Welding on empty drums
- Thread starter rjmack
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k0ua
Epic Contributor
My Dad said he saw a guy in the shop that wanted to make a burn barrel out of a 55 gallon sealed drum. As soon as he burned thru the end with the torch, Kaboom and he was dead. I think he said the drum has some kind of glue in it. Who knows what the glue solvent was, but something flammable. All it takes is just the fumes left in the barrel.
Shield Arc
Super Member
That would have never happened if he used an Everlast welding machine! 
k0ua
Epic Contributor
That would have never happened if he used an Everlast welding machine!
If he had used a 120 volt MIG it would have never burn thru, because he would never have gotten any penetration.:laughing: I know I should never had said that but the devil made me do it..
sparc
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Saw that happen at a place I worked 35 years ago. Mechanic in the shop took a empty 55 gal alchol drum (we burned alcohol in salamander heaters in the back of our delivery trucks in winter) and laid in on its side. He straddled the drum and started to cut the top out with the torch and kaboom! The end blew out and sent him flying out the shop door in flames. He had some serious burns and all the windows in the shop were blown out. Spent over a month at home recouperating before he came back to work. Company stopped using the alcohol heaters after that, we installed hot water baseboard in the trucks which was tied into the engine cooling system. We delivered plants and flowers year round to flower shops up and down the east coast.
muddstopper
Veteran Member
I take exception to the making fun about this type of situation. This sort of thing can happen whether using a 120v mig or a $20,000 three phase machine. I had a buddy get severely burnt from a metal 5 gal bucket blowing up. He wasnt even welding on the bucket, but using it for a seat while welding on something else. For my buddy, this was certainly a life changing event. I just pray that nobody reading this tread has a similar life changing, or life ending, experience.
Arc weld
Veteran Member
I don't think anyone was intentionally trying to make fun about it. NOBODY should ever weld or cut on barrel or have one in close proximity unless they know for sure what has been in it and/or it has been properly cleaned so it is not a dangerous hazard.
ENC
Gold Member
Last time I wanted some holes in a barrel I used a pointed pickax. I have also shot holes in them. Of course the label on the ones I got from the feedstore said apple juice concentrate.
