Over the years I've made dozens of burn barrels.
The early ones were simply holes punched with a pick near the bottom and a cold chisel to cut the top.
Now I make them more sophisticated.
I drill 4
ea 1 1/2" holes at the bottom using 'bell' drills and 4 more at about 10" high and located midway between the bottom holes.
Yes I use hardware welded mesh as a spark arrester and also have a lid to choke it down.
Lid also serves as a rain cap when not used.
Man that drum makes short work of burning trash.
I get my drums free from a local foam applicator outfit because the products that came in them makes the drum un usable for any other product.
Downside is the first burn stinks and WOW, the black smoke.
Problem is burn drums don't last long as being very hot no paint can last and they rust out fast, otherwise a good fast method of getting rid of combustible trash like leaves, branches and construction wood cut offs.
I once had 4 burn drums on the go for 2 full days from a large decking job that would have otherwise needed a skid steer to collect the trash and that then would have required a dumpster to haul plus the dumping fees.
Even hired an extra helper just to feed the drums as there was so much to burn.
Probably saved me $1000. on that job.
Whenever I ordered foam to insulate a job I ask the applicator to leave any drums he had to get rid of.
