Burn Barrel that works

[RSKY]

Getting flames to swirl and rise 4 feet above the barrel isn't near as difficult as putting out grass fires caused by floating embers.

That is true. Next one will have the vents a little higher and maybe a little smaller. My main problem with that was the wind blowing very hard.

RSKY

 

[amhicks21]

I wanted to try building a "smokeless" burn barrel as to not bother my neighbors. I did the normal holes, but then wrapped the outside with steel siding with the ribs pointed in to create a 1" space. I left the siding 2" taller than the barrel and used an old metal table top with a hole in it a little smaller than the barrel diameter to funnel the preheated air along the sides and to the top of the barrel. Of course, you cant ever have zero smoke if you're burning wet stuff but most of the time it works very well.

 

[Diggin It]

I want flames contained and controlled.

I don't light up on windy days.

Immediate ground area is cleared as best as practical.

I gave up on barrels. My area is within stacked concrete blocks on three sides. Front is open wide enough for loader bucket to dig out when necessary.

 

[artf]

One box of .45 ACP later, I had 2 barrels, side by side, done.

I did have to sit down to space them out correctly.

 

[RSKY]

I know somebody is thinking, "How can this guy get that excited about a burn barrel?". My two sisters and I are cleaning out my mother's house after she passed away October last year. She was 96 and never, NEVER, threw anything away. To give an example, we washed and saved all the name brand canning jars, Mason, Kerr, Ball, Atlas, etc. but threw away all the mayonnaise and other jars. We had fourteen large trash bags full of jars to get rid of. I filled them as much as possible until sisters couldn't lift them. Took them to a place with public dumpsters and dumped them. So you can imagine all the other stuff we are having to get rid of. Mom's house was always neat and you wouldn't know there was all this stuff stored until you started opening closets and going into the attic etc. So the two burn barrels get started first thing and burn all day when we are there.

RSKY

 

[Cycledude]

I use a stick welder to cut about 6 vertical slots about 6 inches long a few inches from the bottom of the barrel so air can feed the fire from the bottom, barrel lasts about 5+ years, and it always burns excellent !
I don’t burn very often and usually only right after or during rain or when the ground is covered with snow pretty much eliminating the chance of fire spreading. Where I live no burning permit required when the ground is covered with snow.

 

[Diggin It]

To give an example, we washed and saved all the name brand canning jars, Mason, Kerr, Ball, Atlas,

SOME of those may be worth some money if you can find the right collector(s).

 

[PILOON]

While a pick or an axe is adequate to make air holes, I found that a quality hole saw does a nice job and just as easy to do.
I found that about 1 1/4 inch size was about right otherwise embers would tend to fall out.

Also I'd suggest a lot safer than an axe or pick that might deflect and injure.

 

[Wakey]

I wanted to try building a "smokeless" burn barrel as to not bother my neighbors. I did the normal holes, but then wrapped the outside with steel siding with the ribs pointed in to create a 1" space. I left the siding 2" taller than the barrel and used an old metal table top with a hole in it a little smaller than the barrel diameter to funnel the preheated air along the sides and to the top of the barrel. Of course, you cant ever have zero smoke if you're burning wet stuff but most of the time it works very well.

I made a smokeless fire pit. Once it heats up a bit more there is even less smoke.

 

[jigs_n_fixtures]

then there is the rocket stove style: