Tip: It's easier to reduce the ash and maximize the charcoal if you build a simple kiln for your fire.
Brisket's avatar Brisket
You're best bet is to build a kiln using corrugated iron to both reflect the heat back in & restrict the oxygen. You still need to quench at the end but it produces a lot more biochar. Simply cut lengths of corrugated iron to 1.2m (4ft) & bolt/screw them together to form a cube that's open at both ends. Star pickets wired to the top hold the general shape & support it when you throw long branches in. Feed the fire when the wood burning starts to turn to charcoal. Only the top layer of wood will be combusting because of the restricted oxygen.
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I do have kiln. I just was not in the mood to chop the wood. The little extra I do get is not worth the hours of cutting.
Yeah with this one I just lay the logs & branches diagonally & then nudge them in as they burn down. The other benefit is that you can burn newly cut branches & leaves without smoking out your neighbours. Once it's going, the radiating heat vaporises the water in the leaves & gets that clean burn.