Today I decided to try my hand at making my own charcoal. I constructed a retort using a small oil drum from which I removed the top. I cleaned it out as best I could, then packed it with scrap wood and replaced the lid. It was then inserted into an empty 210 litre drum which was already seeing service as an incinerator. I lit a fire in the large drum and kept it going for 3 hours, then let the fire die out naturally.
I’ll let it cool down overnight and have a look tomorrow.