I went the turkey fryer route last year for boiling traps but have to do several loads. (8 doz cs & a doz 110's)

I just went to pick up a burn barrel and they had some new barrels that were dented up, picked up a couple for 10 bucks a piece.

Will the turkey fryer burner heat that much water up or should I cute it down. Only negative to cutting it down I can see is the edges will probably be razor sharp.

How would you clean these before using them for traps, like I said they are new, but am sure they still have lots of odor in them from the plant.

Also do you change out your die water every year, or just add die and keep boiling?

what was in them previously???
some gas scrubbed in there and burnt, then a good pressure washing ought to remove the residue..

I would think it is too much for a turkey cooker. especially the wieght.unless it is cut down, and a grinder would take care of the sharp edges.
I would suggest a nice bonfire to boil that much water.

And a nice lid for the barrel, the water will boil faster.

I agree.

~ADC~

I would actually have the barrel on blocks, with just enough room to slide the burner under it. This way I can have one set up to clean, and one to boil, just move the burner.

How much should I cut it down to use the propane to boil with?

I been using a 55 gal steel barrel for bout 8 yrs, I cut it down bout 2/3 leaving 1/3 the edges never seeemed to be a problem, works great on top of a turkey cooker. Just make sure you dont set it in a muddy area, thats all i can say bout the weight.I got to get a new barrel afore this season left in the yard a buddy ran it over and got a new tire in the proccess.

These came from a factory that makes barrels, so they have had nothing in them yet, but have a few small dents so guess they are seconds.

I know this company makes 20, 30, and 40 gallon barrels too, but they do not sell to the public and the place that I get these seconds from crushes all barrels except 55 gallon ones. They keep a small supply of these on hand for people to buy for burn barrels.

It's been a few years, but I used to use about half a barrel of water with 2.5 pounds of logwood crystals.

Before dying, I boiled with some lye to clean the traps. This would also clean the inside of the barrel.

Depends on the size of your traps but I think 100 traps of size 1.5 coils should fit ok for one boiling.

Here's my trap dye setup.I got the idea from Phil Browns pic of his.

didnt leggets use the same kinda rig duane ?

They might have Gary.Been so long since I seen there vid I can't remember.

Just because it's a 55 gal drum, doesn't mean you have to put 55 gal into it.

I stand mine on end and then do the cut you can more easliy put the propane heat under it then.

I cut 1/3 off my 55 gallon drum. used the 2/3 for boiling, used the 1/3 for a firebox.

The 1/3 part has no top or bottom and a hole cut in the side for firewood, then a couple of re-rods to support the 2/3 boiler. The re-rods give enough room to get a draft going and the whole rig heats up twice a fast at when I set the barrel on cement blocks. I set the rig on an old concrete slab or used firebricks.

I get 6-8 foot lengths of logging slash (tops, branches etc) and feed the long peices through the firehole.

I use tag alder bark for dyeing, works better than logwood for me. The bark solution gets better and better with each batch, I just add an ice cream pail of bark every other batch. I start with about 3 ice cream pails of peeled bark. rake all the bark out once in awhile so it doesn't take up too much room.

The tannin in the bark reacts with the iron and turns everything black. Then I wax in a seperate kettle with 15 pounds of wax or so.

Excellent post Dale T

Like Dale T i cut my barral down but I went to half but use the same type of setup otherwise useing the top half for a firebox hes right in that it heats up faster then if its on blocks and I use oak bark for dyeing just adding more as needed I then use a 10 gallon barral for waxing on a seperat fire

Dale, would the same method work with Propane if you gut the barrel in half. I am thinking the half barrel piece would be enough heigth to slide the propane burner in.

I know it doesnt get as hot as wood, but with the same enclosed area may heat up faster.

Blast it clean in a car wash then build a fire INSIDE the barrel before use.

MW PA Trapper,

I think the set up would work for propane too, and you wouldn't lose so much heat. You wouldn't need much of a hole to tend your fire, since you are not using wood.

Don't let the gas build up before you light it or you will have a bomb. Maybe light it then put the half barrel over then put your water barrel on. Be careful with flammable gas.

Or you could make a closeable door for lighting and checking the fire.

For cutting doors for this type of thing, or, home made camp heaters, mark your door with a pencil or whatever, I use a square hole with rounded corners. cut your straight line on the hinge side with a sawzall or sabersaw. bolt or weld your hinges on now. cut the rest of the door and make a latch. your hinges will now work good and won't be difficult to install.

I have used a cut down version (1/2) for years!