I started making my own charcoal
for the green egg after the lump charcoal
price went out of site (in my opinion).
Fairly easy once you get the hang of it.
ive been making it going on 10 years and for the exact same reason. Watched some vids of some english blokes making it. I use a can in a can method. I put wood chunks in a 35gal can with crimp on lid inside a 55 gal drum that has a small bed of coals then build a fire on top of the little can.. soon the gas coming out the little can 'feeds' the fire. After building a big fire several times i started running out of stuff in the yard to burn lol.
Thats cool youre doing that! and the coal is so much better(big glassy chunks)
I put DRY oak/pecan (maple, hickory, ash) in a heavy gauge trash can with a fairly tight lid. It should not be sealed and airtight, but snug so fire will not get in the can. Stack it tight and fill it up best you can. I use cut up firewood. Build a fire around the can for about 2+ hours or so. Let the fire burn down and then open it up the next day.
I use trash wood for the fuel to cook the charcoal. I pick up limbs and sometimes block up sweetgum and let it dry. Also block up wind-thrown pines. Pines make a great fuel wood.