Cutting a 55 Gallon Drum

[Barry]

Greetings All!

Just got an empty 55 gal. drum from a local eatery that held vegetable
oil. I'd like to use it as a burn barrel, but the only opening is a
small hole in the top for a syphon pump of some kind.

Would appreciate some thoughts on how to cut the top off. My experience
with metal working is limited to high school shop which is longer ago
than I care to think about ;-).

Thanks in advance!

-Barry

[dadiOH]

Post by Barry
Greetings All!
Just got an empty 55 gal. drum from a local eatery that held vegetable
oil. I'd like to use it as a burn barrel, but the only opening is a
small hole in the top for a syphon pump of some kind.
Would appreciate some thoughts on how to cut the top off. My
experience with metal working is limited to high school shop which is
longer ago than I care to think about ;-).

Be very, very careful...I once saw a man blown to bits because he was
grinding on a barrel that had once held diesel fuel. The fuel was long
gone, barrel had been filled/emptied with water several times;
nevertheless, when he cut through the side a spark ignited diesel fumes
and BOOM!

I know vegetable oil isn't diesel oil but it still burns.

--
dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
...a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

[Ross Mac]

Post by Barry
Greetings All!
Just got an empty 55 gal. drum from a local eatery that held vegetable
oil. I'd like to use it as a burn barrel, but the only opening is a
small hole in the top for a syphon pump of some kind.
Would appreciate some thoughts on how to cut the top off. My experience
with metal working is limited to high school shop which is longer ago
than I care to think about ;-).
Thanks in advance!
-Barry

Fill it with water and put a metal cutting blade on whatever saw you happen
to own and carve it off. The water will keep it from igniting if that is
even possible with vegetable oil...good luck....

[Mike Dobony]

Post by Ross Mac

Post by Barry
Greetings All!
Just got an empty 55 gal. drum from a local eatery that held vegetable
oil. I'd like to use it as a burn barrel, but the only opening is a
small hole in the top for a syphon pump of some kind.
Would appreciate some thoughts on how to cut the top off. My experience
with metal working is limited to high school shop which is longer ago
than I care to think about ;-).
Thanks in advance!
-Barry

Fill it with water and put a metal cutting blade on whatever saw you happen
to own and carve it off. The water will keep it from igniting if that is
even possible with vegetable oil...good luck....

With water int it??? It had better be a cordless saw!!!!!!!!!

[Edwin Pawlowski]

Post by Mike Dobony
With water int it??? It had better be a cordless saw!!!!!!!!!

Why? The blade won't rust.

[Jim Yanik]

Post by Edwin Pawlowski

Post by Mike Dobony
With water int it??? It had better be a cordless saw!!!!!!!!!

Why? The blade won't rust.

water and corded electric power tools do not mix well.

[Edwin Pawlowski]

Post by Jim Yanik
water and corded electric power tools do not mix well.

Done properly, the tool won't see the water. It is not like standing in the
bathtub with a toaster.

[Mike Dobony]

Post by Edwin Pawlowski

Post by Jim Yanik
water and corded electric power tools do not mix well.

Done properly, the tool won't see the water. It is not like standing in the
bathtub with a toaster.

I'll let you do the cutting while I call 911 : (

[Edwin Pawlowski]

Post by Mike Dobony

Post by Edwin Pawlowski

Post by Jim Yanik
water and corded electric power tools do not mix well.

Done properly, the tool won't see the water. It is not like standing in

the

Post by Edwin Pawlowski
bathtub with a toaster.

I'll let you do the cutting while I call 911 : (

Ok, but there will be no need to call anyone expect your mother to tell her
what a good idea you have to cut drums now. Only the blade touches water,
not the entire saw.

[Jim Yanik]

Post by Edwin Pawlowski

Post by Mike Dobony

Post by Edwin Pawlowski

Post by Jim Yanik
water and corded electric power tools do not mix well.

Done properly, the tool won't see the water. It is not like
standing in

the

Post by Edwin Pawlowski
bathtub with a toaster.

I'll let you do the cutting while I call 911 : (

Ok, but there will be no need to call anyone expect your mother to
tell her what a good idea you have to cut drums now. Only the blade
touches water, not the entire saw.

And the blade is not going to toss water around,or water run out from the
cut?? Maybe to leak onto the power tool?
Or you won't end up standing in a puddle while holding a corded power tool?

It really is not a smart thing to do.

[Larry Bud]

Post by Jim Yanik

Post by Edwin Pawlowski

Post by Mike Dobony
With water int it??? It had better be a cordless saw!!!!!!!!!

Why? The blade won't rust.

water and corded electric power tools do not mix well.

I would use a pneumatic cutting tool.

