Hey Ya'll, "Piedmont" here,

Been making lump at home (done about 10 burns past few years) and need some
advanced help here from someone that has experience making lump.

My lump comes out too small. Not the fist size chunks that you get in a
commercial bag so they burn up faster. Is there a technique that can get me
larger chunks.

I use a 55 gallon barrel with five, 2 inch holes in the bottom and it is the
type of barrel that has a removable lid. I start out with a bushel basket of
wadded up newspaper in the bottom. My wood is oak that has been split in
lengths anywhere from 10 to 14 inches long.

I start my fire and wait until I see flames coming out the top of the
barrel, then I place the lid on leaving it ajar/cracked just enough so the
fire stays lit. Maybe a crack of about 1/4 inch and around the bottom I pack
clay except for an opening at one spot that is about 5 inch long and 2 inch
deep.

Now I let the white smoke billow off for hours, carefully watching until I
see the white smoke change to a very light white, where it seems most of the
water has burned off. Then I secure the lid tight and apply the lid
ring/lock, pound on the top to set the lid firm and tighten bolt. Then I
pack clay into the 5x2 inch hole so that all the air is completely choked
off. Then wait 2 days for things to cool off.

I get lots of thumb size lump mostly. Maybe only 2-3 chunks not completely
charred.

Any suggestions?

"Piedmont"



(Mike Willsey, old handle, Sweets.)