Cutting a 55 Gallon Drum

I give up. How many?

"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in news:8Hfaf.1444$ snipped-for-privacy@newssvr17.news.prodigy.com:

water and corded electric power tools do not mix well.

"SteveB" wrote in news:9adaf.47546$fE5.35972@fed1read06:

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

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

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.

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

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.

Who said anything about burn barrels being allowed??

Harry K

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.

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.

"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in news:Krwcf.4871$ snipped-for-privacy@newssvr23.news.prodigy.net:

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.

I would use a pneumatic cutting tool.

experience

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.

"Larry Bud" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:

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

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

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