I finally decided to be brave and burn my barrel tonight. My neighbor gave me a REALLY full wheelbarrow of old mesquite. One of the logs was about 7" in diameter, and I got the bright idea of quartering it. With a hatchet and a hammer. I'm thin now...It really wasn't too bad. The first cut was the deepest...sorry. I started by cutting a starting slot w/the recip. saw, placed the hatchet, and banged away. Wound up with another hammer and a crowbar. Splitting the leftovers was anti-climactic. I still have nearly a wagon load of mesquite left, so I'll have something to burn in November. I made a spark screen from some really light expanded metal/screening that has been laying around for years. It was pretty much unecessary. Not much sparking--especially considering mesquite--and absolutely NO wind, breeze, wafting air, nothing. Cyndi and Tiara came out and cooked some marshmallows on the flaming drum, and I had bought some chicken sausage with habanero and Monterey Jack cheese, and T roasted one of those for me, too. That was pretty danged good!!
The barrel and a couple of magnets...that I forgot to take off...Hmmm
The charcoal box, held together with J hooks that will fit thru a pizza pan for ash catching. If I get a bigger pizza pan--upwards of 18", I can take bolts out of the ring, let it out to about 15"+
The drum and the semi-speedy (Half fast) spark screen
Purtyful fire...
Pic'n it old school. Found out the camera seems to be operating within specs. Gonna go blow lots of film tomorrow. Anyone remember film? Yes, I had it pointed the right way while I was shooting!
The pic doesn't do 'em justice. These were the best looking marshmallows I've seen in decades!
Still burning merrily, 2 hours later. The charcoal box is now in the fire. I used some zinc plated hardware. Like the J hooks.
At one point, I pulled the charbox out, and one of the legs/j-hooks was glowing red, and about half the surrounding area. Another 2 hours later, and the drum is about 7" deep in glowing coals. It's a thing of beauty! I put the lid on it, and tried to get the clamp on Wish I had some welders gloves...