Burn Barrel

[Gem99ultra]

I'm sure this thread sound pretty silly, but I'm looking for a good design for our burn barrel. I just pick up a good 20 ga. open top barrel to replace my umpteenth burn barrel and would really like it to last longer. It seems regular 22 ga or 24 ga barrels are good for about 2 years max.

If you have any suggestions on burn barrels, I'd appreciate learning about them.

 

[mddorange]

I would like to know if you find anything that last longer also. I get tired of replacing the 55 gallon drums but getting rid of the leftover material isn't fun either.

 

[M5farms]

look for a stainless steel commercial washing machine drum. I had one many years ago and it lasted for about 5 to 10 yrs . after I finally burned it up I went back to a burn pit .

 

[jcummins]

Concrete blocks.....maybe?

 

[Gem99ultra]

look for a stainless steel commercial washing machine drum. I had one many years ago and it lasted for about 5 to 10 yrs . after I finally burned it up I went back to a burn pit .

Great idea.

I just checked this barrel and found that it's and 18 ga. - hard to find, and heavy. But if I find an old SS washing machine tub, I'll snag that too.

And yeah, getting rid of the old shell of a burn barrel is definitely a problem. I can see chopping it up with a saws-all or cutting torch is in my future.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Concrete blocks.....maybe?

That's what I use. Dry stacked in a circle about four courses high, maybe four feet inside diameter. The blocks will crack over time but even at that will stay together unless you bump into it with a mower, whoops! Every now and then I shovel the ashes out and dump them in my compost/brush pile. A piece of woven fence wire laid on top limits the larger pieces from floating out.

I do happen to have an heavy old stainless washer drum that is waiting for the right place to use for a fire pit. While we are on the subject of burning, you can make a chimilaya out of those blue pressure tanks when the bladder starts leaking.

 

[Looking4new]

I've got an older woodstove that I had to take out of the house due to the CSA/UL approval tags missing and I use that for a burn barrel. I've been using it for about 5 years so far. It sits on top of 8 concrete blocks stacked 2 per corner. It also has the double wall insulated chimney that I took off the house because that was not looking good.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

I haven't seen a burn barrel in years. In order to use one here, you have to be very rural with no garbage pick up available.

 

[vlcakc]

I have had one of these for several years. Pricey, but very effective and long lasting. Vic

Burn Barrel | Home & Trash Incinerator | 1% Stainless Steel

 

[Gem99ultra]

I haven't seen a burn barrel in years. In order to use one here, you have to be very rural with no garbage pick up available.

Well shoot! We have garbage pickup - once every week. One 50 gallon trash can. But we don't live in a very rural town - we have the population of 481 and going down. Around here the only thing more in demand than a burn barrel is cinder blocks. Everyone needs a good supply of those to prop up their has-been cars/trucks on for eternity.

:tractor: :-_

 

[turnkey4099]

Concrete blocks.....maybe?

Nope, I tried that. A few years and they were all cracked, burned and collapsed

 

[turnkey4099]

I haven't seen a burn barrel in years. In order to use one here, you have to be very rural with no garbage pick up available.

Even worse here. They banned them about 30 years ago and were even paying a bounty for reporting their use.

 

[Thomas]

Heavy duty 55 gallon drum set on cement block good for 4 years so far.

 

[Wagtail]

Have a look at the bottom of the page = "Similar Threads". My thread, "Burn Barrel design" has gone through this whole process. (I went with the 'cyclone design. Pics are included)

I use three long 'fire bricks' to keep the barrel off the ground, which also allows air to circulate underneath for a complete 'white ash' burn.

When not in use I store the barrel (and bricks) in a small shed to keep it out of the elements, hopefully reducing its deterioration.

 

[Dutch445]

I built one out of a couple tractor wheels .
was able to find 2 different sizes, that could stack on the the dish "tabs"
start with first one on some 2" concrete blocks for airflow from under the
bottom rim, and the space between the 2 rims also allows airflow into the center.
4 years and no sign of any deterioration, but we only use once a month or so.

here's a vid of a christmas tree going into it, hard to see the setup after the
first few seconds.
Bye bye Christmas tree! - YouTube

 

[Kentuckyfarmer]

Even worse here. They banned them about 30 years ago and were even paying a bounty for reporting their use.

Here in Kentucky you can burn leaves, untreated wood and maybe paper. But anything else get caught and up to 5 years and 20 grand.

 

[4570Man]

look for a stainless steel commercial washing machine drum. I had one many years ago and it lasted for about 5 to 10 yrs . after I finally burned it up I went back to a burn pit .

I had one of those but SS was bringing $4 a pound at the scrap yard, so...

 

[PILOON]

My barrel bit the dust over the winter.
Fortunately a friend has a source and I should have a couple in a few days.
I usually make 6 holes about 1 1/2" in diam with a hole saw, 3 at the bottom and 3 about 1/3 up the side but staggered between the bottom holes.
Keeping a cover on top when not in use keeps it dry and usually I get about 5 years life.

Around here barrel burns are permitted but with a set of rules to follow*. Also we need an annually renewed permit.

*must have a lid, spark screen and water nearby plus determined distances from combustibles.
Also supposed to check a web site B4 burning in order to be aware of dryness fire hazard.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Even worse here. They banned them about 30 years ago and were even paying a bounty for reporting their use.

Even worse up here in the Puget Sound counties. We have a lot of nosy neighbors that have nothing better to do than turn you in. I swear they have a finders fee for them.

Ron

 

[pmsmechanic]

The best burning barrel I ever had was a rusted out honey wagon. My buddy wanted the running gear and I got to keep the barrel. I cut a door into it and added a chimney. I now have a "burning barrel" that is about 8' high and about 6' in diameter. We fill it right up and then light it. It gets hot enough to burn everything and all that's left is a small pile of ashes in the bottom. I'll never go back to a regular barrel as I never got a complete burn out of one.