Burning out a drum with a weed burner...Will it work?

[Roguejim]

I just discovered it's illegal to start a fire in my 55-gal drum except for 2 weeks out of the year, where I would have to pay $10 for a permit! Local government $$ scam!!


My 55-gal drum used to hold coconut oil, and has some type of brown liner inside. Just wondering if a weed burner (Harbor Freight) would get hot enough to remove the brown liner.

 

[daninnewjersey]

That brown liner is nasty to get out. I would say you need to burn hotter....and then you have to use a wheel. Maybe you have a local fire dept that could help you out with a place to burn it? You start talking BBQ with them and some doors might magically open....

 

[Fwismoker]

My first one had that liner which was a rust inhibitor of sorts. Burned that one out with a real fire but the torch will do it as well.


JMO but I wouldn't worry about getting the insides down to all shiny metal, after some time with the torch anything left over will mostly come off with wire brush etc... IIRC mine had small patches of that color here or there and it seasoned over that real nice.

 

[SmittyJonz]

Weed burner didn't do it on mine. I had to burn several broken up pallets in a HOT fire.

 

[Hillbilly BBQ]

Take it to get sand blasted.

 

[Roguejim]

My first one had that liner which was a rust inhibitor of sorts. Burned that one out with a real fire but the torch will do it as well.


JMO but I wouldn't worry about getting the insides down to all shiny metal, after some time with the torch anything left over will mostly come off with wire brush etc... IIRC mine had small patches of that color here or there and it seasoned over that real nice.

If I was able to take the drum somewhere out in the county, where it's legal to burn, does that brown liner tend to flake off? I'm not liking the idea of having to wire brush the inside of that drum out. Not sure why that brown rust inhibitor is a problem anyway, since the drum is food grade to begin with.

 

[Roguejim]

Weed burner didn't do it on mine. I had to burn several broken up pallets in a HOT fire.

Did you still have to scrape, or wire brush the brown liner out?

 

[AussieMatt]

My drum also held coconut oil and it had the tanish coloured liner. The HF burner worked well on it. You may have some pink looking residue afterwards, just hit that with the wire brush and you'll be sweet.

 

[yakdung]

The brown liner is epoxy. Tough stuff.

 

[Fwismoker]

My drum also held coconut oil and it had the tanish coloured liner. The HF burner worked well on it. You may have some pink looking residue afterwards, just hit that with the wire brush and you'll be sweet.

Thanks Matt, yes I remember that redish color now that was in a few spots....even some of it remained after the wire brush but it was all good.

 

[TXBronco]

Take it to get sand blasted.

Yep. I burned pallets and weed burned it. Sandblasting was the easiest option for sure!!

 

[sbramm]

all my drums were done with a weed burner. heat an area to bright red, move, repeat.

then hit it with a wire wheel. all done.

mine were brown liner.

YMMV

 

[THoey1963]

I just discovered it's illegal to start a fire in my 55-gal drum except for 2 weeks out of the year, where I would have to pay $10 for a permit! Local government

My question is why build a UDS if you can only use it two weeks out of the year?

 

[Yellowhair42]

My question is why build a UDS if you can only use it two weeks out of the year?

It's only "illegal" if you get caught!

 

[quamdar]

My question is why build a UDS if you can only use it two weeks out of the year?

I would imagine the law is probably written in a way to prohibit fires but not for the purpose of cooking. At least I would hope...

 

[SmittyJonz]

Did you still have to scrape, or wire brush the brown liner out?

I'm Lazy so i just took it to the carwash afterwards and ran about $5 worth thru it and called it Good. Then seasoned it.

 

[OlyQ]

Drill the inlet holes , and outlets on the lid and toss in a bag of charcoal and let it rip.

It will take the paint and liner off no problem