This was great :) The lay-down method has it advantages of lighter and easier for most to do as many only want smaller quantities or don't have the timber etc and don't want the neighbours panicking and calling the fire brigade on them for having what they consider a crazy fire over the fence. The lay-down is more subtle. I would use it in areas where the fuel is a bit light on. I would happily use the upright wherever possible for the larger amounts required. This place, in a few areas. My other property is 75% bush so this will work well when camping up there. Gotta re-do most of the fencing there since the bushfires went through. Strangely, the weeds didn't burn, nor any of the 1000's of wattle trees were touched either, they're fire-retardant. 1000's of red stringybark had their leaves frazzled or fried and their thick bark charred but only on the surface. Three weeks later they all had new bright green shoots popping out everywhere. We did lose the redgums (to root fireballs and all leaves) but still have the trunks and med-lge branches to work with. The GIANT yellow boxes were the same. Leaves gone, but root-balls burnt out so they fell ending their 800 - 1000+ year lives. A great shame for these magnificent giants 4-5 adults with stretched arms around them. Lots of native flora and fauna. Many different native bees even the unmistakable neon cuckoo bees. Due to these factors and others, I am really happy I stumbled across your channel a couple of weeks ago :) You and Pat both look fit and well. Have a great day from down South :) It's cooled down enough now so gotta go feed the cows and sheep
Its crazy that the big valuable trees get destroyed and the stuff that could do with a bit of thinning gets through, whoever is running the show has a weird sense of humour. John
Thanks for sharing this. The upright self-feeding version you've developed and demonstrated here can make a sizable quantity in one go. The lying-down drum method shown in a previous video of yours might be more suitable for someone who doesn't have a welder and only wants a little bit of charcoal. Next time I see abandoned oil drum, I just might grab it and bring it home!
Yes if you are a home gardener the lying down drum is ideal easy simple The upright drum takes a bit more understanding of whats going on but is a lot quicker and produces a whole drum full if you want to. John
Good Day John, Sent two videos by email Last one was about Biochar trial feeding biochar to cattle, and spreading in a pen. Video Posted Oct 2020 University of Nebraska.
Good job. Very interesting. I was a bit surprised at the hay converting to charcoal. May try to do a bit of hay/grass/leaves and see what happens. It would make a very fine granular powder if done right. Thanks for the video.
That looks like this is the way to go when you've got long pieces of wood. But bung the stuff that's no longer than the height of the drum in the laid down drums. - Too easy!!
I guess you mean a comparison between the simple lay down drum and the upright drum. No I havn't done it but its a great idea like start both together use the same sort of wood and see what each method does in 2 or 3 hours. John
As I want to use my charcoal as fuel for my forge, would wetting it cause difficulties lighting the charcoal? Seems to me as it would which is why I plan to just cap the barrel with a lid and ring. Figured I'd ask anyway, though.
Side barrel method, you can only get about 3/4 of a barrel of char. And takes a good 5 hours before you can put water on it. How long exactly from start to finish. Did the up right barrel take?
I did say in the video it took three and a half hours from when I lit the gas until we put the water on. this is my most successful experiment to date. you are right about the drum on its side. With Australian hard wood cut like 1 inch thick it takes over 5 hours to make 3/4 of a drum. If you use large wood the time goes up considerably. I was pretty amazed how full the drum was. John
I know of a bloke in the US that uses old pallets you just have to work out a way to remove the nails. He said its good. Basically any wood will work garden cuttings etc. John
This was great :) The lay-down method has it advantages of lighter and easier for most to do as many only want smaller quantities or don't have the timber etc and don't want the neighbours panicking and calling the fire brigade on them for having what they consider a crazy fire over the fence. The lay-down is more subtle. I would use it in areas where the fuel is a bit light on. I would happily use the upright wherever possible for the larger amounts required. This place, in a few areas. My other property is 75% bush so this will work well when camping up there. Gotta re-do most of the fencing there since the bushfires went through.
Strangely, the weeds didn't burn, nor any of the 1000's of wattle trees were touched either, they're fire-retardant. 1000's of red stringybark had their leaves frazzled or fried and their thick bark charred but only on the surface. Three weeks later they all had new bright green shoots popping out everywhere. We did lose the redgums (to root fireballs and all leaves) but still have the trunks and med-lge branches to work with. The GIANT yellow boxes were the same. Leaves gone, but root-balls burnt out so they fell ending their 800 - 1000+ year lives. A great shame for these magnificent giants 4-5 adults with stretched arms around them. Lots of native flora and fauna. Many different native bees even the unmistakable neon cuckoo bees.
