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- Using a cold chisel prepare the drum by making five 50mm (2in) holes
in one end and completely removing the other. Knock-up the cut edge
of the open end to form a ledge (Note, the lid will have to placed
back on this ledge and made airtight).
- Position the drum, open end upwards, on three bricks to allow an
air flow to the holes in the base.
- Place paper, kindling and brown ends (incompletely charred butts
from the last burn) into the bottom of the drum and light.
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- Once it is burning well, load branchwood at random to allow air
spaces until the drum is completely full. Keep the pieces to a fairly
even diameter but put any larger ones to the bottom where they will
be subjected to a longer burning.
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- When the fire is hot and will clearly not go out, restrict the air
access around the base by using earth placed against it, but leaving
one 100mm (4in) gap. Also place the lid on top, leaving a _small_
gap at one side for smoke to exit.
- Dense white smoke will issue during the charring process. When this
visibly slows, bang the drum to settle the wood down, creating more
white smoke.
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- When the smoke turns from white (mainly water being driven off)
to thin blue (charcoal starting to burn) stop the burn by firstly
closing off all air access to the base using more earth, and secondly
by placing the lid firmly on its ledge, and making it airtight by
the addition of of sods and soil as required. The burn will take between
three and four hours.
- After cooling for about 24 hours, the drum can be tipped over and
the charcoal emptied out onto a sheet for grading and packing.
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| Source: Traditional
Woodland Crafts. Raymond Tabor. Published by Batsford, London, UK ISBN 0-7134-7138-7 |
