Method Carbon monoxide megathread

[YoMistaWhite]

I have a question using a charcoal burner and, if anyone has any insight it would be really appreciated. When using a charcoal burner that is smaller compared to the buckets used - would you need to get a second charcoal burner or would doing a couple of batches within one be sufficient? Thank you

 

[locked*n*loaded]

I have a question using a charcoal burner and, if anyone has any insight it would be really appreciated. When using a charcoal burner that is smaller compared to the buckets used - would you need to get a second charcoal burner or would doing a couple of batches within one be sufficient? Thank you

I'd want all my charcoal to be at the same "place" in the burn cycle, glowing red hot. I'd be concerned that by the time the 2nd, or 3rd, or 4th, etc, batch was appropriately burning, that previous batches would be nearly burned out. Glowing red hot is the point where most CO emission occurs.

 

[YoMistaWhite]

I'd want all my charcoal to be at the same "place" in the burn cycle, glowing red hot. I'd be concerned that by the time the 2nd, or 3rd, or 4th, etc, batch was appropriately burning, that previous batches would be nearly burned out. Glowing red hot is the point where most CO emission occurs.

Definitely makes sense and would be more certain to have all of the charcoal burning at the same rate. I just wasn't aware if there would have been much difference in a couple of minutes between batches burning. Thanks

 

[locked*n*loaded]

Definitely makes sense and would be more certain to have all of the charcoal burning at the same rate. I just wasn't aware if there would have been much difference in a couple of minutes between batches burning. Thanks

We're talking about those electric charcoal starters, right? How long do they take to get charcoal burning adequately? I've never used one.

 

[YoMistaWhite]

Nah not electric, this would be a chimney starter so just would be used to light coal manually. Never used an electric one either tbf

 

[locked*n*loaded]

Nah not electric, this would be a chimney starter so just would be used to light coal manually. Never used an electric one either tbf

Ok. Myself, I bought 4 chimney starters, large ones, largest I could find, and 4 metal pails.

 

[AllWentWrong]

A couple things. 4500 cu ft is quite a lot of volume. With a small generator, it would be difficult, if not impossible, at least in my opinion, to achieve a desireably high enough CO level that would allow one to ctb in a "comfortable" fashion. The other thing is that newer, modern generators have catalytic converters, similar to vehicles, that substantially limit the amount of CO and other pollutants that get emitted. Many even have a safety feature that shuts them down when a minimal CO threshold amount is detected. Generators are best for small spaces and, even then, you'd have to modify the generator by removing the catalytic converter. Older ones can work, but again, they'd be best used in a small volume of space. And, of course, you'd be subject to breathing all of the other noxious gases emitted as by-products of the internal combustion process.

Ha, I was thinking of how much black smoke exhaust it produces. It's even bad outside. Also, I've seen you or someone else mention the Co shut offs. It's a 12 year old generator and I don't recall a catalytic converter.

If it shuts off it would be due to lack of oxygen.
Also... I've seen mention of Asian style sand protection for the lit BBQ briquettes. Does someone have a diagram of how that setup works.

 

[locked*n*loaded]

Ha, I was thinking of how much black smoke exhaust it produces. It's even bad outside. Also, I've seen you or someone else mention the Co shut offs. It's a 12 year old generator and I don't recall a catalytic converter.

If it shuts off it would be due to lack of oxygen.
Also... I've seen mention of Asian style sand protection for the lit BBQ briquettes. Does someone have a diagram of how that setup works.

You may be alright then if it's 12 years old. It still isn't going to get the CO level up high enough in a space that large, imo. It will take too long to die, which equates to too much suffering. Ideally, you need to create a CO level of 10000 ppm, or more, in a space, so that you go unconscious quickly, meaning in seconds, not in minutes.

Have no idea what "sand protection" is, nor what its purpose is.

 

[AllWentWrong]

You may be alright then if it's 12 years old. It still isn't going to get the CO level up high enough in a space that large, imo. It will take too long to die, which equates to too much suffering. Ideally, you need to create a CO level of 10000 ppm, or more, in a space, so that you go unconscious quickly, meaning in seconds, not in minutes.

Have no idea what "sand protection" is, nor what its purpose i

I posted the sand question to the wrong spot. Elsewhere in this megathread (p 15 or 16) there is a description of putting bag of sand in your car and clay pot with coal.

 

[AllWentWrong]

I have done a couple trial runs on CO in a vehicle and produced close to 10,000ppm for sustained period of time. ( 9500 and 9800 ). The method works but the devil is in the details. At those levels, you will not get a chance to get a headache or nausea. You will be out in 10-15 seconds, and gone in 5-10 minut

Could you repost your CO data at end of thread. This is vehicle interior size and amount of charcoal. I'm having trouble finding it again. Thanks

 

[bob55]

Hi, I'm new here. After much lurking on this thread, i came up with this:

12kgs of lump charcoal + 4Kgs of briquettes burned together in a steel wheelbarrow which would make it easier to wheel inside (my thinking is that the briquettes would burn longer and may assist in keeping the entire batch burning longer when the lump wood starts to die off).
Two options for location (both seal-able):
1) 45m³ room
2) 8m³ bathroom

any opinions/advice will be highly appreciated

 

[Bernoulli]

It's best to light the charcoal in smaller quantities in different vessels (chimney starters e.g.) instead of throwing everything you have in a wheelbarrow. I don't see how you could evenly light all of it properly if you lob it together in a wheelbarrow. After its properly lit and stopped smoking you could throw them in a wheelbarrow.

Also the bathroom is a much better location at just 8m³

 

[SuicideKitty]

What model of grill i should buy to use it in tent? Also should coals stay in the chimney or i need to put them into bucket after smoke is gone?

 

[white_car]

"Powdered zinc can be mixed with calcium carbonate and heated to produce carbon monoxide." (PPeH)
This could be interesting for some of us, because some of us will find it alot easier to get those ingredients then sulfuric acid and this should be significantly more predictable then charcoal. This can simply be done with a hotplate on a timer in your bathroom.

Hey guys!

How come no one is talking about this on here?

This method sounds very promising, as the charcoal thing seems to succeed mostly with people who just wanted to get a steak, and is super hard to pull off for the rest of us...

For those who know the world of chemical ingredients, are these actually easy the buy?

Thank you in advance.

 

[Bernoulli]

Charcoal is not hard to pull off, you just need to properly prepare. It is however not a method you can execute on a whim nor is it a quick method.

Does anyone have strong opinions or data to suggest using tarp/foil like HDPE(high density polyethylene) or others sold in general DIY stores to further limit the volume of a room or a tent would work or not. Any construction type tarp/foil that specifically states it is not breathable/passable for fumes.