BURN BARREL BASE

[LBrown59]

Always wear my safety goggles/ glasses when doing this !

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 did this one with either a jig saw or a saws all.
either one will work but a saws all is quicker and easier.
If you're going to use the drum to burn in remove both ends like this one.
For the top end simply remove one of the caps/plugs and insert the saw blade through the hole and go to it.
No drilling chiseling hammering or hacking required.
For the bottom I drill one hole large enough to get A jig saw blade through and make a cut long enough to get the saws all blade through then switch from jig saw to saws all and finish it up.
Only one drilled hole and again no other drilling chiseling hammering or hacking required.


L B

 

[turnkey4099]

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.

When I was usign my open ended barrel, the bars were scrap angle iron, pipe, bar stock, anything iron/steel with some 'heft'. Figured to replace them every year or two. Barrel was usually good for about 3 years.

An open ended barrel with grid under will burn better than any other type of barrel modification or open sided container. The barrel, once lit off, has a draft that would suck your hat off.

Harry K

 

[turnkey4099]

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.

Same here. Probably about a 5-10 minute job and I can log the work done by the right arm swinging the hammer to my 'excercise' time.

Harry K

 

[LBrown59]

My burning barrel sets on end on top of the 2 metal bars spanning the cement blocks.
The bars pictured are 1&1/4Th inch aluminum C channel spanning a 54 inch gap.
I had to replace them because they were not stout enough to support the barrel.
I replaced them with 3/4 inch steel pipe but the pipe is starting to bend and sag too.
What can I use in place of the pipe that won't do that?

 

[sld]

It appears you are getting the steel and aluminum too hot for it to hold its shape. The steel is much better than the aluminum but must not be good enough.

Use some more of the cinder blocks to support the barrel and then just move them when you go to clean out the ashes.

If you are looking for something with a higher melting point than steel, try and find some tungsten. I think the cinder blocks will be much cheaper.

 

[WantedWolf]

I know Its on TBN somewhere? but Im surprized no one mentioned burning in an old washing machine tub. The holes are already drilled and you might dream up a base for it out of the remaining washer shell. Thats what my grandfather did on the acreage and it reminded me of making those little fire toys from copper pipe and garden hose. cant remember how to make one thou.

 

[LBrown59]

*It appears you are getting the steel and aluminum too hot for it to hold its shape. The steel is much better than the aluminum but must not be good enough.

Use some more of the cinder blocks to support the barrel and then just move them when you go to clean out the ashes.

If you are looking for something with a higher melting point than steel, try and find some tungsten. I think the cinder blocks will be much cheaper.

*that's what I'm starting to suspect.

 

[boatyard]

OK. I do think that even from my glass house, that it is fair to throw this rock.
Burning trash, which always includes petroleum based produces, in your back yard, is spewing large amounts, well documented I might add, of dioxins in a plume. The fallout from this plume, can be measured in the soil in a fairly short period of time. At amazing levels. Few people would support the idea of eating food grow in soil with dioxins in them.
I know, your Father burned the trash, and your Grandfather burned the trash, but their trash did not have the plastics that are in your trash.
I will dig up the links that may help those of you who think that this sort of information is nonsense, to maybe stop burning your trash at home. Home burnt thrash produces many, many times the toxins of an incinerator. Actual numbers will be in the link.
May I add PLEASE stop burning your trash at home.

 

[Willl]

AND QUIT PLAYING WITH THE FONTS.

It's getting ridiculous.

 

[boatyard]

For those who are interested, this link is a good starting place www.burnbarrel.org/science/science.html
Is the font reply regarding my reply? Possible Mac to PC errors?

 

[Conservation]

I just like to get the mail with my name and information on it burned. I'm not burning plastic. Not that I or anyone asked about whether is was right or wrong to burn trash.
And the link didn't work.

 

[theboman]

A weird thead for sure...

Now I ain't no expert in metal or fire but it seems to me that any kind metal at the bottom of the barrel will eventually bow from the heat, it's the hottest part of the fire.

Maybe pour some concrete into a form and make something, but it may crack....not really sure what works.

Burning. I have 2 small brush piles on fire at this very moment!! I love my wife, kid, neighbors.....

 

[Cat_Driver]

OK.
Burning trash, which always includes petroleum based produces, in your back yard, is spewing large amounts, well documented I might add, of dioxins in a plume. The fallout from this plume, can be measured in the soil in a fairly short period of time. At amazing levels. Few people would support the idea of eating food grow in soil with dioxins in them.
May I add PLEASE stop burning your trash at home.
bucklandboatyard is offline Reply With Quote

Just FYI one Volcano spews more "stuff" in the air than all the " trash fires" ever burned onthe planet.

One forest fire spews more "stuff" in the air that all the trash fies on the planet.

....OH but Volcanos and forest fires are OK "because there natural"

Give us a break.


The term 電ioxins refers to a family of chemical compounds that share several common characteristics. They are colorless, odorless organic compounds containing carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and chlorine. Dioxins occur as natural byproducts from volcanoes and forest fires, and are produced from man-made processes such as manufacturing, incineration, paper and pulp bleaching and exhaust emissions. Burning household trash and/or fuels like coal, wood or oil also forms dioxins.

Dioxins are measured in parts per trillion (ppt). (A part per trillion is roughly equivalent to a drop of ink in an Olympic-size swimming pool.) In the United States, industrial sources of dioxins released into the environment have decreased significantly over the past 20 years. Today, studies indicate that the largest sources of these chemicals in the U.S. are backyard trash burning and forest fires.

Should consumers be concerned about dioxins?

In the past, unusually high levels of dioxin exposure, such as workplace and accidental exposures, have caused adverse health effects but today痴 environmental levels are well below international guidelines for safe exposure.

Because there are natural sources of dioxins, including forest fires and volcanoes, dioxins are prevalent throughout the environment at very low concentrations. As such, virtually every living creature has been exposed to dioxins.

However, the July 2005 report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Third National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals, states that 套human blood levels of dioxins (in the U.S.) have decreased by more than 80 percent since the 1980s.

Humans will always be exposed to some low level of dioxins because there are natural sources of these compounds. To date, there have been no established health effects in humans from this low level exposure. Americans should continue to enjoy foods from all food groups, including lean meats, poultry and fish, as well as low-fat and non-fat milk and dairy products as outlined in the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

So burn on my fellow burners. There's a dormant volcano now going off in Russia that will spew more "stuff" today than everyone on this site will in a life time.

 

[PILOON]

Re cutting the tops off:
I simply use a hatchet Careful aiming just along the edge is amazing. Cuts thru just like a sawsall and is real fast, anout 5 mins to take a top off.
Then I make about 6 ea 1 1/2 holes at bottom using a hole saw followed by another 6 about 1/3 up from bottom.
Make a burn barrel in about 10 mins.
In past I simply used my pick to punch the air holes at the bottom but found the holesaw to be more efficient.

I made many burn bbls as that was how I often got rid of trash from renovation jobs.
Much cheaper and more efficient than bringing in containers, especially now that they charge about a min of $600 per.

 

[LBrown59]

A weird thead for sure...

Maybe a little out of the ordinary but certainly not weird?

L B