Burn Barrel

[TJ-Bill]

Anyone else use a burn barrel around the yard.. I grabbed one from the dump the other day and have been using it around the house cleaning up brush. I was amazed how much you can get burnt in a short period of time.

I was thinking of getting an old oil tank and using to burn the brush from the trees I cut for wood this winter.. what does everyone else do with their brush?

 

[mga]

i burn it out back...even tho we aren't supposed to.

i might look into one of those 55 gallon barrels. did you put holes in the sides of it?

 

[cjcocn]

i burn it out back...even tho we aren't supposed to.

i might look into one of those 55 gallon barrels. did you put holes in the sides of it?

You can, but they burn pretty well without the holes (if you were asking because of the air flow).

Holes on the bottom may be required to allow rain/melt water to drain out.

 

[mimilkman1]

I just burn my brush where I cut it. Usually in the winter time or early spring when there is less chance of runaway fire. I had a burn barrel but it rusted and rotted out from the acid from the ashes. I burned mainly papers and such. I used my .22 and shot some holes in the bottom so rain wouldn't collect in the bottom.

Kyle

 

[mga]

You can, but they burn pretty well without the holes (if you were asking because of the air flow).

Holes on the bottom may be required to allow rain/melt water to drain out.

yep...i was asking for the air flow.

what if i cut the bottom off and set the thing on blocks...it should burn faster...right?

 

[wdchuck]

I tried a 55gal drum, pita, for brush.

Stopped at the salvage/recycle yard, picked up 1/2 of an old oil tank, it was already cut in two, with oval frame on bottom, and the leg mounts open, so I put some chain through them and can tow it around if need be, or when empty just put it on a handdolly.
The larger, oblong opening, shallower than a drum, is really handy, just lay the brush in lengthwise.

To put holes in for air flow, I used a step-drill-bit that went to 1-1/8", commonly used for sheetmetal, worked like a charm, and no burrs.

For fires when its chilly out, for just the two of us, I'll get the fire going for a bit to make a coal base, then tip it on its side so it radiates the heat out towards us, just like an outdoor fireplace, and put the wind at your back to keep any smoke away.

Large trimming or eradication gets put on a pile and burned when there is sufficient snow cover.

 

[wdchuck]

yep...i was asking for the air flow.

what if i cut the bottom off and set the thing on blocks...it should burn faster...right?

Cut the bottom out, and put in some expanded metal, then put it on blocks. My pop burns his trash every day that way, works great.

 

[A. Stanton]

I use a barrel to dump my ashes in, especially when there is no snow on the ground. The brush justs rots in a pile

 

[cjcocn]

yep...i was asking for the air flow.

what if i cut the bottom off and set the thing on blocks...it should burn faster...right?

It should, but keeping burnables in might be tricky.

wdchuck's idea is what I would go with if I wanted to cut the bottom off.

 

[BlueRidgeMark]

I've got one. Put a bunch of 2 inch holes in it. Still needs more air flow, I think.

I use it mostly for leaves, though. With brush I think it would be just fine.

 

[TJ-Bill]

i burn it out back...even tho we aren't supposed to.

i might look into one of those 55 gallon barrels. did you put holes in the sides of it?

I find they burn faster with the holes in the bottom.. I hit a few times with a axe on 1 side, then cut a 4"x6" hole on the other side. It kind of acts like a little jet sucking air in and keeping everything burning real hot..

I cut 6 small maples tonight 6" dia and less, I Burnt everthing in abou 1.5 hrs. everytime I brought a load over it was ready for more..

 

[Rookie1]

yep...i was asking for the air flow.

what if i cut the bottom off and set the thing on blocks...it should burn faster...right?

Yes Sir it will. You could singe your hair off getting over one when the fire starts rolling. You dont see flames and walk up to it to throw more in and oops. My neighbor has 3 placed in his yard that way he doesnt have to tote branches far.

 

[mga]

Yes Sir it will. You could singe your hair off getting over one when the fire starts rolling. You dont see flames and walk up to it to throw more in and oops. My neighbor has 3 placed in his yard that way he doesnt have to tote branches far.

heh...sorta like a jet engine...eh?

 

[Rookie1]

YES :angry2: Ive wanted use these smilies and I guess this is a good time.

 

[olyman]

I tried a 55gal drum, pita, for brush.

