Burn Barrel design

zzvyb6 · Oct 18, 2016

Make at least one of the draft holes large enough so a leaf blower can be used to accelerate the process. I also put a small hole in the bottom so rain water can leach out after a downpour.

k0ua · Oct 18, 2016

zzvyb6 said:
Make at least one of the draft holes large enough so a leaf blower can be used to accelerate the process. I also put a small hole in the bottom so rain water can leach out after a downpour.

12 gauge up close takes care of the larger holes:laughing:

dragoneggs · Oct 19, 2016

zzvyb6 said:
Make at least one of the draft holes large enough so a leaf blower can be used to accelerate the process. I also put a small hole in the bottom so rain water can leach out after a downpour.

Good idea, zz... I do the same with my leaf blower on my burn pile How you make the hole is the fun part... but maybe not as much as burning the heck out of something though. I love what heat does to things.

GLyford · Oct 20, 2016

kc5dlo said:
One thing that really adds to the life of the barrel for me is to get a lid when I get the barrel and place the lid on the barrel after burning. I find that it is rain soaked ashes hold the moisture and cause the bottom of the barrel to rust out in a short time.

Ashes+Water=Lye, so it's no wonder that it rusts faster if you let it get wet.

Thomas · Oct 20, 2016

55 gallon drum 4 1/2" holes in bottom for drainage,4 or so 1/2" about 1/3 up from so fire can breath better,screen of sort on top just in case catch something hot may fly out.

jack707 · Oct 20, 2016

If you cover it it will last longer.

Wagtail · Nov 19, 2016

UPDATE: Having read all of the replies (and not possessing a rifle/shotgun) I decided to try out the 'vortex' design. Seeing as I have a 5" counter-rotating saw I used it to cut a large 'X' in the bottom to provide drainage/air-intake... the saw was like a hot knife through butter! :thumbsup: A pair of flat-nose pliers easily put a slight 'downward' bend to assist drainage.

I then cut two, opposite facing, rectangles on the lower portion. One of them large enough for a shovel. Seeing as the barrel is 6' in diameter, I marked and cut 3 vertical lines half way up at 2' intervals. I used a crowbar to open up the cuts to form the vents... thankfully I remembered to form my vents all in the same direction. :dance1:

I did run a flat file over all of the cut edges just to remove any burrs. If I didn't, then that 'one' would surely cut my clothes or me later on. I finally walked a magnet over the work-area to get all on the metal shavings & such (which would've surely found their way into some tyre or boot sole).

k0ua · Nov 19, 2016

Wagtail said:
UPDATE: Having read all of the replies (and not possessing a rifle/shotgun) I decided to try out the 'vortex' design. Seeing as I have a 5" counter-rotating saw I used it to cut a large 'X' in the bottom to provide drainage/air-intake... the saw was like a hot knife through butter! :thumbsup: A pair of flat-nose pliers easily put a slight 'downward' bend to assist drainage.

I then cut two, opposite facing, rectangles on the lower portion. One of them large enough for a shovel. Seeing as the barrel is 6' in diameter, I marked and cut 3 vertical lines half way up at 2' intervals. I used a crowbar to open up the cuts to form the vents... thankfully I remembered to form my vents all in the same direction. :dance1:

I did run a flat file over all of the cut edges just to remove any burrs. If I didn't, then that 'one' would surely cut my clothes or me later on. I finally walked a magnet over the work-area to get all on the metal shavings & such (which would've surely found their way into some tyre or boot sole).

Looks good, I bet it works..Let us know how it performs.. :thumbsup:

Wagtail · Nov 19, 2016

UPDATE 2: Light'er UP!

A 'perfect' burning day came up yesterday (according to the Bureau of Many-Guesses), so I called the Tassie Fire Brigade to let them know I was doing a burn (Thanks from them!).

I mowed a 10 meter area, set up a 'fire hose' + a metal rake. I also had a 5 litre jug of water & cup for my own hydration. Personally, I wore long cotton shirt & trousers, safety boots, sunglasses and (most importantly) a set of anti-flash gloves & hood [which I still have from my Navy days

]

I set the barrel up on 3 fireplace bricks that I had around the place. Balled-up newsprint & some cardboard into the bottom with some old engine oil, followed by small branches. Then the rest of the old engine oil...

One match later and within seconds it was all alight and the vortex 'swirl' was happening!

Two observations: 1) It was so efficient that I was run ragged trying to keep the fire fed... which also (almost) led to me becoming seriously dehydrated!

and 2) The radiated heat was surprising! If I wasn't dressed the way I was I would have had difficulty approaching the barrel at times!

All said, I'm quite pleased with this burn barrel and I thank you all for your suggestions.

roposetoast:

2ndhalf · Nov 20, 2016

k0ua said:
We always went out with a brick of .22 rimfire and a semi-auto (to save time), and had fun while punching the holes.

