55 gallon drum ideas

[TractorGuy]

Pretty good fuel storage too.

 

[sixdogs]

My plan, after reading this thread, is to make my own burn barrel with some venturi type air slots in it and well as either cutting an X in the bottom or just cutting the bottom out. I'm going to get the barrel from Rural King and it is said to be "cleaned". Do you suppose it's now safe to use a plasma cutter to take the lid off and cut my air holes?

 

[Wagtail]

Cutting an X in the bottom, then bending them 'down' just a wee bit works great... as long as you then mount the barrel on 3 or 4 bricks to raise it off the ground for air flow.

Can't say about cutting the top off as mine came with it already cut off.

 

[PILOON]

Plasma to make a burn barrel?

Shucks we used a small hatchet and chopped the lids off and then for the side holes use the pointed end of a pick and bash 6-8 holes in the lower side wall.
And the worked just fine.

Ok later we got fancy and used hole saw to make the side vent holes and a jigsaw to cut away the lids.

 

[Jstpssng]

Plasma to make a burn barrel?

Shucks we used a small hatchet and chopped the lids off and then for the side holes use the pointed end of a pick and bash 6-8 holes in the lower side wall.
And the worked just fine.

Ok later we got fancy and used hole saw to make the side vent holes and a jigsaw to cut away the lids.

My .357 works good for drilling vent holes... and is a lot more fun. The only drawback is that it could become TOO perforated.

 

[sixdogs]

Plasma to make a burn barrel?

Shucks we used a small hatchet and chopped the lids off and then for the side holes use the pointed end of a pick and bash 6-8 holes in the lower side wall.
And the worked just fine.

Ok later we got fancy and used hole saw to make the side vent holes and a jigsaw to cut away the lids.

Great idea but I have a bad history with hatchets and drums. It involves stitches.

The hole saw for vents works fine and is a great idea but does not involve the use of a marginally needed tool. Show me metal and I'll show you my plasma cutter. Otherwise, I have to explain to the wife why I have a plasma cutter.

 

[PILOON]

Great idea but I have a bad history with hatchets and drums. It involves stitches.

The hole saw for vents works fine and is a great idea but does not involve the use of a marginally needed tool. Show me metal and I'll show you my plasma cutter. Otherwise, I have to explain to the wife why I have a plasma cutter.

LOL, I have accumulated quite a woodworking shop and in order to justify it most of our furniture is DIY.
Trouble with me is I also like welding and most other mechanical things.
Space is my enemy, or lack of it.

What I'd give to have a nice big shop.
My land layout combined with city regulations, permits etc make that but a dream.
I had to lie when I built my 'shop' by calling it it a garage. The door has never been opened, in fact it is permanently sealed and insulated from the inside.

I do have a 'shed' (max allowed size) that is wired with 110/220 but really much to small at 10 x 16.
As a result I do all welding and grinding outside when weather permits.

 

[dragoneggs]

LOL, I have accumulated quite a woodworking shop and in order to justify it most of our furniture is DIY.
Trouble with me is I also like welding and most other mechanical things.
Space is my enemy, or lack of it.

What I'd give to have a nice big shop.
My land layout combined with city regulations, permits etc make that but a dream.
I had to lie when I built my 'shop' by calling it it a garage. The door has never been opened, in fact it is permanently sealed and insulated from the inside.

I do have a 'shed' (max allowed size) that is wired with 110/220 but really much to small at 10 x 16.
As a result I do all welding and grinding outside when weather permits.

Pretty much in the same boat. I’m embarrassed to say my 220v service to my garage/shop is still via an extension cord from the house dryer outlet!

 

[PILOON]

Pretty much in the same boat. I’m embarrassed to say my 220v service to my garage/shop is still via an extension cord from the house dryer outlet!

I hope 4 u that the extension is the same gauge as the drier line.
A fuse or breaker MUST be the weak link otherwise that's how fires start.
Last summer my welder switch short circuited, made lots of smelly smoke B4 the breaker blew back at the mains panel.
Fortunately all the wire was 6 gauge so the breaker did its job.

I know from doing renovations what damage wrong circuit protection can cause.
Sometimes it costs the whole house.

 

[MossRoad]

I remove the lids from 55 gallon drums with an air chisel like these yahoos. It goes pretty quick and leaves a mostly hammered down edge.

 

[dragoneggs]

I hope 4 u that the extension is the same gauge as the drier line.
A fuse or breaker MUST be the weak link otherwise that's how fires start.
Last summer my welder switch short circuited, made lots of smelly smoke B4 the breaker blew back at the mains panel.
Fortunately all the wire was 6 gauge so the breaker did its job.

I know from doing renovations what damage wrong circuit protection can cause.
Sometimes it costs the whole house.

It is 10 gauge wire. Don't know what is running from the breaker but I doubt it is heavier. :ashamed:

 

[MoArk Willy]

I cut one in half and made a 27.5 gallon bass out of it. It sounds good!
View attachment 545261

Nicely done....very very cool.

 

[chim]

Family effort from a several years ago at a summer cookout. At my one brother-in-law's place, a different BIL pulling a train his dad made with the B7500 I had at the time. The kids loved it.

 

[jaxs]

Before building a two barrel stove,read up on chimney fires and their cause. The top barrel and flue above become coated in creosote very quickly.

 

[dannoGT]

Just be careful cutting barrels with a torch or plasma give the barrel a sniff test to see if it had fuel in it! Even a barrel that has been sitting empty for years can still go off with a bang and throw you down the driveway and fill your face with rust and dust .....twice.......ask me how I know!

 

[bcp]

I wonder if the barrel stove kits have instructions to not use plastic barrels?

Bruce

 

[rockinmywaypa]

I really wish this forum had a like button that you can hit like on twitter or facebook,

 

[Jstpssng]

Just be careful cutting barrels with a torch or plasma give the barrel a sniff test to see if it had fuel in it! Even a barrel that has been sitting empty for years can still go off with a bang and throw you down the driveway and fill your face with rust and dust .....twice.......ask me how I know!

Fill it to the top with water before you do anything, then drill some vent holes.
About 40 years ago a new car salesman in the town where I grew up was filling a barrel with water while helping clean the garage area. He lit his cigarette lighter and looked in to see how full it was getting... That was the last thing he ever did. Supposedly the barrel exploded with such force that it bounced off the garage ceiling.

I wonder if the barrel stove kits have instructions to not use plastic barrels?

Bruce

Why wouldn't you do that? they are a heck of a lot easier to work with.

 

[Jstpssng]

Family effort from a several years ago at a summer cookout. At my one brother-in-law's place, a different BIL pulling a train his dad made with the B7500 I had at the time. The kids loved it.

That could be the winner! :thumbsup: You've got some pretty stiff competition from the bass player though.

 

[jaxs]

Even a barrel that has been sitting empty for years can still go off with a bang and throw you down the driveway and fill your face with rust and dust .....twice.......ask me how I know!

You are kiddng! :confused3: Ok,how do you know?