Burn Barrles

ellorbito · Post by **ellorbito** » Mon Jun 21, 2010 9:16 pm

I was put to the task of building burn barrels for our theme camp. I have a few questions about them.
1. Should I just put them up on cinder blocks.
2. Where do I find info on how far apart they have to be.
3. Does someone have a set of plans on how to build one. I'm taking a welding class in few weeks.
4. Should I make a wire cover.

Just few questions to start with. I need all the help I can get.
Thanks a bunches.
Rye

Token · Post by **Token** » Mon Jun 21, 2010 9:41 pm

You really don't need more than one.

http://www.burningman.com/themecamps/re ... #open_fire

Guidelines for open fires, burn barrels, tiki torches etc within theme camps:

No fire barrels or open fires shall be left unattended. At least one camp member will be designated fire tender and be within visual distance at all times. If found unattended while lit, open fires or burn barrels may be extinguished and/or confiscated if there is sufficient hazard.
If winds pick up, all open fires must be put out immediately and burn barrels must be extinguished if they begin to throw sparks.
Open fire above 10 feet tall shall be secured from the wind and the safety perimeter increased appropriately.
Open fire or burn barrels must be extinguished at the request of any Ranger or Emergency Services personnel.
A 20-foot Zone around the fire must be free of any flammable materials, such as but not limited to: cloth, paper, tents, plastic, etc.
All liquid fuels must be kept at least 50 feet away from any open flame. Please check out the guidelines for the storage of fuels at Burning Man.
A supply of at least 5 gallons of water must be kept on hand to extinguish the fire in case of high winds (wind can blow embers and sparks a long distance on the playa!) or other hazards.
Burn barrels shall be secured and constructed in a way that the burning surface is at least 6 inches from the playa to prevent baking or scarring of the playa surface.
Note: please remember that gasoline is a dangerous fuel to use to start fires. Explosive vapors can instantly build up as it is applied and as the fire is lit it can flash and burn you!

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Mon Jun 21, 2010 9:43 pm

hey!!
what's the name of this thread supposed to imply?

Lord Of Ruin · Post by **Lord Of Ruin** » Tue Jun 22, 2010 11:41 am

ygmir wrote:hey!!
what's the name of this thread supposed to imply?

That the original poster should have spent more time on grammar homework than on building "burn barrles?"

Purrjian · Post by **Purrjian** » Tue Jun 22, 2010 12:45 pm

Must be the english spelling ...

Dr. Pyro · Post by **Dr. Pyro** » Sun Aug 01, 2010 1:37 pm

OK, I have a legitimate question: How much wood (in our case, oak logs), on a per day basis, can we expect to go through? We want enough wood, but don't want to overload ourselves. This is my first year having a burn barrel for Barbie Death Camp, and we bow to the expertise of our fellow burners.

geekster · Post by **geekster** » Sun Aug 01, 2010 2:15 pm

We have three burn barrels and find a half a cord is fine for us but we don't burn them every night. A cord was way more than enough and we ended up donating some to a couple of burn projects.

Use a plasma cutter. You can do some FINE work with one. Practice on an extra barrel first, though, to get the feel of it. Remember, though, the more you cut away, the weaker the barrel becomes. If you load that barrel in a truck and load more shit on top of it, it might be flat by the time you get to the playa. Also, don't sit on it while you are cutting. Straddling the barrel seems like a great thing to do ... until you stand up and realize you bent it.

We find having more than one works best for us. We have found that a few Playatech benches around one barrel and a couple more around another and one out free standing for people just walking by to warm up works best. What generally starts out as one conversation often splits off into a couple and people like having that other barrel to drift over to.

Token · Post by **Token** » Sun Aug 01, 2010 4:07 pm

Dr. Pyro wrote:OK, I have a legitimate question: How much wood (in our case, oak logs), on a per day basis, can we expect to go through? We want enough wood, but don't want to overload ourselves. This is my first year having a burn barrel for Barbie Death Camp, and we bow to the expertise of our fellow burners.

Depends enteriely on the number of dirty socks and bacon grease you toss in.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Sun Aug 01, 2010 6:39 pm

This may be obvious, but have a tarp under the wood and moop the area around that tarp and around the barrel several times. Small pieces of bark and the little bits of wood with charred ends are very interested in escaping your control.

geekster · Post by **geekster** » Sun Aug 01, 2010 9:48 pm

Depends enteriely on the number of dirty socks and bacon grease you toss in.

