BURN BARREL BASE

[dtd24]

I use an old oil tank I cut in half. It works great. I can pick it up with the grapple and move it to empty the ash. It's nice how contained it is.

[Whitey]

I found that using a burn barrel with solid sides does not encourage incineration. So the last burn barrel I built was out of heavy duty 6 x 6 reinforcing sheet for concrete. Then I wrap it with turkey wire to keep the small stuff in and away it goes. Having the sides open promotes a hotter burn in less time with minimal after burn material.

[schmism]

same hear, ive got some tight mesh fence that i use, like 1.5x3" holes.

i can smell my neighbors smoldering in there enclosed can for half of a day. mine is gone in an hr or less.

[plowking]

Originally Posted by LBrown59

*OK so now why is the pit any better than the barrel?

I just saw your question. Sorry for the delay. Answer is the pit or overgrown hibachi, will burn quicker and a lower or less intense fire. If you burn firewood in it ,the fire could get too large,which would put the fire into a different category. Pit is elevated on legs and sits on a cement or other noncombustible base. plowking

[barneyrb]

Back years ago when wife #1 and I got married we bought just a standard 55 gallon drum to burn trash in. Thought I would be smart and shoot holes in the bottom with her .25 automatic. Wound up with 3 slugs rolling around in the bottom of the drum with no holes. I did manage to put holes in it with the trusty 1911.

[mjarrels]

When we built our house, used the cement truck clean out waste to pour a 3 by 3 base for 55 gal barrel to set on.

mark

[LBrown59]

This burning barrel sets on end on top of the 2 metal bars spanning the cement blocks.

The problem I've encountered is the bars keep bending and sagging ; Yet the only weight on them is the light weight empty hollow drum.
The bars pictured are aluminum and didn't work out at all .
I replaced them with 3/4 steel pipe which was a big improvement but they are still starting to bend and sag.
Anybody got any ideas about what I could us for bars to prevent this?
BTW:the span between the blocks is only 54 inches.

[Conservation]

What is the easiest way to get the top off of a barrel? I have had some that were removable, but the one I have now is not.

[jdmar]

Originally Posted by Conservation

What is the easiest way to get the top off of a barrel? I have had some that were removable, but the one I have now is not.

Drill a few 1/4 to 3/8 holes in a line. Hit a chissel/bar/screwdriver blade in the holes to tear out the "cross-connectors" between the holes. Then sawsall around the rim. You can get a pretty close cut that way.

Peter

[Larry Jones]

Originally Posted by Conservation

What is the easiest way to get the top off of a barrel? I have had some that were removable, but the one I have now is not.

I have always used just a sharp cold chisel and a drilling hammer, the lip will pretty much guide the chisel and it will open up like a tin can. Wear heavy gloves because you will miss the chisel a couple times.