55 gallon drum ideas

[def38]

Just so you know, barrel burning is illegal in many states. It produces dioxins which are the most toxic chemicals known to science (remember Love Canal?). Burning plastic bottles, paper and cardboard produces these dioxins in dangerous levels. Take your trash to a waste facility equipped to deal with it safely. Your neighbors will thank you.

 

[PILOON]

Piloon---Do you cut the bottoms out?

No. just the tops, but do drill a few small holes for water drainage.
I always try to have crushed stone under the burn barrel as some soils tend to catch fire and or smolder.

While at first I simply used a small axe and carefully chopped my way around (actually worked well) I later used my jigsaw with fine toothed blades, much neater.

 

[PILOON]

Just so you know, barrel burning is illegal in many states. It produces dioxins which are the most toxic chemicals known to science (remember Love Canal?). Burning plastic bottles, paper and cardboard produces these dioxins in dangerous levels. Take your trash to a waste facility equipped to deal with it safely. Your neighbors will thank you.

In my case I burn mostly branches, twigs and leaves as well as sawdust and wood trimmings from my shop.
The city trash pickup gets the rest.

 

[def38]

In my case I burn mostly branches, twigs and leaves as well as sawdust and wood trimmings from my shop.
The city trash pickup gets the rest.

Burning yard waste is different. Little if any really dangerous toxic smoke results. But, around here, many burn everything they can't eat, drink or smoke; like PET soda bottles, PE milk jugs, diapers, oil soaked rags, cardboard and other stuff that emits toxic smoke.

 

[Jstpssng]

Please start a thread on that... my wife's biggest bane along with bugs! We have a modest victory garden but she insists on organic... which I commend but it is frustrating fighting chickweeds and soil bugs!

Mine is a work in progress, and I can't find the website where I got the idea. The concept is to use steam to raise the soil temp to 180" and hold it there for 20(?) minutes. Here 55 Gallon Drum Steam Boiler Sterilizer - Let's Grow Mushrooms is a better way than what I was trying to do; I may try a variation of this.

 

[Jstpssng]

This is the best thing I've used one for; an evaporator for the spring maple syrup season. :licking:

 

[MossRoad]

You could make yourself a rock trommel...

 

[NewfieDan]

Made a composter out of a plastic 55g drum. Mounted it between 2 A-frame brackets. Cut an access hole, and made a cover for the hole out of some sheet metal. Had some 1" pipe and made an axle and handle to keep the compost aerated. Lastly drilled some 1\2" holes for air to get in and let water out. Worked great until it became too small for the amount of yard waste.

 

[TractorGuy]

They make dandy shop heaters with a double drum kit.

 

[dragoneggs]

They make dandy shop heaters with a double drum kit.

View attachment 545759

link?