Ultimate Burn Barrel

txdon · Nov 7, 2004

The wifes grandpa use a cement culvert cut in half as a burn barrel for as long as I can remember. So I took that idea and made it better. I inserted a washing machine stainless steel tub in it. The tub has a 2" hole in the bottom (agitator or drain hole) which adds air to the fire and the hole also makes getting the ash out easy and water does not accumulate. I have had this setup now for eight years and it works great. Just thought I pass the Idea on.

txdon · Nov 7, 2004

Oh, .... and also you can BBQ on it. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

PineRidge · Nov 7, 2004

Friends and a BBQ with liquid refreshment, it doesn't get much better than that.

I like your burn pit too BTW. innovative!

thcri · Nov 7, 2004

( Oh, .... and also you can BBQ on it. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif )

I think we should have a party next week-end at TxDon's place. Don could provide the fire, the beer and the brats. We could just all come hungry!!!.

Great Idea Don.

murph

turnkey4099 · Nov 7, 2004

It approaches the ultimate but isn't quite there. Mine is.

Concrete block 8x16 U shape for 2 courses, 6x16 up to top, room inside for 50 gal drum.

The set back from the 8" to 6" block forms a ledge for iron bars to lay on. 4 of them are about right and I use old sections of pipe, angle, whatever. Those support the barrel.

Cut out both ends of the barrel. Fill barrel with trash, light underneath and stand back. Will smoke heavy until it gets lit off then will go like a blowtorch. Ashes fall through the grate to be easily shovel out. May have to stire the contents if burning magazines, etc a few times but usually no stirring is needed.

My first attempt was to stack the block dry. They lasted about 10 years but burnt out. My current one I laid em in mortar and filled the voids with cement and mortar.

Now I have a cadillac burn barrel and can only use it stealthily as the state is on a serious crackdown on burn barrels.

Harry K

markct · Nov 7, 2004

where does the air get into it, our burn barrels always had air holes around the bottom but your concrete pipe looks to be solid on the bottom

txdon · Nov 7, 2004

Markct, the air comes in around the top lip and then up the hole in the center, but mostly just from the top. I had a air hole under the other side but the gophers kept filling it up.

txdon · Nov 7, 2004

Turnkey409, OK I'm easy, I concede. If I could change the title of this post it would be "THE ULTIMATE BURN BARREL/BBQ GRILL". Can you BBQ on yours without ( "...go like a blowtorch..." ) cremating your food? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

DannyD · Nov 7, 2004

See here is the problem.

There are lots of people out there making their living off of those that have 1000.00 stainless steel, dual burner, with side burners and warmers, gas gauges, high priced utensils, on nice carts............and you go and improve on it with a culvert, old wash tub, and a concrete..............

Good job. My wife and I being ones that like old fashioned charcoal and grill, find it amazing that cooking out is now simply OUTSIDE, on a portable stove that costs more than the one they have inside..

mikim · Nov 7, 2004

old fashioned charcoal 
Charcoal?? old fashioned? dun't ya hafta BUY that stuff? ... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif In that barrel was a fire of oak burned down to coals just right for cookin. And I think Don said it was oak that had fallen - not been cut - down. ultimate recycle. beer, burgers, a good tractor day, in some of the prettiest (ms?) land in the country.