Keeping warm with burn barrel.

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I finally connected this to the layout power supply for LED’s (3.0 volt). I had been using a coin cell to show it off. I rolled the 55 gallon drum from .005" aluminum sheet and used a flickering tea light LED (Dollar Tree) and added some crumpled cellophane with coloring. I know of at least 4 other places on the layout that the workers would appreciate one. I made a short video of it but don’t know if I can get it on here from Photo Bucket. I will try or post it on YouTube and put a link. OK, apparently it worked; just click on the small image at the bottom.

-Bob

2

It is getting to be that time of year. Nice idea.

Have fun,

Richard

3

Really cool. I mean hot.

4

I’ll have you know I will be stealing that idea to build one in my yard and maybe on near the coal breaker when I get that far. That’s just too neat, and those tea lights are perfect - and cheap.

–Randy

5

Bob!

That’s very creative! Certainly the price for the tea lights beats any of the ‘flickering fire’ circuits that are available.

If I can make a small suggestion, what about adding a pile of fuel i.e. wood or maybe coal near the barrel? Broken skids would be good.

Dave

6

Randy, I have at least a dozen of the tea lights (at 2 for $1.00?) and also plan to use them in my blacksmith car and in a wood campfire out behind the house. They also work in small structures that might have a fireplace.

Dave, good idea of having some scrap wood by the barrel. I have a bunch of pallets that are just perfect. BTW, I added some pcs of coal in the barrel to break up the fire so it would look more realistic.

Thanks for all the comments; glad to share my litttle details.

-Bob

7

[tup]Excellent![Y]

8

Great idea. Ive seen construction workers do that in the winter.

Modeling transition era Detroit Terminal RR

Railfanning the now era

9

That is extreamly cool!

Many years ago I worked in the construction industry and spent plenty of time next to one of those barrels. The one I remember most had an add-on that you might like. Next to the barrel and sliightly above the top was a can ( 5 gallon? ) filled with kerosene. There was a pipe running from the kerosene can to the center of the fire barrel. The pipe had a valve in it close to the kerosene can. The valve was set to let just enough kerosene to drip into the fire barrel to keep the fire going. The inside of the fire barrel had scrap steel in it with one piece situated to allow the kerosene to drip on it and spread out.

This fire barrel was built by the iron workers.

I guess every one uses a torpedo heater now.

South Penn

10

Agreed… I’m going to make a run to the Dollar Tree tomorrow. I hope they still have the tea lights - will fit right in with my Fall layout theme.

11

The Dollar Tree had them yesterday here in Knoxville, TN but they sell them at Walmart, Hobby Lobby and most other stores that carry craft stuff. I just finished and installed 3 more barrels on my layout. Now to make some campfires!

-Bob