Biochar Making with Charmaster Dolph

Biochar making on a budget. Welcome to my first episode : ) Right here is where you will learn some great ideas to help you get started making your own biochar.

Biochar making on a budget of $5

You will need –

1. An empty 205 litre drum ( I got for free)

2. An empty 60 litre drum ( I got for free)

3. An old paint tin with lid ( I got for free)

4. A packet of matches $0.50

5. Wood to biochar ( I got for free)

6. Wood to burn ( I got for free)

7. Cold chisel to cut lids of drums and punch ventilation holes around the 205 litre drum. $4.50

Lets get started I will let my pictures tell the Story.

biochar making 60L drum and paint can full of wood to turn into biochar

Biochar is good for the soil. When a soil is well balanced then it is good for your food. When your food is well balanced it is good for you. When you are well balanced you are good for the earth. When the earth is well balanced then I am happy.

biochar making 60L drum upsidedown inside 205 litre drum biochar project

Next we need to fill her up with wood.

biochar making stacking 44 Gallon with wood

And fill her some more : ) after all we want the best biochar so we need to make the fire HOT.

biochar making Stacking drum to burn from the top down

Now we can light her up : )

biochar making Safety first light her up

Lets look closer at the setup.

biochar making Closeup of primary air inlet

Let her cook until the fire goes out. Then you can upend the big drum and retrieve the little drum that is 1/4 full of biochar. Look the little paint can is lit up as well.

biochar making paint can gases lit up – making biochar

So now you have seen the photos I will run through the details with you. Cut lid off 205 litre drum then at the other end make holes around the bottom this will be our primary air to allow the fire to burn. Now cut lid of the 60 litre drum and fill it with wood that you want to biochar. Note if you pack it with fine wood saw dust it will take a long time to pyrolize the same as if you packed it with big lumps of wood so rule here is to fill it with various size wood. Open your paint tin fill it with wood put the lid on and punch a hole in the lid. Now lay the 205 litre drum on its side and do the same with the 60 litre drum then push the 60 inside the 205 then lift the 205 upright again. Stack around the 60 litre lots of wood to burn and then make a kindling stack at the top for easy lighting. Light her up and enjoy the attraction, warmth and experience.

Happy Biochar Making

Charmaster Dolph Cooke

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