
Heres a few pics:
The parts and peices of the retore, 1-55 gal drum with 1/3 cut off, 3 rough vent holes cut in the bottom for air flow
A 16 gallon drum open top ( lid can just set on it DO NOT FASTEN THAT DOWN
Next build a fire around the inner barrel and grab a beverage. In about an hour or so the off gas thats been venting will start to burn and things will get rocking. I use a iron weight on top on the lid of the inner to hold it in place but give enough movement for the vention to take place.
Last edited by Jon Solberg; April 7, 2018, 10:22 AM.
Like I said this is just how I do it. Simple, cheap, fairly safe. Nothing to build really. I know whats in my lump. Not to mention its just nice to have a fire now and then
Last edited by Jon Solberg; April 7, 2018, 10:23 AM.
Scotch: Current favorite- The Arran (anything by them), Glenmorangie 12yr Lasanta, sherry cask finished. The Balvenie Double Wood, also like Oban 18yr, and The Glenlivet Nadurra (Oloroso sherry cask finished) among others. Neat please.
About meReal name: Aaron
Location: Farwell, Michigan- near Clare. (dead center of lower peninsula)
Occupation:
Healthcare- Licensed & Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) at MyMichigan Health, a University of Michigan Health System.
holehogg Maybe hard to compare the burn time but I can say I get a more consistent burn with the home brew. Consistent size as well once you get the cook time dialed in. if you over cook it it breaks up more. It also does not spark like many lumps do. The lumps that spark are made with an open burn process then doused with water. I think the sparking is from latent water thats trapped in the carbon BUT thats just my theory. I cant prove that.
Last edited by Jon Solberg; April 7, 2018, 12:18 PM.
Jon Solberg can see you have done your homework and can see a lot of pit members following your lead. I have access plenty 55 gallon drums just need to find an inner one and I am going to give it a try. Wood is cheap here and can be bought on almost every street corner.
holehogg thank you. Wood is cheap and you get good lump for penny’s a pound. Check out the BBQ Central Show segment when you can. There some good detail in that.
I saw this post a long time ago and liked the idea, I wanted to make some mainly to see if my own was any better or worse than what I can buy. Recently I went to buy some lump charcoal and I went to three stores and none was available so that prompted me to make my own. I started the process yesterday and here is my finished results it was easy to do. I used white ash firewood. I have a chain saw and my in-laws have a farm so I get my wood for free. I found a used grease pail with a lid and half of regular drum so my set up was free. The first picture is after about an hour and the off gases are burning.
I have used my home made charcoal a couple of times now and it definitely lights faster than store made charcoal. I will be making more now that the outside temps are cooler. I have access to all the free wood I want.
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