55 gallon drum ideas

[ch47dpilot]

Got a few 55 gallon drums laying around and found a guy who can get them for $5. Going to make a burn barrel out of one and was thinking about a lawn roller for another. Would be interested in seeing other things people made out of these drums

 

[Wagtail]

I know that I had a 'Burn Barrel Designs' thread on TBN a couple of years ago.

Went with a sweet "cyclone" design that works a treat!

 

[newbury]

Got a few 55 gallon drums laying around and found a guy who can get them for $5. Going to make a burn barrel out of one and was thinking about a lawn roller for another. Would be interested in seeing other things people made out of these drums

I use them for table stands. Take two and a 1/2" sheet of steel on the top and I've a welding table

Does anyone have any ideas where I could get empty Fluid Film drums?

 

[Peter 315]

Why Fluid film drums ? , One CL you can find 55 gal drums metal and plastic

 

[newbury]

Why Fluid film drums ? , One CL you can find 55 gal drums metal and plastic

Because they are pretty

 

[Peter 315]

Because they are prettyView attachment 545256

:thumbsup:...

 

[Thomas]

Sand barrel for those icy spots,Scrape metal barrel,Rain barrel,Fire pit walls,Wood barrel stove,Stove to boil sap... just name couple.

 

[Ford850]

Google "ugly barrel smoker" and you'll find enough reading for a lifetime.

 

[deanocraft]

I cut one in half and made a 27.5 gallon bass out of it. It sounds good!

 

[Texasmark]

We used them for burn barrels before the permanent county wide burn ban was enacted. One thing I found very necessary was to vent the bottom of the barrel to allow oxygen into it to help the contents burn and not smolder for 2-3 days. Neighbors didn't care or know to do that and being down wind, sometimes I felt like venting it for him............

 

[HarryVanderpool]

Deanocraft, that is really, really cool.
Good job!

 

[sixdogs]

I know that I had a 'Burn Barrel Designs' thread on TBN a couple of years ago.

Went with a sweet "cyclone" design that works a treat!

I found the burn barrel thread you mention but would you say your pictures above are what works best? I could knock out that pattern with a plasma cutter in mere moments and start burning. Do you put any wire screen or mesh over the top for spark control?

 

[PILOON]

Over the years I've made dozens of burn barrels.
The early ones were simply holes punched with a pick near the bottom and a cold chisel to cut the top.

Now I make them more sophisticated.
I drill 4 ea 1 1/2" holes at the bottom using 'bell' drills and 4 more at about 10" high and located midway between the bottom holes.

Yes I use hardware welded mesh as a spark arrester and also have a lid to choke it down.
Lid also serves as a rain cap when not used.

Man that drum makes short work of burning trash.

I get my drums free from a local foam applicator outfit because the products that came in them makes the drum un usable for any other product.
Downside is the first burn stinks and WOW, the black smoke.

Problem is burn drums don't last long as being very hot no paint can last and they rust out fast, otherwise a good fast method of getting rid of combustible trash like leaves, branches and construction wood cut offs.

I once had 4 burn drums on the go for 2 full days from a large decking job that would have otherwise needed a skid steer to collect the trash and that then would have required a dumpster to haul plus the dumping fees.
Even hired an extra helper just to feed the drums as there was so much to burn.
Probably saved me $1000. on that job.

Whenever I ordered foam to insulate a job I ask the applicator to leave any drums he had to get rid of.

 

[sixdogs]

Piloon---Do you cut the bottoms out?

 

[dragoneggs]

I cut one in half and made a 27.5 gallon bass out of it. It sounds good!
View attachment 545261

I really like that... too bad there is no audio attached to that pic. :thumbsup:

 

[Wagtail]

I found the burn barrel thread you mention but would you say your pictures above are what works best? I could knock out that pattern with a plasma cutter in mere moments and start burning. Do you put any wire screen or mesh over the top for spark control?

G'day Mate.

With my own research, here on TBN and on YouTube, going with the 'cyclone' design looked to be the best way to go due to the side vent scoops. Everything that I've burned in it has been reduced to a fine white ash = very little clean-up at the end.

You're right in how quick & easy cutting one of these barrels up. Just a "sharpie" marker for where to make the cuts and (for me) an electrical hand-held counter-rotating circular saw made quick work of it. I considered using a spark arresting screen, but didn't in the end... opting for a somewhat calm day to conduct the burn whilst wearing long sleeve cotton shirt & trousers, boots and (most importantly) Anti-Flash hood & gloves ('liberated' from my Navy days ). The heat from this barrel design is intense!

 

[Jstpssng]

I haven't perfected it yet, but am working on a soil steamer/sterilizer to kill weed seeds before planting carrots, garlic, onions, et al that I can't plant on plastic.

 

[dragoneggs]

I haven't perfected it yet, but am working on a soil steamer/sterilizer to kill weed seeds before planting carrots, garlic, onions, et al that I can't plant on plastic.

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!

 

[nimblemotors]

cement mixer. I had to buy the barrels 3 of them $10ea, everything else I already had sitting around.

 

[airrj]

I used one of them as a steel scrap barrel. Once I get my mill and lathe going to make a second one for aluminum scrap. The casters and lifting options have just made it much easier to work with.

Using a 55 gallon drum for a scrap metal barrel - YouTube