Old Oil Drum As Garden Incinerator

[LDoubtfire]

Having got fed up of paying out around £25 each time for a galvanised
Garden incinerator for burning that dos`nt last a season,I`m investing
In an old oil drum for around £10 or so.Hoping it will last a bit longer.
What do members suggest for drilling out the holes around the sides and
The bottom for air circulation and ash droppings.It will take ages with a
Hole saw and even longer with a drill and bit.A cold chisel might dent the
Drum,so will perhaps a pick axe.
Any advice forwarded much appreciated.


Lewis Doubtfire

 

[roberta1000]

I've done this umpteen times over the years. I've always used a nice sharp cold chisel and put up with the (quite small) amount of denting. YMMV if your drum is particularly thin I suppose. I did try with a small sharp pick but although it worked OK the holes were a bit too small and blocked too easily.
My drums always last easily as long as the galvanised rip-offs - after a bit of red heat cycling the galvanising doesn't seem to do much to stop the things corroding away.

 

[Alarm]

A decent hole saw will be quick.
The cheap "multi-Blade" ones will take ages.

Or is there a car repairers near you, or a kwik fit, get to a lad at lunch time and get him to use the oxy-acet on it.

 

[LDoubtfire]

Some quick replies here,thanks so far.While I`m online,
I saw a galvanised one the other day,with holes just about
A third of the way up,all around the bin,whats the reason
For this.?
All the others I`ve seen,I think they have had air holes right
The way nearly up to the rim.

Lewis Doubtfire

 

[maltaron]

Why worry about a few dents-it's not going in your lounge (is it? cheap heating!!) Just welt it with a sharp pickaxe, it will go thro' with hardly a dent.

 

[merlin50]

make the holes before you cut the top out

 

[Symptoms]

L - 1000s of navvies over countless decades have belted oil drums with picks to create the holes.

Old methods often the best.