[Bill Miller]

Post by Barry
Would appreciate some thoughts on how to cut the top off. My

experience

Post by Barry
with metal working is limited to high school shop which is longer ago
than I care to think about ;-).

I always just used a hatchet and large hammer, took about 5 minutes to
go around the barrel, keep the hatchet close to the rim and it will be
pretty smooth. Then used a pick to punch breather holes around the
bottom.

[Jim Yanik]

Post by Larry Bud

Post by Jim Yanik

Post by Edwin Pawlowski

Post by Mike Dobony
With water int it??? It had better be a cordless saw!!!!!!!!!

Why? The blade won't rust.

water and corded electric power tools do not mix well.

I would use a pneumatic cutting tool.

I did suggest that in one of my posts.
Either a airpowered grinder or shear.(like auto customizers use)

[Goedjn]

On Wed, 02 Nov 2005 17:23:57 -0500, Barry

Post by Barry
Greetings All!
Just got an empty 55 gal. drum from a local eatery that held vegetable
oil. I'd like to use it as a burn barrel, but the only opening is a
small hole in the top for a syphon pump of some kind.
Would appreciate some thoughts on how to cut the top off. My experience
with metal working is limited to high school shop which is longer ago
than I care to think about ;-).

You can use a sawsall, a jigsaw, a giant can opener, an axe,
or a cutting torch. If you cut the entire top inch off,
you can use a circular saw. Preferably with a cutoff wheel
in it.

[n***@ece.villanova.edu]

Post by Goedjn
You can use a sawsall, a jigsaw, a giant can opener, an axe,
or a cutting torch...

Grainger's $50 can opener does a good job, with smooth edges.

Nick

[LM]

Post by Barry
Greetings All!
Just got an empty 55 gal. drum from a local eatery that held vegetable
oil. I'd like to use it as a burn barrel, but the only opening is a
small hole in the top for a syphon pump of some kind.
Would appreciate some thoughts on how to cut the top off. My experience
with metal working is limited to high school shop which is longer ago
than I care to think about ;-).
Thanks in advance!
-Barry

Sawzall. Take the top off anything.

[NickySantoro]

Post by LM

Post by Barry
Greetings All!
Just got an empty 55 gal. drum from a local eatery that held vegetable
oil. I'd like to use it as a burn barrel, but the only opening is a
small hole in the top for a syphon pump of some kind.
Would appreciate some thoughts on how to cut the top off. My experience
with metal working is limited to high school shop which is longer ago
than I care to think about ;-).
Thanks in advance!
-Barry

Sawzall. Take the top off anything.

Agreed. BTDT with the Sawzall to do exactly the same thing. You might
consider ear plugs. It gets noisy.

[zxcvbob]

Post by Barry
Greetings All!
Just got an empty 55 gal. drum from a local eatery that held vegetable
oil. I'd like to use it as a burn barrel, but the only opening is a
small hole in the top for a syphon pump of some kind.
Would appreciate some thoughts on how to cut the top off. My experience
with metal working is limited to high school shop which is longer ago
than I care to think about ;-).
Thanks in advance!
-Barry

I had a summer job in an oil field once, and the way we did it was with
a pipe wrench and a small sledge hammer. Go around the top with the
pipe wrench jaw just over the rim and whack it with the hammer. Then
move it an inch and whack it again. Repeat. It does a surprisingly
good job and turns the rough edge down. Takes a while though...

Bob

[Limey Lurker]

Post by Barry
Would appreciate some thoughts on how to cut the top off.

Cold chisel and 2 1/2 lb. hammer; keep the chisel tight against the
rim, and hold it at about 15 degrees from vertical behind the direction
of travel. I've done a couple of dozen like this.

[EXT]

Post by Limey Lurker

Post by Barry
Would appreciate some thoughts on how to cut the top off.

Cold chisel and 2 1/2 lb. hammer; keep the chisel tight against the
rim, and hold it at about 15 degrees from vertical behind the direction
of travel. I've done a couple of dozen like this.

I have done the same thing a number of times.

[ameijers]

Post by EXT

Post by Limey Lurker

Post by Barry
Would appreciate some thoughts on how to cut the top off.

Cold chisel and 2 1/2 lb. hammer; keep the chisel tight against the
rim, and hold it at about 15 degrees from vertical behind the direction
of travel. I've done a couple of dozen like this.

I have done the same thing a number of times.

Stop by local muffler shop, and pay them five bucks to do it with their
air-powered cold chisel?

The guy that mentioned the giant can opener was right- that is how people in
the business do it. Might call around to local rental places and see if they
have that tool in their library. Don't know what the proper name is, but if
you describe the situation, it should ring a bell for them. The rentall
place will have electric chisels.

aem sends...