Which brings up a very interesting point. One of the things I do is go to the dollar store and get a bunch of cheap-assed cotton socks. Those get worn once and tossed into the burn barrel. You can do the same with cotton underwear if you rip the waist band out first. That means less stinky laundry to have to share the ride home with.

Bring twice as many socks as you think you are going to need.

Bluemandrew · Post by **Bluemandrew** » Mon Aug 02, 2010 6:44 am

Dr. Pyro wrote:OK, I have a legitimate question: How much wood (in our case, oak logs), on a per day basis, can we expect to go through? We want enough wood, but don't want to overload ourselves. This is my first year having a burn barrel for Barbie Death Camp, and we bow to the expertise of our fellow burners.

I have a propane fired burn barrel of sorts too. It may stay in my camp, but we may want it out someplace else. It's unique I'll say...

MistressSybs · Post by **MistressSybs** » Mon Aug 02, 2010 10:45 am

Is it ok to ask a neighboring camp that has proper burn barrels if we can bring something over to add to their already burning stuff? Or is that a major faux pas?

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Mon Aug 02, 2010 11:08 am

geekster wrote: Bring twice as many socks as you think you are going to need.

Hmm. Twice zero is...zero! Whoohoo! fewer things I need to fuss with!

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Mon Aug 02, 2010 11:09 am

MistressSybs wrote:Is it ok to ask a neighboring camp that has proper burn barrels if we can bring something over to add to their already burning stuff? Or is that a major faux pas?

Worth asking. Be aware that at some point before they leave, they want their fire to go out so they can sweep up ashes, pack them and pack the burn barrel. Also, be prepare to take home a fair share of the ashes as your own.

MistressSybs · Post by **MistressSybs** » Mon Aug 02, 2010 12:10 pm

theCryptofishist wrote:
MistressSybs wrote:Is it ok to ask a neighboring camp that has proper burn barrels if we can bring something over to add to their already burning stuff? Or is that a major faux pas?
Worth asking. Be aware that at some point before they leave, they want their fire to go out so they can sweep up ashes, pack them and pack the burn barrel. Also, be prepare to take home a fair share of the ashes as your own.

I would probably do it as they're starting up so we didn't inconvenience anyone and don't see a problem with carting off a share of the ashes either... I wasn't sure if I should even ask... something's piss people off and I don't wanna be that person. LOL

TomServo · Post by **TomServo** » Mon Aug 02, 2010 12:14 pm

theCryptofishist wrote:
MistressSybs wrote:Is it ok to ask a neighboring camp that has proper burn barrels if we can bring something over to add to their already burning stuff? Or is that a major faux pas?
Worth asking. Be aware that at some point before they leave, they want their fire to go out so they can sweep up ashes, pack them and pack the burn barrel. Also, be prepare to take home a fair share of the ashes as your own.

I've got a steel trash can for ashes....wheter completely extiguished or not.

...and a lid!

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Mon Aug 02, 2010 6:05 pm

MistressSybs wrote:
theCryptofishist wrote:
MistressSybs wrote:Is it ok to ask a neighboring camp that has proper burn barrels if we can bring something over to add to their already burning stuff? Or is that a major faux pas?
Worth asking. Be aware that at some point before they leave, they want their fire to go out so they can sweep up ashes, pack them and pack the burn barrel. Also, be prepare to take home a fair share of the ashes as your own.
I would probably do it as they're starting up so we didn't inconvenience anyone and don't see a problem with carting off a share of the ashes either... I wasn't sure if I should even ask... something's piss people off and I don't wanna be that person. LOL

Just making sure that you know what reasonable respect looks like. You might get someone bitter and resentful who won't let you near the camp, but those are the basic issues as I understand them.

motskyroonmatick · Post by **motskyroonmatick** » Mon Aug 02, 2010 7:37 pm

I'm gong to bring these. Bear Bricks. Burn the tray too. A little harder to start than cord wood but much more moop free and compact too boot.

http://www.towseyfrench.com/2008/12/17/ ... rgy-brick/

Possibly available where pellet stoves are sold. At farm stores around here. Coastal Farm Supply is where I get mine.

Less ash is nice too.

Fire_Moose · Post by **Fire_Moose** » Tue Aug 03, 2010 6:46 am

does any one know if cinderblocks will prevent scarring?

Token · Post by **Token** » Tue Aug 03, 2010 7:09 am

They will but also have a tendency to shatter from the heat and jackassery with much moop potential.

Welding on rebar legs has been the standard approach.

Fire_Moose · Post by **Fire_Moose** » Tue Aug 03, 2010 7:33 am

...I've seen some scarring under 12' legs.....