Welding on empty drums
- Thread starter rjmack
- Start date
- Views: 2872
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
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2011
- Messages
- 1,079
- Location
- NJ
- Tractor
- JD 4410, NH TC-25, Bobcat M610, JD X534, Dig-It Model 158, JD Ztrak 737. 6X4 Gator
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.
Egon
Epic Contributor
That would have never happened if he used an Everlast welding machine!
Does that mean he was using a barrel cutter as the machine was under repair?
PILOON
Super Star Member
Well I have made many a burn barrel and never had one go boom.
Have used many techniques from a pick axe to core drills to make the vent holes with the core drill being the most efficient.
Usually I like 1 1/2" on a low rpm drill.
To cut off the tops a small axe and a bit of developed skill will make short job of decapping the drum.
Converting a 45 gal drum into a burn barrel is about a 45 min task.
Have used many techniques from a pick axe to core drills to make the vent holes with the core drill being the most efficient.
Usually I like 1 1/2" on a low rpm drill.
To cut off the tops a small axe and a bit of developed skill will make short job of decapping the drum.
Converting a 45 gal drum into a burn barrel is about a 45 min task.
Arc weld
Veteran Member
Doesn't matter what you use, make certain the barrel is clean and has no flammable material in it. People have been killed using a chisel to take the tops off and a jig saw can still create a spark.
hosspuller
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Oct 9, 2008
- Messages
- 1,786
- Location
- Piedmont Triad, NC
- Tractor
- Didn't intend to have a Deere fleet - it just happened 310C, F915,102, 5200 & 5065E
$30 gets a drum deheader on E-bay. Like a big can opener. Leaves a smooth edge too.
Wesco Barrel Drum Deheader | eBay
Wesco Barrel Drum Deheader | eBay
Egon
Epic Contributor
Barrels are not nice to work on unless they have been properly cleaned and that is not as easy to do as one would think.
True statement!! My dad was a power plant welder for his entire career. He would weld things that others would not touch. Never injured no close calls. One was gas tanks he would run water through the tank for hours sometimes overnight then weld it never a problem. Clean tank equals no flammable gas no problem.
oosik
Epic Contributor
I've been told that after cleaning a drum that held a flammable product - fill it to the top with water and then remove the top. Since fumes in the drum are the major concern, the water fills the drum and there is no space for fumes.
CNC Dan
Veteran Member
Not as smoth as you might think. There is still a sharp edge inside. Right where you might grab it.
But it's still the best way to open a drum.
