PREP DIY garbage Incinerators.

[West]

For years I burnt my own trash in used 55 gallon steel burn barrels that I got for free or super cheap.

And for years I delt with the crap and ashes that wouldn't burn at the bottom of the barrel.

Finally I got fed up with it and have now got it down to a science.

You will also need three cement foundation blocks. Cut the whole bottom of a 55 +- gallon barrel out, leaving the rim of the bottom of barrel alone.

Get some expanded metal or a old refrigerator or wire stove shelf.

Set the three cement foundation blocks on there sides in a V pattern. Wide enough to keep most of the bottom of barrel open. Set metal wire shelf on the bricks. Set barrel on top.

Now fill with everything that burns. Wet diapers and alike don't burn good no matter what, so set them out in the sun for a few days to dry out. Plastics burn great!

Put at least three large kitchen size bags of trash into can. Light with lighter fluid. Step back and watch it burn.

Usually it takes about 5 to 10 minutes max to stop smoking almost and burn at incinerator temperatures, the barrel will even glow red hot. In 15 to 30 minutes it burns up everything to ashes.

It burns completely. Yes if you live in a area that doesn't get wind there will be ashes to deal with. But spreading out a few shovel fulls of ashes in the drive or low spots once every +- 10 burn cycles. Being we live in Oklahoma the wind usually takes care of the ashes, and I may shovel a few times every few months or so.

Also another wire shelf or alike is fine to put on top to keep the big fire floaters at bay.

I use a saw zall or jig saw with metal cutting blades to cut bottom out. Just get a hole started with a drill, gun, or big fire cracker. I've even used a hammer and chisel to get a hole started.

 

[Buick Electra]

Problem in central Illinois is you can't find ANY 55 gallon burn barrels any more. Haven't been able to for the last 6 years.

But I love how you walk us through this if I could get them. Thank you!

 

[West]

Problem in central Illinois is you can't find ANY 55 gallon burn barrels any more. Haven't been able to for the last 6 years.

But I love how you walk us through this if I could get them. Thank you!

If your ever down this way... I got extra rope and duct tape to mount it on the roof of your car. I would even cut the bottom out for you, so there's no wind resistance.

 

[gonewacky]

 

[West]

View attachment 424739

Looks like some photo editing just about 5 feet above can. But if you look close the barrel is glowing. That's in incinerator mode.

Yes one can use three truck rims. And it looks like they have it set on expanded metal.

 

[Czechsix]

Similar to what I do. I put a barrel on top of a few rocks (too damned cheap to use cinder blocks I have to pay for), punch holes in the bottom, and then punch holes in the sides. I just use the pick side of a rock hammer to make the holes. There's a guy locally that has a business selling the drums for $20, he pierces holes in the sides with a torch. Anyway....works good!

 

[West]

Cut the whole bottom out. I too went threw the stage of punching holes in the bottom and sides. It did better but still filled up with ashes and unburned material, plus they burned out quicker.

 

[West]

Also I would argue that environmentally, burning ones burnable trash in a incinerator is more environmentally friendly than paying for it to go to the dump and be buried or even burned in their incinerators.

 

[Knoxville's Joker]

Problem in central Illinois is you can't find ANY 55 gallon burn barrels any more. Haven't been able to for the last 6 years.

But I love how you walk us through this if I could get them. Thank you!

Look for an bulk oil distributor. like where you buy oil by the 100s of gallons...

 

[Illini Warrior]

I have an incinerator for burning old paperwork, records and junk mail I don't escaping >>>

instead of cutting the steel drum head out - cut the bottom 6" off for an ash catcher tray

use the steel grating from gas BBQ grills instead of the lite weight wire

use a propane weed burner torch aimed across the grill for a rapid burn on the paper pile

 

[Czechsix]

Cut the whole bottom out. I too went threw the stage of punching holes in the bottom and sides. It did better but still filled up with ashes and unburned material, plus they burned out quicker.

yeah, if I can find someone throwing out some expanded steel I'll try it. Someone's probably junking an old car around here, bet I can find a grill too.

 

[marsh]

Great if SHTF, but illegal in many areas because of release of dioxins. I remember when the Calif Air Board folks came through our county declaring all burning (even leaves & slash) unlawful. We fought it based on population & got some areas where we had <7 residences/sq. mile exempted.

 

[Txkstew]

If you don't have a Sawzall, you can cut the top and bottom out with a machete and a hammer.

 

[West]

If you don't have a Sawzall, you can cut the top and bottom out with a machete and a hammer.

Or a sharp chisel that's grounded on the side to be used to open up giant steel cans and or alike.

