ASH CLUSTERS IN THE KILN

The sun is up and I have to empty the kiln and bag my charcoal while the chance is there.  It looks like quite a good yield, especially for a first burn of the year, which is usually hampered by the water in the ground.
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Those ash-coated pieces are clustered around one of the four air intakes and that's where wood has been burnt rather than charred. Once you get away from the air intake the air is extraordinarily hot but no longer oxygen rich - giving you your best grade of charcoal available anywhere.