Any new small charcoal retorts out there?

[timbernut]

Hi this is first go [ATTACH]218406[/ATTACH][ATTACH]218407[/ATTACH][ATTACH]218408[/ATTACH] may work may not

 

 

Hey joe! How did it go?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Arbtalk

[richardwale]

Nothing technical in my set up! Just the end product in a coal bucket. Second attempt i emptied the chamber too quickly and the bloody stuff caught fire, what a waste. Got another load in thus afternoon, larger softwood, pics to follow.

All good fun

[Woodworks]

Nothing technical in my set up! Just the end product in a coal bucket. Second attempt i emptied the chamber too quickly and the bloody stuff caught fire, what a waste. Got another load in thus afternoon, larger softwood, pics to follow.

All good fun

 

Keep it simple I say

 

Yes I made the mistake of opening up a barrel too soon You only do it once

[Woodworks]

Hi this is first go [ATTACH]218406[/ATTACH][ATTACH]218407[/ATTACH][ATTACH]218408[/ATTACH] may work may not

 

That looks a big beast. Hope it works

[HertsWood]

Hi Steve & Richard,

 

With delivery to my yard in Hertfordshire, the Retort was £15350 + VAT, this also included 2x 1m3 cooling bins as well.

 

I went with standard thickness steel (10mm boiler plating) for long life; you can choose 6mm but obviously life expectancy will be reduced.

 

My retort weighs about 3 tonnes.

 

I got a 40% RDPE grant towards the project (this is net of VAT) - so about £7K.

 

It gets commissioned next week by Nick Harris from 4seasonsFuels.

 

As you can see, the right crane truck operator can site it where you want it.

[SteveA]

Hi Steve & Richard,

 

With delivery to my yard in Hertfordshire, the Retort was £15350 + VAT, this also included 2x 1m3 cooling bins as well.

 

I went with standard thickness steel (10mm boiler plating) for long life; you can choose 6mm but obviously life expectancy will be reduced.

 

My retort weighs about 3 tonnes.

 

I got a 40% RDPE grant towards the project (this is net of VAT) - so about £7K.

 

It gets commissioned next week by Nick Harris from 4seasonsFuels.

 

As you can see, the right crane truck operator can site it where you want it. [ATTACH]218469[/ATTACH][ATTACH]218470[/ATTACH][ATTACH]218471[/ATTACH]

 

Wow! That looks amaaazing!

Would live one of those but sadly is out my league on finances

 

Good on ya for getting a grant towards it, way to go if you can tick the boxes

 

I recall the larger, double barrel Pressvess being fitted with ceramic insulation & firebricks.... does yours follow a similar design?

 

And I'm kinda confused.... the barrel where you load the wood doesn't appear to have any holes in it? Wouldn't it need holes to ignite the woodgas?

 

Cheers, Steve

Edited March 30, 2017 by SteveA

[Cob-logging]

[richardwale]

Hi Steve & Richard,

 

With delivery to my yard in Hertfordshire, the Retort was £15350 + VAT, this also included 2x 1m3 cooling bins as well.

 

I went with standard thickness steel (10mm boiler plating) for long life; you can choose 6mm but obviously life expectancy will be reduced.

 

My retort weighs about 3 tonnes.

 

I got a 40% RDPE grant towards the project (this is net of VAT) - so about £7K.

 

It gets commissioned next week by Nick Harris from 4seasonsFuels.

 

As you can see, the right crane truck operator can site it where you want it. [ATTACH]218469[/ATTACH][ATTACH]218470[/ATTACH][ATTACH]218471[/ATTACH]

 

Wow. You'll have to video that in operation and post! Do the gasses escape from the main chamber at all?

[richardwale]

The bits of wood that Ive turned to charcoal consist of untreated softwood, some hardwood and bits of pallet, deck boards etc. If the wood has been treated or has nails in it is it still OK to cook over?

[HertsWood]

Hi Richard, Steve / All,

 

The firebox is lined with fire bricks.

Insulation is 100mm ceramic blanket

There is a vent hole in the the retort chamber from the firebox - on the right hand wall at the top (not in photo)

 

I was lucky with funding, used a business loan for the match funding and got a very good rate from my business bank at a fixed rate for 7 years (fixed as you don't know what will happen to interest rates in the next couple of years.

 

Also got an investor / business angel on board to help with the project - lots of groundwork to get but paying off now.