fire barrel

I have a 55 gallon steel drum that I want to use as a fire barrel to burn wood and brush in, How can I make it burn effeciently.

Should I drill holes in the sides for air ventilation? Or is that needed.

Any tips?

 

holes in side for air and hole in the bottom to drain. small holes tend to clog so in the sides i punch out 1 - 2 " holes around the base. about six should do it. smaller holes around 8" from the bottom would help.

 

so how high up the barrel do you punch the holes.

all the way near the top?

 

halfway should do fine. empty out the ashes often to keep the holes clear.

 

Another good method I use is to find an old Budd wheel from a tractor trailer, set it up on 3 bricks with the lug surface up and set your drum on top of it. Cut the bottom out of the drum as well as the top. The drum will fit perfectly. This will give you a good draw of air from the bottom and will allow ashes to fall below the wheel holes, but keep the burning materials above it. One benefit, too, is no moisture will collect in the bottom of the drum, as you will have cut the bottom out, too. The biggest failure is ashes collecting in the drum with too small holes and moisture destroying the side walls. Dampening the fire can be accomplished by throwing a piece of steel roofing over the top of the barrel. It also keeps water out when you aren't burning.

 

thanks thats some good info.