[Matt Howell]

Post by ameijers

Post by EXT

Post by Limey Lurker

Post by Barry
Would appreciate some thoughts on how to cut the top off.

Cold chisel and 2 1/2 lb. hammer; keep the chisel tight against the
rim, and hold it at about 15 degrees from vertical behind the direction
of travel. I've done a couple of dozen like this.

I have done the same thing a number of times.

Stop by local muffler shop, and pay them five bucks to do it with their
air-powered cold chisel?
The guy that mentioned the giant can opener was right- that is how people in
the business do it. Might call around to local rental places and see if they
have that tool in their library. Don't know what the proper name is, but if
you describe the situation, it should ring a bell for them. The rentall
place will have electric chisels.
aem sends...

the name you're looking for is drum deheader.

[Harry K]

Post by EXT

Post by Limey Lurker

Post by Barry
Would appreciate some thoughts on how to cut the top off.

Cold chisel and 2 1/2 lb. hammer; keep the chisel tight against the
rim, and hold it at about 15 degrees from vertical behind the direction
of travel. I've done a couple of dozen like this.

I have done the same thing a number of times.

Same here. Doesn't take very long either. Seems like everybody
ignores the simple solution for the 'more power' methods.

Harry K

[SteveB]

Post by Barry
Greetings All!
Just got an empty 55 gal. drum from a local eatery that held vegetable
oil. I'd like to use it as a burn barrel, but the only opening is a
small hole in the top for a syphon pump of some kind.
Would appreciate some thoughts on how to cut the top off. My experience
with metal working is limited to high school shop which is longer ago
than I care to think about ;-).
Thanks in advance!
-Barry

Air chisel with v shaped blade for cutting sheetmetal. Leave a lip you can
bend downward. Don't cut off the top ring, or the barrell will lose a lot
of its rigidity.

Steve

[Jim Yanik]

Post by SteveB

Post by Barry
Greetings All!
Just got an empty 55 gal. drum from a local eatery that held
vegetable oil. I'd like to use it as a burn barrel, but the only
opening is a small hole in the top for a syphon pump of some kind.
Would appreciate some thoughts on how to cut the top off. My
experience with metal working is limited to high school shop which is
longer ago than I care to think about ;-).
Thanks in advance!
-Barry

Air chisel with v shaped blade for cutting sheetmetal. Leave a lip
you can bend downward. Don't cut off the top ring, or the barrell
will lose a lot of its rigidity.
Steve

Air powered grinder with cut-off disc.
Or air-powered shears like auto body workers use to cut bodywork.
No electricity to electrocute you.

[PaPaPeng]

On Wed, 02 Nov 2005 17:23:57 -0500, Barry

Post by Barry
Would appreciate some thoughts on how to cut the top off.

Saw this method used in a third world salvage yard. Grab a
comfortable length of car suspension spring, probably 24 inches long.
Cut one end at 45 deg or thereabouts and sharpen that. Hold the other
end of the spring and use a hammer to hit the end with the sharp edge
to cut whatever part of the steel barrel you want. Those guys were
removing barrel lids and cutting windows on the barrel's sides like
there was no tomorrow.

[Jonathan Grobe]

Post by Goedjn
On Wed, 02 Nov 2005 17:23:57 -0500, Barry

Post by Barry
Would appreciate some thoughts on how to cut the top off.

After you start it with a chisel, you can use a
Sawzall (with the metal blade of course) to finish
cutting it.

[Goedjn]

On Thu, 3 Nov 2005 07:59:00 +0000 (UTC), Jonathan Grobe

Post by Jonathan Grobe

Post by Goedjn
On Wed, 02 Nov 2005 17:23:57 -0500, Barry

Post by Barry
Would appreciate some thoughts on how to cut the top off.

After you start it with a chisel, you can use a
Sawzall (with the metal blade of course) to finish
cutting it.

Empty the barrel. Pour in 1/4 cup of gasoline.
dig deep hole. roll barrel around a while.
run long fuse from barrel to ditch. Hide in hole,
check for air-traffic, light fuse.
Hunt around the neighborhood
for the barrel. Hide from the BATF, who will
charge you with constructing an incendiary/explosive
device.

[Steve IA]

Post by Barry
Greetings All!
Just got an empty 55 gal. drum from a local eatery that held vegetable
oil. I'd like to use it as a burn barrel,

For a better burning barrel, cut *both* ends out in a manner suggested by
others. Set the remaining cylinder on a grate (the heavier the better)
supported by concrete blocks or such. This will allow more air to get to
your fire providing more complete combustion and less ashes.