Due to these factors and others, I am really happy I stumbled across your channel a couple of weeks ago :) You and Pat both look fit and well. Have a great day from down South :) It's cooled down enough now so gotta go feed the cows and sheep
Its crazy that the big valuable trees get destroyed and the stuff that could do with a bit of thinning gets through, whoever is running the show has a weird sense of humour. John
Thanks for sharing this. The upright self-feeding version you've developed and demonstrated here can make a sizable quantity in one go. The lying-down drum method shown in a previous video of yours might be more suitable for someone who doesn't have a welder and only wants a little bit of charcoal. Next time I see abandoned oil drum, I just might grab it and bring it home!
Yes if you are a home gardener the lying down drum is ideal easy simple
The upright drum takes a bit more understanding of whats going on but is a lot quicker and produces a whole drum full if you want to. John
Another method I will eventually try. You're a champion! Thanks for sharing your knowledge!
Thanks Vaughn. John
Thanks John you’re right the self feeding drum is so much quicker than the other ways. That’s how I’ll be doing it in the future.
Yeah its great quicker and makes much more as well. I am learning with each experiment. John
Good Day John, Sent two videos by email Last one was about Biochar trial feeding biochar to cattle, and spreading in a pen. Video Posted Oct 2020 University of Nebraska.
Thanks I will check them out. John
Good job. Very interesting. I was a bit surprised at the hay converting to charcoal. May try to do a bit of hay/grass/leaves and see what happens. It would make a very fine granular powder if done right. Thanks for the video.
You would think being lit first it would burn away. John
That’s perfect char John that’s weird how the hay still looked like hay!Lynne and Wayne
Yeah I am learning something each time I experiment. I was surprised at the hay I thought the gas would have burnt it away. John
After just finishing my ''lay down" Biochar making Drum it looks like I need to start looking for another drum.
The lay down drum works why not try both? John
Great work mate! Made a huge amount that one barrel.
Yeah I was impressed alright couldn't get much more in the barrel. John
I do the drum method. Well done!
Good on you. I was pretty happy with this experiment. John
👍👍❤
👍👍👍John
That looks like this is the way to go when you've got long pieces of wood. But bung the stuff that's no longer than the height of the drum in the laid down drums. - Too easy!!
Yeah its all about whats easiest have a upright drum for the long stuff and a drum on its side for the shorter stuff. John
Did you ever do the comparison video? If not, are you planning to???
I guess you mean a comparison between the simple lay down drum and the upright drum. No I havn't done it but its a great idea like start both together use the same sort of wood and see what each method does in 2 or 3 hours. John
You might want to try larger logs of bamboo. It's quite decorative in biochar form and Asians seek it for its feng shui properties...
Thats a new one I will have to look into that. Getting the bamboo might be a problem. John
best method yet .hope mine is half as good.can't wait to try it. stay safe. gary
G'day Gary I am learning all the time but this one will be hard to beat. John
As I want to use my charcoal as fuel for my forge, would wetting it cause difficulties lighting the charcoal? Seems to me as it would which is why I plan to just cap the barrel with a lid and ring. Figured I'd ask anyway, though.
Wetting it is not a problem as long as you make it in advance and let it dry. I have burnt it after its been wet.
Hi mate. 3 years on which is your favourite method of making char?
It depends on the wood I have. If its long the upright barrel. If its less than the length of the barrel. The horizontal barrel. John
Stupid question here, can you do this for charcoal for BBQ? Or is it unsafe?
Its fine no problems. John
Side barrel method, you can only get about 3/4 of a barrel of char. And takes a good 5 hours before you can put water on it. How long exactly from start to finish. Did the up right barrel take?
I did say in the video it took three and a half hours from when I lit the gas until we put the water on. this is my most successful experiment to date. you are right about the drum on its side. With Australian hard wood cut like 1 inch thick it takes over 5 hours to make 3/4 of a drum. If you use large wood the time goes up considerably. I was pretty amazed how full the drum was. John
@@farminglifeaustralia6716 Sorry I missed you saying it. Sent you a video via Email. A large Char maker.
@@charlescoker7752 I was thinking of doing a side by side comparison of the upright drum and the drum on its side. John
Can you use wood from old pallets?
I know of a bloke in the US that uses old pallets you just have to work out a way to remove the nails. He said its good. Basically any wood will work garden cuttings etc. John
@@farminglifeaustralia6716 cheers mate