# First build, quick question
**URL:** http://forum.driveonwood.com/t/first-build-quick-question/8198
**Category:** Charcoal Gasification
**Created:** [March 28, 2025, 7:23pm UTC](http://forum.driveonwood.com/t/first-build-quick-question/8198 "2025-03-28T19:23:36Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@mywoodgasjourney](http://forum.driveonwood.com/u/mywoodgasjourney)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2025, 7:23pm UTC](http://forum.driveonwood.com/t/first-build-quick-question/8198/1 "2025-03-28T19:23:36Z")
Evan here from Connecticut,
Making an ammo can charcoal unit as a test bed for starters. After reading for a bit and watching Matt’s videos I made a no weld boiler nozzle to try out, Will use 1/4" heat shields. Going to try adding a 3/8" stainless pipe through the unit probably over the nozzle in the hopper to produce additional steam. Luckily I had an amteck 24 volt vacuum motor and I picked up a speed controller.
I have a question on what makes an ammo can gasifier limited to 200cc engines. Is it the surface area of the grate?
I’ll post picks of my journey as time allows.
Can’t wait to be able to have the option to charge my batteries in cloudy days from charcoal. Have access to pallets so that helps too.
Evan
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### Author:  [@Matt](http://forum.driveonwood.com/u/Matt)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2025, 8:01pm UTC](http://forum.driveonwood.com/t/first-build-quick-question/8198/2 "2025-03-28T20:01:07Z")
The 212 cc engines are big enough to turn that thing into a puddle of steel. Its too thin of metal to be used for anything more than emergency. Its just for educational / learning purpose and emergency use. Iike use it for a weekend and throw it away on Monday. Plus yeah its just too small for anything larger than the 212 engines. It wont have the capacity to be practical its hardly practical running the 212 cc engines. you only get about 15 to 20 minutes of run time.
For the Amteck I use DC now with them. The 120 volt units run about the perfect the speed on 24 volts. I use a 12 volt to 24 volt 15 amp step up module.
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### Author:  [@mywoodgasjourney](http://forum.driveonwood.com/u/mywoodgasjourney)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2025, 9:51pm UTC](http://forum.driveonwood.com/t/first-build-quick-question/8198/3 "2025-03-28T21:51:25Z")
Thanks Matt. What if the heat shields are 1/4" stainless?
Evan
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### Author:  [@Matt](http://forum.driveonwood.com/u/Matt)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2025, 10:18pm UTC](http://forum.driveonwood.com/t/first-build-quick-question/8198/4 "2025-03-28T22:18:21Z")
Its still going to be too small. You need more displacement so you can put more fuel in it and have a deep enough char bed so that all reactions can take place before exiting.
This for learning only its simply the easiest way I could build this with off the shelf parts and with a no weld build critieria. You will want to build it begger out of more robust materials and this will generally require some welding. You dont need a box you can use cylinders are what ever you have and can use.
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### Author:  [@mywoodgasjourney](http://forum.driveonwood.com/u/mywoodgasjourney)
#### Post date: [March 31, 2025, 3:32pm UTC](http://forum.driveonwood.com/t/first-build-quick-question/8198/5 "2025-03-31T15:32:07Z")
Okay, thanks as i run this one I’ll be looking for material for a more robust and larger one.
Evan
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### Author:  [@FruitvaleFarmer](http://forum.driveonwood.com/u/FruitvaleFarmer)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2025, 3:42am UTC](http://forum.driveonwood.com/t/first-build-quick-question/8198/6 "2025-11-06T03:42:58Z")
Hey, Evan, and progress to report? Any questions? Not that I could answer them 🙂
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### Author:  [@mywoodgasjourney](http://forum.driveonwood.com/u/mywoodgasjourney)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2025, 4:25am UTC](http://forum.driveonwood.com/t/first-build-quick-question/8198/7 "2025-11-06T04:25:30Z")
Thanks for the nudge. I had some unforseen delays. Made some retorts. Settled on a tlud with a inner chamber. Made some charcoal and ready to finish the gasifier, have all the pieces. Won’t be long.
Evan