Your comments on the charcoal issue is right. This information is for the people who would be interested in charcoal making.

Not properly dried wood will never yield more than 20% charcoal and most of the pieces will be broken. Charcoal which is not broken in pieces, burn longer and gives more energy. In the market what is called Grade A charcoal, brings 30 to 40% more price than lump charcoal. What is most important today is try to make charcoal as clean as possible environmentally, even in traditional kilns.

One of the first Historic Documents by Puffergas is the "Pederick Owner's Manual", digitally remastered. This is an owners manual for a 1942 charcaol gasifier used to fuel cars and trucks. Shows the gasifier and filters, also explains each.

Charcoal Gasifier No. 3
Doug Williams, Fluidyne, New Zealand, July 28, 2007

Hi Gasification Colleagues,

It is clear from the private mail coming to me, that charcoal gasification has created an interest that allows many to now enter these discussions. While my emphasis is to try and make it understandable for beginners, it should also stimulate those more advanced to test what I say against their own experiences,( such as Ken Calvert has provided). His real DIY experiences show that you can get going if you have some help to start. I really do not like to ignore or delete mail asking questions, but please wait until the end of these informal lessons, to initiate questions and answers. If we do it that way, anyone in future can find all the discussion under the common Subject title, so please do not contaminate the title by using it to discuss other topics.