After seeing Al's kiln I plan on using block instead of the outer drum in my kiln, I think the block will insulate better than the steel drum and may cut down on fuel needed for the process.
Learning generally boils down to "Repetition or the avoidance of pain", some people learn by doing, some by watching and some just have to pee on the electric fence.
Whether you think that you can, or that you can't, you are usually right. Henry Ford
I wonder about insulating between 2 outer layers of steel and have the one holding the charcoal in the center? It seems like once the off gassing process starts the outer surface doesn't get all that hot right? In that case it would only serve during the startup, is that right?
I would like to make one also, I have had some bad lump charcoal lately. So if I made my own it would be good wood.
Current Smokers: Backyard RF Offset and Hybrid RF Offset trailer rig with Cowboy cooker and fish fryer, always room for more........
Yes it was quite interesting to see how that home made one worked compared to mine.
Wood is scarce there now and cutting teak is banned. Used to be poorer people built their houses with wood and rich folks used concrete, now it's the other way around. They salvage any pieces of wood they can get. Whenever a clearing is made or trees cut down along the roadside or an old plantation is re-planted the wood gets collected and hauled away, even 3 foot pieces. Some is cut into small pieces for furniture or moulding and a lot is used for making charcoal. I passed a number of larger commercial operations that made charcoal and then used it to fire building bricks. Unfortunately I didn't get any photos or them.
Having two outer skins with insulation between may work well, you'll have to try and let us know.The outside of my drum got very hot when the gas off started, all that flame was burning between the inner and outer drum and shooting out the opening in the bottom of the outer drum.