DennisLinkletter Posted January 30, 2011 Report Posted January 30, 2011 This took forever to actually come to fruition but persistence payed off and they guy finally sold them as he promised last spring.. IMAGE REMOVED The machine at the rear with the orange top has only produced 5 tons, the middle machine has never even had a motor bolted up to it.. the front machine has only been set up.. They are all dirty with charcoal dust but we're now set up to produce lots of charcoal if sales lead us down that road.. As I've explained before the problem is that the producers of the carbonized shell are all simple villagers who have no idea what they are doing.. Mostly just burning down shells to carbonize in 55 gallon drums and then covering to extinguish. They always under-carbonize because they do not want the material to become too fragile because smalls (which are easily mixed with impurities) sell for less and of course they sell by weight. Most comes in between 12-25% ash but it's also common to see still brown un-carbonized pieces. This is why all the producers of coconut shell charcoal in Asia's quality is so inconsistent. My plan is to re-heat/re-carbonize the shell to guarantee I've burned off most of the volatiles and to get a product with about 4% ash. I'll definitely loose charcoal doing this but it's the only way to make a premium consistent/uniform product. I'd love to be able to start with fresh shells but the transportation would be be cost prohibitive as the carbonization process reduces volume by about 70%.. Would not be very green either. My hammer mill and ribbon mixer are being made up as I type..
Paswesley Posted January 30, 2011 Report Posted January 30, 2011 Re: Three Extruder Machines are in the House! Dennis: This looks very promising! Now, to get to the uncomfortable practicalities. I recall a post in which you deplored the fact that it was nearly impossible to ship the charcoal that you already had on the dock. I believe you mentioned some flats of charcoal that you could not ship. I am not trying to pour cold water on this. I am merely curious. Has the shipping problem been overcome, or do you expect a resolution in your (our) favor soon? Thanks.
DennisLinkletter Posted January 30, 2011 Author Report Posted January 30, 2011 Re: Three Extruder Machines are in the House! The extended slump in the economy resulted in the shipping companies taking 10% of their fleet out of service and slowing down the ships by a couple of days to reduce costs. This resulted in all the ships being overbooked.. So then they increased the rates of course and started taking boats out of mothballs as not to leave money on the table. I'm pretty sure we'll be full fleet in no time.. One 40' box now costs over $6,000 landed west coast.
swalatee79 Posted January 31, 2011 Report Posted January 31, 2011 Re: Three Extruder Machines are in the House! Yippeee! I am excited. Looking forward to your product. Been waiting patiently. Chose not to bother with A-fire or anything else. Thought I would wait for the prolific Mr D. Linkletter to deliver once again.
Firemonkey Posted February 1, 2011 Report Posted February 1, 2011 Re: Three Extruder Machines are in the House! I guess this means I can start using my stash of the first batch a little mote freely, since more will now be available!
tcoliver Posted February 1, 2011 Report Posted February 1, 2011 Re: Three Extruder Machines are in the House! This is great news since I only have one box of extruded left. So the big question is when do you think you will have your first shipment? Can't wait.
DennisLinkletter Posted February 1, 2011 Author Report Posted February 1, 2011 Re: Three Extruder Machines are in the House! I know better than to commit to a date so, I'll just say mid to late spring..
tnt Posted February 1, 2011 Report Posted February 1, 2011 Re: Three Extruder Machines are in the House! Dennis, This is GREAT news. I've been waiting and I'm down to my last box. I really don't want to deal with anyone else for extruded charcoal so I'll be ready when you are... Tony
Tucker Posted February 1, 2011 Report Posted February 1, 2011 Re: Three Extruder Machines are in the House! I'll be ready as well. There are three of us who own KK's in my immediate area.
LarryR Posted February 1, 2011 Report Posted February 1, 2011 Re: Three Extruder Machines are in the House! So does this mean I can start using the 9 boxes I have in my garage as I'll be able to replace them?
Dan Posted February 5, 2011 Report Posted February 5, 2011 Re: Three Extruder Machines are in the House! Is it wishful thinking to believe that some of this 'KK Gold' will be your Feb 2011 container? Regardless, I want in on being in the queue.
DennisLinkletter Posted February 6, 2011 Author Report Posted February 6, 2011 Re: Three Extruder Machines are in the House! So does this mean I can start using the 9 boxes I have in my garage as I'll be able to replace them? Break um open... Have a party! Is it wishful thinking to believe that some of this 'KK Gold' will be your Feb 2011 container? Regardless, I want in on being in the queue. No my hammer mill and ribbon mixer components are still in the shop being made up..
primeats Posted February 6, 2011 Report Posted February 6, 2011 Re: Three Extruder Machines are in the House! Taking pre-orders?
DennisLinkletter Posted February 6, 2011 Author Report Posted February 6, 2011 Re: Three Extruder Machines are in the House! Taking pre-orders? Please feel free to send me an email but I won't know my cost of goods until we actually crank out a few tons..
Paswesley Posted April 22, 2011 Report Posted April 22, 2011 Re: Three Extruder Machines are in the House! @Dennis: You mentioned mid-Spring as a possible target date to ship out your first pallets of extruded charcoal. I know you are busily cranking out siblings for Mable, but mid-Spring is about three weeks away. Are we any closer to getting our hands on some of the good stuff? Paswesley
DennisLinkletter Posted April 26, 2011 Author Report Posted April 26, 2011 Teaser.. Please excuse my being remiss about posting teasers.. Argh.. Nothing has been easy on this project.. the charcoal produced by the extruders was not dense enough to carry the Komodo Kamado name.. so I cut them up and rebuilt them with new extruder screws flown in from Thailand. But the end result is absolutely the most beautiful extruded charcoal I've ever seen.. What ya think?
Tucker Posted April 26, 2011 Report Posted April 26, 2011 Re: Three Extruder Machines are in the House! Excellent!! What does the timetable look like?
primeats Posted April 26, 2011 Report Posted April 26, 2011 Re: Three Extruder Machines are in the House! Next stop the Whiz! and then Chicago?
rick Posted April 26, 2011 Report Posted April 26, 2011 Re: Three Extruder Machines are in the House! These shots look great! I just sent Dennis a request to be added to his list of interested customers for when the first shipment arrives in Los Angeles. Rick
tnt Posted April 26, 2011 Report Posted April 26, 2011 Re: Three Extruder Machines are in the House! Dennis, This looks GREAT!!!!!!!! I can hardly wait to place an order... Simply let me know when and how... I am so ready!!!!! Tony