Steve
41N

[n***@ece.villanova.edu]

Post by Steve IA

Post by Barry
Just got an empty 55 gal. drum from a local eatery that held vegetable
oil. I'd like to use it as a burn barrel,

For a better burning barrel, cut *both* ends out in a manner suggested by
others. Set the remaining cylinder on a grate (the heavier the better)...

Sounds better. One of my neighbors made a "grate" by pushing several rebars
through holes near the bottom. A bottomless drum on a concrete block U
would get lots of airflow, and it would be easy to shovel ashes out.

Nick

[Harry K]

Post by n***@ece.villanova.edu

Post by Steve IA

Post by Barry
Just got an empty 55 gal. drum from a local eatery that held vegetable
oil. I'd like to use it as a burn barrel,

For a better burning barrel, cut *both* ends out in a manner suggested by
others. Set the remaining cylinder on a grate (the heavier the better)...

Sounds better. One of my neighbors made a "grate" by pushing several rebars
through holes near the bottom. A bottomless drum on a concrete block U
would get lots of airflow, and it would be easy to shovel ashes out.
Nick

Indeed it does burn better. Load it with trash, shove a few crumpled
sheets of newspaper under it and stand back. Will go like a blow
torch. Been doing it since 1978. Barrels don't last as long though.

Harry K

[t***@optonline.net]

It's amazing to me that at a time when we are all paying big bucks to
try to clean the air, there are still places that allow this kind of
burning to go on. How many cars do you think it takes to equal the
pollution put out by one trash burning drum?

[ronm]

I give up. How many?

Post by t***@optonline.net
It's amazing to me that at a time when we are all paying big bucks to
try to clean the air, there are still places that allow this kind of
burning to go on. How many cars do you think it takes to equal the
pollution put out by one trash burning drum?

[Harry K]

Post by t***@optonline.net
It's amazing to me that at a time when we are all paying big bucks to
try to clean the air, there are still places that allow this kind of
burning to go on. How many cars do you think it takes to equal the
pollution put out by one trash burning drum?

Who said anything about burn barrels being allowed??

Harry K

[m***@xs4a11.nl]

Post by Barry
Greetings All!
Just got an empty 55 gal. drum from a local eatery that held vegetable
oil. I'd like to use it as a burn barrel, but the only opening is a
small hole in the top for a syphon pump of some kind.
Would appreciate some thoughts on how to cut the top off. My experience
with metal working is limited to high school shop which is longer ago
than I care to think about ;-).
Thanks in advance!

This is a metal 55 gallon drum? Very often those have a lid that you
can remove. There will be a band around the top (similar to a hose
clamp) which you can loosen and then take off, allowing the lid to be
taken off.
Otherwise, you can just cut it with a jigsaw. Drill a pilot hole and
start from there. The metal is fairly thin.

[wicked]

Post by Barry
Greetings All!
Just got an empty 55 gal. drum from a local eatery that held vegetable
oil. I'd like to use it as a burn barrel, but the only opening is a
small hole in the top for a syphon pump of some kind.
Would appreciate some thoughts on how to cut the top off. My experience
with metal working is limited to high school shop which is longer ago
than I care to think about ;-).
Thanks in advance!
-Barry

I use a small air hammer. There is a special chisel that has a notch in
it for cutting sheet metal. I just cut around the inside edge of the top.
Works fast and with a much smaller chance of any kind of ignition and
makes a nice clean edge if you stay close to the bead.
Filling it with water helps prevent fire, holds the barrel in place and
helps muffle the sound.

[glenn P]

Even easier, less tools - get a rag soaked in methylated spirits, toss it in
& run, then angle grind the top off...

Post by Barry
Greetings All!
Just got an empty 55 gal. drum from a local eatery that held vegetable
oil. I'd like to use it as a burn barrel, but the only opening is a
small hole in the top for a syphon pump of some kind.
Would appreciate some thoughts on how to cut the top off. My experience
with metal working is limited to high school shop which is longer ago
than I care to think about ;-).
Thanks in advance!
-Barry

I use a small air hammer. There is a special chisel that has a notch in it
for cutting sheet metal. I just cut around the inside edge of the top.
Works fast and with a much smaller chance of any kind of ignition and
makes a nice clean edge if you stay close to the bead.
Filling it with water helps prevent fire, holds the barrel in place and
helps muffle the sound.

[Marc]

I'd use a reciprocating saw with a metal blade. And ear muffs :-) But you'll
be through that in a few minutes.

Post by Barry
Greetings All!
Just got an empty 55 gal. drum from a local eatery that held vegetable
oil. I'd like to use it as a burn barrel, but the only opening is a
small hole in the top for a syphon pump of some kind.
Would appreciate some thoughts on how to cut the top off. My experience
with metal working is limited to high school shop which is longer ago
than I care to think about ;-).