A New DIY Incinerator

A friend of mine gave me a new fire barrel.  He used a torch to cut holes in the bottom for better airflow.  The airflow on this thing is just right!!  Since I have had this barrel I have learned that just about everything burns.  The heat and flames from this thing are astounding!  Everything I have put in this thing has been reduced to ashes.  I use it to dispose of paper waste.

If only we could figure out a way to harness this energy...

How to build:

1. Get a 55 gallon drum.   
2. Cut five equally spaced 3 inch holes in the side wall of the barrel about six inches up from the bottom.   
3. On the bottom cut a buch of 1.5 inch holes.  Sit the Barrel on top of some bricks.   
4. Load it up.  Light it up.  

This thing would be a very awesome heater for outside events!

Clean Your Chimney!

Creosote Sucks!  Below is a pic of all of the crap that came out of my chimney this year!

I can't say it enough.   Wood heating is awesome... But if you have a Wood Stove it is important that you clean your chimney every year!

I cracked open my pipes this year and was truly amazed at the amount of build up in my horizontal flue pipe and in the vertical chimney pipes.  My horizontal flue pipe was 50% full of crap.  And when I pulled the cap off at the bottom of my chimney a 5 inch plug of soot and debris fell out of the chimney.

This stuff is no joke.  Creosote buildup can cause some pretty nasty fires.   Suggestions:

• When in doubt clean it.  You don't want to risk a chimney fire.
• Use chimney cleaner products throughout your burn season.
• Get yourself a good chimney brush and flex extensions so you can clean your system at least once a year.
• If you are building a new system make sure you have clean-outs positioned well in your system so that you can clean easily.
• Burn dry seasoned wood.  Wet \ Green wood will cause more buildup in your pipes.
• Burn your fires hot.

Cheers and Holiday Greetings to All!