The Boys from
The Black Stuff
CHARCOAL MAKING PART FIVE

The kiln will now be left for 17-21 hours. On windy days the external air intakes are protected with blocks of wood to prevent uneven flows of air.

Charcoal burners' judge when to shut down a burn by the colour of the smoke. The perfect moment is when the smoke starts to turn blue. All air vents are sealed to starve the kiln of oxygen and the kiln is then left to cool prior to removing the lid. Removal of the lid is always a nail-biting moment.

The final product! Charcoal in all its glory.

The charcoal now needs to be removed from the kiln and stored in large sacks prior to packing. A large sieve is placed against the kiln with the innermost sack in place to catch the small fines.

The charcoal is removed from the kiln and manually run over the sieve . . . .

. . . . where the large lumps are broken down, any browns (unburnt pieces) removed and the small fragments of fines drop through the sieve into the first sack. The sack fixed to the end of the sieve collects the lumpwood charcoal that will be bagged for sale.

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	The kiln will now be left for 17-21 hours. On windy days the external air intakes are protected with blocks of wood to prevent uneven flows of air.		Charcoal burners' judge when to shut down a burn by the colour of the smoke. The perfect moment is when the smoke starts to turn blue. All air vents are sealed to starve the kiln of oxygen and the kiln is then left to cool prior to removing the lid. Removal of the lid is always a nail-biting moment.
	The final product! Charcoal in all its glory.		The charcoal now needs to be removed from the kiln and stored in large sacks prior to packing. A large sieve is placed against the kiln with the innermost sack in place to catch the small fines.
	The charcoal is removed from the kiln and manually run over the sieve . . . .		. . . . where the large lumps are broken down, any browns (unburnt pieces) removed and the small fragments of fines drop through the sieve into the first sack. The sack fixed to the end of the sieve collects the lumpwood charcoal that will be bagged for sale.
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The Boys from The Black Stuff CHARCOAL MAKING PART FIVE

The Boys from
The Black Stuff
CHARCOAL MAKING PART FIVE