Hi Jamie,
I live in Colorado, where it is very dry. So getting dry wood is no problem for me. These TLUDs (Top Lit Up Draft) work really well for me. I started out making them out of old coffee cans. This gave me really nice small quantities for the barbecue.
Then I got an old hot water heater. I just use the tank there are no internals. There is a grate in the bottom to allow air in. The coffee cans on top are the very same tlud I made before, but rearranged with the air holes at the bottom. I get about 30 gallons of charcoal out of the 50 gallon tank. I use the charcoal in my forge and to make gas for my generator. I haven’t had any problems with tar getting into the generator.
I recommend learning to make camp stove sized tluds first. Ask me any questions.
Rindert
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