[Stoves] Charcoal production, improved

[adam u partner]

Tom Miles schrieb:
> Chris,
> The fundamental problem with replacing the earth kiln is that the wood and kiln are usually obtained for "free" using the labor of the operator.
>  It is what we call "sweat equity." You exchange your labor for a product you can sell for cash. 
> That's what makes it hard to replace with capital like a retort kiln that you have to pay for.
> Making the more efficient kiln attractive to someone who has no means to obtain the capital for a kiln is a challenge. We need to find solutions. 
> Regards,
> Tom
>   
Exactly.
The investment to make charcoal in an inefficient way is about 6$:  3$ 
for a spade or a shuffle,
3$ for an axle and the "sweat equity", not to forget bags for 30 
cents............
The wood itself you are "steeling" from a remote place...
Thats the secret making some income where cost calculations would fail 
otherwise!
---
Distributing or disseminating "low-cost retort kilns" will not work 
without a "project structure".
It will not work just distributing building manuals to non-technicians .
It should not be done without assuring the wood comes from a sustainable 
place.
The project needs to give easy access to the metal sheet needed, and 
easy access to some pre-assembled parts like the fire-box cover.
And the project needs to give guidance and training..... 
But isn't this the case with most new technologies you introduce in 
South Countries (tilapia fish pools, goat projects, improved stoves etc.)
---
Much easier it will be to approach forestry plantations and energy-wood 
plantation owners.
As the carbonization of a part of their wood- will add value to the product.
Best
Chris
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("Without charcoal," writes John Uhlmann and Peggy Heinrich in their 
book, /The Soul of Fire/ (University Books, 1987),
"mankind probably never would have made it out of the Stone Age.
Charcoal provided the intense heat necessary to melt iron and other 
metals.")

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