if you have wood you can make charcoal which will work fine for forging.
a 30 gal drum makes a good retort.
people try 55 gal ones but they are too big, the whole point of the retort is to limit combustion and the 55 gal drums are large enough to have internal convection currents, (ie they suck fresh air down from the top.
The trick is like 4, 1 in holes in a the bottom edge of a 30 gal drum with both ends cut out. and bricks to cover them if flow needs to be limited.
the barrel is charged with some paper small flamables on the bottom easily lit from one of the holes and then filled with wood scraps, boards, split wood. . . .
The tinder is lit and once started the combustion happens mainly on the gas emitted by the wood and largely at the surface of the barrel top. I think the guy I was helping said about 20 min. and then the fire starts to drop down into the barrel. when that happens the charcoal is done.
if you have wood you can
if you have wood you can make charcoal which will work fine for forging.
a 30 gal drum makes a good retort.
people try 55 gal ones but they are too big, the whole point of the retort is to limit combustion and the 55 gal drums are large enough to have internal convection currents, (ie they suck fresh air down from the top.
The trick is like 4, 1 in holes in a the bottom edge of a 30 gal drum with both ends cut out. and bricks to cover them if flow needs to be limited.
the barrel is charged with some paper small flamables on the bottom easily lit from one of the holes and then filled with wood scraps, boards, split wood. . . .
The tinder is lit and once started the combustion happens mainly on the gas emitted by the wood and largely at the surface of the barrel top. I think the guy I was helping said about 20 min. and then the fire starts to drop down into the barrel. when that happens the charcoal is done.
Gene Olson
Sculptor
Elk River, MN