Modified Method of Charcoal Production
The highest form of charcoal comes from wood or coconut shell burned under controlled air.
About 75% of energy we use comes from wood and charcoal fuel.
The customary or usual method of charcoal making was to answer the needs of barrio people
and to lessen the problem of forest denudation.
There are many types of charcoal making, the easiest is the use of excavation or pit and use
of drum. The principle of charcoal making is by heating the wood or coconut shell until dried
leaving only the carbon. This can be done by burning slowly under controlled air. If it is not
done this way the charcoal will turn into ashes.
The best method is by burning in a low fire and the smoke circulates within the wood and
coconut shell that are being made into charcoal.
Modified Pit
Choose a place with a hard soil. Dig a hole that suits your need. No matter what size, the
bottom must be narrower than the top. The cover can be synchronized iron or any metal that
can cover the pit completely.
Procedure
1. Firing starts by burning the fuel under the pit about one foot above the flooring. When the
fuel is already on fire, arrange the materials for charcoaling at about one and a half feet from
the top of the pit.
2. Cover the pit and place bamboo pipe on each side to serve as chimney. The smoke that will
be released will signify whether there is still fire or none.
3. If there is no more smoke coming from the bamboo pipe, remove it and cover the pit
completely with G.I. sheet, dry soil or sand. Let it cool.
This procedure lasts from two to three days.
Sorce: Tekno Tulong