Some people think there metal buildings are burglar proof, because they have no windows and steel doors, heh heh....

 

[ktrapper]

Too dry here to take the chance. We just put out a lightening strike fire a few days ago.

When we lived in Alaska I had a welding business so I built my own incinerator. It had a heavy duty rack made from half inch round stock 24 inches off the bottom of the fire box. The upper large door was for trash, the bottom door was a fire box where I actually built a wood fire to burn up all the above trash. It had a 6 inch stack made from well casing pipe. Plenty of vents for the bottom fire. I had a expanded metal cap for the stack but sometimes I had 3 feet of flame shooting out that pipe. I also had a oil dripper tube for used motor oil for more stubborn trash.

 

[Papacub]

View: https://youtu.be/07P-6gqYg2g

 

[Profit of Doom]

If your ever down this way... I got extra rope and duct tape to mount it on the roof of your car. I would even cut the bottom out for you, so there's no wind resistance.

I see a redneck meme. Wind tunnel.

 

[pauldingbabe]

I've even used a hammer and chisel to get a hole started.

I use a .38 to start mine.


You can also cut a hole in a second barrel and place it on top of the first. By doing this (double barrels stacked) you create a convection oven, basically, and there is no smoke or floaters rising up out of the barrels. The heat gets recirculated up and down the inside thus burning everything up.

This method is also a good way to make charcoal (leave the plastic out if making charcoal).

 

[Illini Warrior]

Great if SHTF, but illegal in many areas because of release of dioxins. I remember when the Calif Air Board folks came through our county declaring all burning (even leaves & slash) unlawful. We fought it based on population & got some areas where we had <7 residences/sq. mile exempted.

it's illegal in most of the urban areas to burn fall leaves and plain garbage at anytime - more to do with irritating people's health problems like asthma - but a wood bonfire in a safe proper containment is OK anytime ....

I only run my incinerator in the colder weather when everyone has their windows closed - no reason to "inflame" the situation unnecessarily >>> had the local PD check mine out - explained mine wasn't a burning barrel but a propane fired incinerator - nothing wrong with that .....

 

[pauldingbabe]

Smokeless, no flaming debris.

This video is for making charcoal but I use this method when burning anything because you don't have to worry about fire debris floating out of the top and setting anything else on fire.

Enjoy

View: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OHlCEyWMEkY

View: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tR6MslcJayk

 

[Hfcomms]

Problem in central Illinois is you can't find ANY 55 gallon burn barrels any more. Haven't been able to for the last 6 years.

But I love how you walk us through this if I could get them. Thank you!

You can get them from Amazon. But it's going to set you back over $100 with delivery charges.

 

[ktrapper]

55 Gallon Steel Drum, Black, Reconditioned, UN Rated, Unlined, Cover w/Bolt Ring, 2' & 3/4' Fittings

This reconditioned UN Rated black 55 gallon open head steel drum includes a rust inhibitor. This steel drum comes with a black cover that includes a sponge rubber gasket and a bolt ring closure. Built-in 2' and 3/4' NPT Tri-Sure style plug & flange fittings on the cover feature Buna gaskets.

www.thecarycompany.com

Another source for 55 gal drums and other things related to drums

 

[bw]

Problem in central Illinois is you can't find ANY 55 gallon burn barrels any more. Haven't been able to for the last 6 years.

Visit your local recycle drop-off or second-hand building materials. A used/junked pressure tank will do fine. A junked water heater housing will do but might not last as long as a steel barrel. Used small propane tanks will do, but use appropriate care when first cutting. A junker Weber grill might do.

As freebies, you can go through quite a few of these for the cost of a nice barrel.

 

[bw]

it's illegal in most of the urban areas to burn fall leaves and plain garbage at anytime - more to do with irritating people's health problems like asthma - but a wood bonfire in a safe proper containment is OK anytime ....

"Ceremonial fires" are often allowed. I don't know what kind of ceremony one has to do, but am willing to learn.

 

[Luddite]

Even here in hillbilly nation, you can't burn anything but leaves and nonprocessed wood. You burn a piece of 2x4 and leave a scrap, you're asking for a ticket.

I have friend that lives in an incorporated town. They can't burn anything. There's an exception for "cooking fires". Anytime he wants to burn leaves and sticks he throws a handful of pinto beans in an old pot.

The city police and volunteer fire department love him.

Another friend left a pile of debris smoldering. Visible from a 2 lane road. An ambitious goobermint stooge found one small piece of asphalt shingle in the ashes. IIRC it resulted in a 300 dollar fine.