The Perfect Burn Barrel Design?

[PolrBear]

On the lowly subject of burning trash: I have a 55 gallon steel drum, and I've drilled about a dozen 3/8" holes around the base (6" or so from the bottom) for air flow. I'm not crazy about how well it burns. The top layer goes pretty well but then it starts to smolder. Do I just need more air holes? Any tips?

 

[Whitenuckler]

On the lowly subject of burning trash: I have a 55 gallon steel drum, and I've drilled about a dozen 3/8" holes around the base (6" or so from the bottom) for air flow. I'm not crazy about how well it burns. The top layer goes pretty well but then it starts to smolder. Do I just need more air holes? Any tips?

Bigger holes. Maybe you can expand them with a tapered rod or get a step drill bit

 

[EatenByLimestone]

The hole size is probably fine. You might need more down low (it wasn’t clear where these hole are) and depending on what the trash you’re burning is, it may be too wet.

 

[gthomas785]

Yeah, give it more air. Try putting another row of holes at 3". With 3/8" holes I think it'd be hard to have too many.

 

[burning VC]

You need more air.
Dozen 3/8 holes are nowhere near enough to burn clean.

for reference, a dozen 3" holes would maybe be enough....

You also have to add holes about halfway up....try to vent, or louver the holes to create a 'fan effect' on the intake draw...even if only on the bottom..

You can almost not have too many holes..

Google Vortex burn barrel....but again, you can not have too much air...imho..

 

[BlueRidgeMark]

My son picked this up a few weeks ago from a local seller. I think it was $50. I would never have spent that much on burn barrel.

I'm glad he did! It works GREAT! Compare the ventilated area on this to a few 3/8" holes. I have more air coming in ONE of these cuts than a couple dozen 3/8" holes!

This thing burns hot and does not allow any sparks or embers to fall out. I'm sold!

 

[CatfishHunter]

Not judging but informing, as I didn't know some of this for a long time: https://www.epa.gov/dioxin/dioxins-produced-backyard-burning

Back when I burned my paper/cardboard garbage, I kept increasing the number of holes at different heights and also inserted an old grill grate to help with air flow. I took a few further steps to build a strong fire bed inside so that everything burned more efficiently.