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Tinman Biochar Retort. Free PDF plans available in Hacono

 
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Hi.
This thread is to show you the Tinman biochar retort plans, hoping that you will get to know it better and take it into account whenever you decide your next retort design.
You can find full plans, with no paywall, in this link: Tinman Retort Plans

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This device answers an initial question: What is the best device to make biochar at home?
I know that for a process to happen efficiently, the device also has to be well designed. And each design is better adapted in its use. If you are going to make biochar at home, start here.

Since 2019 I have been very interested in biochar, as it represents an intersection between two of my passions: Efficient combustion and regeneration.

This device is based on this source which is the first one I came across:
-2013 Model shown in the video:

Living web farms. By Bob Wells.

Other sources, ordered by publication dates:

-28 July 2009. Peter Hirst of New England Biochar previously demonstrating the same device.


-15 November 2017 backyard biochar kiln

-09 December 2017 perfecting the biochar kiln

If you know of any other publication that has content relevant to or prior to the Peter Hirst video from 2009, I would like you to bring it to me so I can incorporate it to this post.
 
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Thank you for sharing this design with others. I like the design in general.

What I do differently than this is I use a chimney with a larger diameter, and I burn the wood directly, without a retort.  The wider chimney allowed for much more efficient burning.  Direct burning produced a much larger quantity of char in the burn.  I needed too much char in my yard to make it in a retort.

That being said, everyone has to figure out a system that is going to work for their situation.

John S
PDX OR
 
Pablo Kulbaba
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John Suavecito wrote:Thank you for sharing this design with others. I like the design in general.

What I do differently than this is I use a chimney with a larger diameter, and I burn the wood directly, without a retort.  The wider chimney allowed for much more efficient burning.  Direct burning produced a much larger quantity of char in the burn.  I needed too much char in my yard to make it in a retort.

That being said, everyone has to figure out a system that is going to work for their situation.

John S
PDX OR



Great to see hands-on opinions.

Would you say that that much larger quantity of char you get, goes along with more efficiency in char production? defining efficiency  in char production as weight of char obtained/ weight of wood input (taking into account the amount of humidity).
 
John Suavecito
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Yes, IMHO it is more efficient of overall char production per unit of biomass input.  I know some people love retorts because you can just leave them and they will go out on their own.  I get that.  That's not my priority.  I like making biochar and I want more char out of my wood that I have, and a larger quantity each time I make it.

John S
PDX OR
 
Pablo Kulbaba
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John Suavecito wrote:Yes, IMHO it is more efficient of overall char production per unit of biomass input.  I know some people love retorts because you can just leave them and they will go out on their own.  I get that.  That's not my priority.  I like making biochar and I want more char out of my wood that I have, and a larger quantity each time I make it.

John S
PDX OR



Great. You seem experienced in biochar. Let me be curious.
What size of pipe do you use in your barrel kiln?
What's your charring cycle duration? Since fire starting till water quenching.
What wood species do you char?
 
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