Is there a market for a small, cheap charcoal retort?

[Woodworks]

Got an idea for one that would make 100 litres per burn but with a spare pair of hands could do five burns a day. Can't see pros doing such small quantities but seems to be lots of folk who buy small woodlands and want to try their hand woodland crafts.

 

Any thoughts?

 

Beau

[richy_B]

Would be ok for a bit of a hobby. Cant see any way of it being commercial. I've found charcoal only become genuinely financially viable in large volumes.

[agg221]

Possibly. You defined small; how cheap is cheap?

 

Alec

[Woodworks]

Possibly. You defined small; how cheap is cheap?

 

Alec

 

Hmm working on that but would guess at £200-£300. Only at the idea stage but know it will make charcoal just working on something very simple so it can be cheap.

 

Richy. Yes I see it as hobby thing but could make some pocket money with it. At 5 burns a day thats 70 kg of charcoal

Edited July 8, 2016 by Woodworks

[spandit]

I could be interested as end up with a lot of small diameter willow from the trees I pollard each year (c.40mm) - made a few batches in a tiny retort designed to go on a fire pit but it's flimsy and doesn't make a lot

[richy_B]

Hmm working on that but would guess at £200-£300. Only at the idea stage but know it will make charcoal just working on something very simple so it can be cheap.

 

Richy. Yes I see it as hobby thing but could make some pocket money with it. At 5 burns a day thats 70 kg of charcoal

 

I misread that as 5 burns a week. Is 5 burns a say possible? I have to let my retort cool down for atleast 16 hours after its opening. Much larger but can't see how you could get the kiln/unit to temperature for conversion, then get it cool enough to empty when to go again in only couple of hours.

[timbernut]

You could dump each batch into a large (sealable) bin to cool. If you can make a wee one for a few hundred could you not make a mid sized one for couple o grand, as opposed to 10k+ for a 'proper' one to do, say, 2 burns a day?

[richy_B]

Sounds interesting. A removable chamber that you don't need to open could work. Opening a chamber when it's hot is a real risk. If 100 litres of charcoal ignites you won't be getting within a 5 metres of it!

[timbernut]

Can't remember which one it was but I went to see one demo d in about 2000 in the Midlands that had charge chambers either side of fire box and you could dump n reload for continuous running

[Woodworks]

Sounds interesting. A removable chamber that you don't need to open could work. Opening a chamber when it's hot is a real risk. If 100 litres of charcoal ignites you won't be getting within a 5 metres of it!

 

Your on the right lines now Rich but would need appropriate number of charge chambers if planing multiple burns.