HA Ha! I was thinking this too when I read that he drilled holes. I was going to say shoot the holes in it.. always loved getting a new burn barrel :laughing:

sixdogs · Nov 20, 2016

Wagtail said:
UPDATE: Having read all of the replies (and not possessing a rifle/shotgun) I decided to try out the 'vortex' design. Seeing as I have a 5" counter-rotating saw I used it to cut a large 'X' in the bottom to provide drainage/air-intake... the saw was like a hot knife through butter! :thumbsup: A pair of flat-nose pliers easily put a slight 'downward' bend to assist drainage.

I then cut two, opposite facing, rectangles on the lower portion. One of them large enough for a shovel. Seeing as the barrel is 6' in diameter, I marked and cut 3 vertical lines half way up at 2' intervals. I used a crowbar to open up the cuts to form the vents... thankfully I remembered to form my vents all in the same direction. :dance1:

I did run a flat file over all of the cut edges just to remove any burrs. If I didn't, then that 'one' would surely cut my clothes or me later on. I finally walked a magnet over the work-area to get all on the metal shavings & such (which would've surely found their way into some tyre or boot sole).

That is the Cadillac of burn barrels. What a beauty with ideas I plan to steal.

2ndhalf · Nov 20, 2016

Wagtail, is your area prone to grass/forest fires? I ask because of all of the precautions you mention taking when you are about to burn. If you are close to town I could see it to. My last house I was close to town and I got the fire department called on me a lot... not that I called them mind you :laughing:

Our precautions as a kid were "Hey go burn trash"! I was the trash burner designee usually. I always loved after Christmas I got to burn BOXES !!

If I had to call the fire department every time I can only imagine how that would have been

k0ua · Nov 20, 2016

Looks like a real inferno there Wagtail. :thumbsup:

JRobyn · Nov 20, 2016

Nice - very little smoke suggesting a very clean burn.

Wagtail · Nov 20, 2016

2ndhalf said:
Wagtail, is your area prone to grass/forest fires? I ask because of all of the precautions you mention taking when you are about to burn. If you are close to town I could see it to. My last house I was close to town and I got the fire department called on me a lot... not that I called them mind you :laughing:

Our precautions as a kid were "Hey go burn trash"! I was the trash burner designee usually. I always loved after Christmas I got to burn BOXES !!

If I had to call the fire department every time I can only imagine how that would have been

Mate, practically everywhere in Australia is prone to bush fires (grass/forest or brush fires, as you may know them). All it takes is one 'whiff' of smoke and your average Aussie is looking around for the source! Plus, we're calling in to the Fire Brigade to report it, so giving a ring to the Brigade prior to burning means that they won't be running around like a blue-arsed fly looking for a fire. Outside of a metropolitan area, the Fire Brigades are all volunteer.

The 'burn permit' is free, as is the call. If you don't get the 'permit' and the Brigade and Tassie Police attend your property, you will be fined. Most of Aus is forested with eucalyptus varieties and pine plantations. My property is practically all Blackwood.

Mind you, as the regions in the State dry out during the Summer or during a drought, then a 'serious' permit or outright ban is put in place. Including 'campfires'.

Oh, and the 'permit' is not a piece of paper, so you don't have to wait to receive it. It's just a phone call to say you're going to burn... Mostly they'll say "Right-O, where are you burning and thanks for calling."

Wagtail · Nov 20, 2016

JRobyn said:
Nice - very little smoke suggesting a very clean burn.

Ta. The result was nothing but a fine, white, ash the next day when I checked.

Wagtail · Nov 20, 2016

k0ua said:
Looks like a real inferno there Wagtail. :thumbsup:

Ta, James. As I mentioned, if I hadn't been wearing protective clothing I would've been in some strife!

The anti-flash hood and gloves was needed.

2ndhalf · Nov 21, 2016

Wagtail said:
Mate, practically everywhere in Australia is prone to bush fires (grass/forest or brush fires, as you may know them). All it takes is one 'whiff' of smoke and your average Aussie is looking around for the source! Plus, we're calling in to the Fire Brigade to report it, so giving a ring to the Brigade prior to burning means that they won't be running around like a blue-arsed fly looking for a fire. Outside of a metropolitan area, the Fire Brigades are all volunteer.

The 'burn permit' is free, as is the call. If you don't get the 'permit' and the Brigade and Tassie Police attend your property, you will be fined. Most of Aus is forested with eucalyptus varieties and pine plantations. My property is practically all Blackwood.

Mind you, as the regions in the State dry out during the Summer or during a drought, then a 'serious' permit or outright ban is put in place. Including 'campfires'.

Oh, and the 'permit' is not a piece of paper, so you don't have to wait to receive it. It's just a phone call to say you're going to burn... Mostly they'll say "Right-O, where are you burning and thanks for calling."

I wondered if that might be the case. That makes sense. I guess it would have to be that way if there was that much risk of a bush fire. I have a feeling it is that way in some of our Western states. It gets the way here sometimes during very dry summers. We are not allowed to set off fireworks etc. and they put out no burn warnings.

But that was truly amzaing how high those flames went.. no burn barrell shot up with a .22 ever created a plume like that.