burn barrel

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I used to be able to burn little piles of brush at my old house. Or bigger piles if I called and told the fire department.

Here I cannot have an open pile. I've seen others do it but I don't want to do it, nor do I want to call the town to get permission to do it.

I would like a burn barrel. I've seen barrels for sale here and there. But, I don't know what I have to do to them to turn them into good burn barrels. Does anybody have any hints?

-- pc (jasper2@doglover.com), November 20, 2001

Answers

Cut the top out an drill some holes around the bottom also drill a hole or 2 in the bottom to let rain out. I cut holes around the bottom of mine with a torch but I know what was in them and it is safe.

-- Mel Kelly (melkelly@webtv.net), November 20, 2001.

Your burn barrel is going to be just as illegal as your burn pile. Outside burning is illegal in most of the US. Its done everywhere but illegal in most places. In our area its tolerated until there are complaints or a high chance of spreading a fire. There is however one little loophole a lot of people use. Its a stove if you have food on it, its a burn barrel if you dont. A hot dog on top of a barrel can save you. In our area if your going to have a big burn, you call the fire dept and tell them your having a weene roast. You can them when you done.

A little safer pehaps but just a little. How to make it? Basicly get a steel barrel where you know what was in the barrel. You dont want to find it contained some toxic chemical or flamable materials. Cut slots along the bottom to allow in air. Put a center block,bricks or stones in the bottom to hold up a great. (grom and old BBQ maybe).

-- Gary (gws@columbus.rr.com), November 20, 2001.


There's no way to know for sure if you'll have legal problems with a burn barrel but by talking with your local agencies that regulate such matters. Here in Florida you can have a fire in an enclosed container so long as you have some means of controlling sparks flying out. A piece of expanded metal mesh over the top will do that. Many localities won't let you burn garbage (I *hate* smelling burning plastic!) but dry brush would likely be OK just about where ever so long as it isn't pumping out lots of smoke.

I'm planning on doing the same thing at my place. I've got an ever growing amount of brush to get rid of, the state's getting drier and drier so we're all getting more nervous about open burning and I can use the ashes to sweeten up my acidic soil. Takes a while to eliminate a big pile but you do get to save the ashes.

={(Oak)-

-- Live Oak (live-oak@atlantic.net), November 20, 2001.


Thanks folks. Burn barrels are allowed. Just didn't know how to make one. Sounds like my smoker would do the same job. Hmm.

-- pc (jasper2@DOGLOVER.COM), November 20, 2001.

We just used a 55 gallon drum (and they are legal here in Iowa except in a few ares, such as one of our major cities.). I cut 4 holes in the bottom to allow air flow, and rain drain :)

Also, may I suggest a wire grid for the top--helps keep large burning particles from escaping un the updraft, and you can cook the hot dog on it :)

-- Brendan K Callahan (Grinnell, IA) (sleeping@iowatelecom.net), November 20, 2001.


I used an old smoker grill as a descrete burn barrel when I lived in an apartment. Added a few wet hickory chunks to the trash and it looked like I was cookin' not burnin'.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), November 20, 2001.

I picked up two drums from old washers at a salvage yard. We're allowed to burn inside a container and the drums work much better than any barrel I've ever had. The hundreds of holes in them are great for air circulation, resulting in absolutely everything burning to a fine ash.

-- Grannytoo (jacres40@hotmail.com), November 20, 2001.

Also, you might want to just use a fire ring (don't know where you'd get them, but like the ones used in campgrounds) or set up a square of cinderblocks around your small pile to contain it. When I was young our wood barbecue was made out of a cement slab and some cinderblocks. Nothing fancy, but great food!

The trouble you run into with outside burns of any kind is the neighbor who has breathing problems and calls to complain (never could understand about lighter fluid being okay, though) because someone pays attention to wind direction so that it doesn't bother them, but doesn't give a rat's derriere about the neighbor. Just something to think about. However, if all your neighbors burn, they're not likely to call on you.

Many just wait until winter when everyone has their fireplaces going anyway, and like some posted above, usually there is an allowance for "recreational fires" like a bonfire with marshmallows. Some people even burn trash in their home fireplace, which is really stupid with all the pollutants, and just asking to have a chimney fire.

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), November 20, 2001.


Hello PC, We put a piece of wire mesh or screen over the top of our burn barrel as to keep any of the ash or burning papers from blowing out and catching the area on fire.

Sincerely, Ernest

-- http://communities.msn.com/livingoffthelandintheozarks (espresso42@hotmail.com), November 20, 2001.


Hi pc. Eventually, the ashes will pile up in the bottom of your barrel and block off the air from drilled holes. And rain will combine with the ashes to create a corrosive solution that will eat away the bottom part of your barrel, and the ashes will be a sticky,wet mass. (experience speaking)

Here's how I solved those problems. Made a base by filling a big old tire to the top with concrete. Before concrete set, I inserted 4 fairly tall pieces of rebar. They stick up about 3 feet or so and fit inside the barrel to hold it vertical. When concrete was set, I put bricks by each rebar (stacked 2 high), put a piece of old fencing down over the rebars to act as a grate (I had 1"x2" mesh available, so that's what I used), Then drop barrel down over rebar. It sits on the bricks.

This avoids ash buildup in the barrel - it falls to the concrete and I shovel it out. Has worked very well for 2 years. I was amazed by the height of the flames! With all that air from the bottom available for combustion, they shoot many feet into the air! 6 feet, maybe more. Also, waste burns very, very fast - there is none of that smoldering and smoking like in the old barrel.

One final note: I try to keep the paper to be burned loose and fluffy in the barrel - filled with air channels and space. Fire needs air, and a packed down load will burn poorly. If it smokes, it means your fire is not getting enough air.

Sandy

-- Sandy in MN (onestonefarm@hotmail.com), November 21, 2001.



oops! Forgot to say a very important thing - barrel has BOTH ends removed.

Sandy

-- Sandy in MN (onestonefarm@hotmail.com), November 21, 2001.


We get burn barrels from a place that cleans them as a business. They are $10.00 and last about 1 year. When we have a new one, and need to make holes, I get out my 9mm pistol. One bullet, two holes. Takes about 15 or so shots to make enough holes. BE CAREFUL ABOUT THE BACKGROUND. I have a shooting range, with a dirt mound. I use that as the background, as well as shooting glasses. Takes about two minutes and presto....a burning barrel.

I have talked to a neighbor who can weld, about building a burning cage out of expanded metal and angle iron. Probably $50.00 but it would last longer and burn better. May do it.

-- Rickstir (rpowell@email.ccis.edu), November 21, 2001.


Call the local fire department and see if it has rained recently enough that you won't set the whole county on fire also.

Joan Murray

-- Joan Murray (alandjoan@juno.com), November 21, 2001.


my husband drew a heart, sun, moon, stars on ours and drilled just enough holes so when we burn, we see these sparkly patterns. he did it for me, but the kids love it (and the guests think he is such a good dad for doing tht for his kids, not realizing he did it for the mom)

-- marcee (thathope@mwt.net), November 25, 2001.

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