OBG, are you perhaps insinuating that I may not follow through on this? Hmmmmmm?

I like the idea of the dutch oven method, but I don't think it would make very much charcoal.

I also didn't think about charcoal being made from hardwoods. Most accessible stuff around here is fir. I'll have to look around.

A guy not far from here sells burn barrels. I think I will buy one and beat some holes in the bottom with a pick. Then I'll push a brick under one edge of the bottom to let air get under the fire, build a good hot fire with untreated 2x4s, put in a bunch of yet undetermined wood, let it get started, then put the lid on and knock the brick out from underneath and let it cook.

I have a burn barrel now, but it has holes all around it, and I don't know how to close them off other than sticking wads of aluminum foil in them, and someone said aluminum will melt.

We shall see.

Sue