Stopped at the salvage/recycle yard, picked up 1/2 of an old oil tank, it was already cut in two, with oval frame on bottom, and the leg mounts open, so I put some chain through them and can tow it around if need be, or when empty just put it on a handdolly.
The larger, oblong opening, shallower than a drum, is really handy, just lay the brush in lengthwise.

To put holes in for air flow, I used a step-drill-bit that went to 1-1/8", commonly used for sheetmetal, worked like a charm, and no burrs.

For fires when its chilly out, for just the two of us, I'll get the fire going for a bit to make a coal base, then tip it on its side so it radiates the heat out towards us, just like an outdoor fireplace, and put the wind at your back to keep any smoke away.

Large trimming or eradication gets put on a pile and burned when there is sufficient snow cover.

now THAT---- is a right fine idear!!!!!!!!!! as i cut up these barrels for scrap every so often----believe i will save a bottom-----------------------------

 

[Wirenut2266]

Wish I could...

Nope. Live only 3 miles out of city limits. Sheriff swings down our road from time to time, not that I'm complaining. Round here in Southern Minnesota, $500 fine if caught using burn tub. Better off with-one. That's mitey expensive trash for $500...Bruce:monkey:

 

[adamc]

what if i cut the bottom off and set the thing on blocks...it should burn faster...right?

Cut the bottom out, and put in some expanded metal, then put it on blocks. My pop burns his trash every day that way, works great.

heh...sorta like a jet engine...eh?

This is definitely the way to go! I cut the bottom out of mine and put it up on blocks, nothing in the bottom. When it gets going, it sucks mad amounts of air in through the bottom and shoots a cone of flames you wouldn't believe. It is a bit small for brush (and hard on arm hair and eyebrows!) but it burns FAST and COMPLETELY.

Adam

 

[Geez]

You definitely want holes in the bottom, both to let air in and water out. I've had them both with and without and the difference is amazing. Trash burns hotter and is more completely incinerated and you don't have a barrel full of trash soup after a rain.
As to how best to put holes in? I have drilled holes, pounded a row of slits all the way around just above the bottom rim with a hatchet and used a cold chisel and hammer. But the easiest method I've found (my redneck is showing) is a six pack of 12 ga. slugs. Five rounds through the barrel will give ten air holes and the last round through the bottom for drainage. Then light your fire and head back to the deck for a more conventional sixpack

 

[Evanrude]

This is definitely the way to go! I cut the bottom out of mine and put it up on blocks, nothing in the bottom. When it gets going, it sucks mad amounts of air in through the bottom and shoots a cone of flames you wouldn't believe. It is a bit small for brush (and hard on arm hair and eyebrows!) but it burns FAST and COMPLETELY.

Adam

Me too, I cut the bottom out of mine. I use some old 2x4's from pallets placed every 1/3rd around the barrel. The gap lets in plenty of air, and the draft it creates doesnt let anything out. When the 2x4's burn up, i just grab some more. Works great, no holes, everything burns. My old barrel had a bottom in it with a bunch of holes everywhere through it (of course, made by slugs). You just end up with a half barrel full of ashes. Never use one with a bottom in it again.

 

[turnkey4099]

Me too, I cut the bottom out of mine. I use some old 2x4's from pallets placed every 1/3rd around the barrel. The gap lets in plenty of air, and the draft it creates doesnt let anything out. When the 2x4's burn up, i just grab some more. Works great, no holes, everything burns. My old barrel had a bottom in it with a bunch of holes everywhere through it (of course, made by slugs). You just end up with a half barrel full of ashes. Never use one with a bottom in it again.

Yep. I inherited a BB with the holes in the bottom when I bought the place. Second time I dug out all the ashes and halfburned crap I decided there had to be a better way. There is. Cut the bottom out - takes only a few minutes with a cold chisel and BFH.

Mine was set up on blocks with 4 angle irons across them to hold the barrel up. I say _was_ because the state of WA now pays a bounty for people to rat out people using one.

Fill it up, light underneath. Cloud of smoke and then she is off and running like a blow torch. There is nothing unburned left over. I just shoveled up the ashes from under it with a flat shovel - into a bag and into the garbage for pick up (after they are well out of course) once or twice a year at most.

I gaurantee that anyone who cuts the bottom out will never even consider going back to one with holes punched in it.

Harry K