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.