Remove hardened grease from oil drum?

[jca]

One of the leftover relics from our garage renovation is an old metal oil drum barrel with a Castrol Regal Coat label.

Just under half of the oil drum is filled with a solid black sludge, which I assume is old automotive grease. Is there any way to remove this solid mass and save the drum?

 

[rockwithjason]

you could try soaking it with solvent like kerosine and agitating it evey once in a while. eventually you should be able to get it out

 

[MP&C]

Brand new oil drums are under $100, used ones cheaper yet. So not worth doing anything foolish over trying to save what you got.... Somewhere on the site here are pictures of my second and third degree burns after release from the burn unit from a stupid move involving an oil drum... So whatever you do, just be safe! I consider myself lucky to be here right now.

 

[arroberts]

Fire?

 

[jca]

Fire?

Isn't that what MP&C is warning against?

 

[king nero]

instead of fire, use moderate heat ???

 

[kbs2244]

Cover the top of the grease with about 2 inches of kerosene.
Put a lid on it, not too tight, let it vent if it wants to.
Set in the sun for a few days.
It should soften it up enough to scoop some out.
You will most likly need to repeat a few times.

 

[SMKS]

How will you dispose of grease mixed with kerosene? It would probably be easier to just dispose of the hardened grease. I assume it will take a call to the local government to figure out where you can take it.

 

[sdowney717]

If you can do outdoor burning, just burn it out.
just how hard is old grease?

like perhaps dig a BIG fire pit.
put wood in the pit
lay barrel on its side
light it off but dont use gasoline.
If it really is grease it will liquify and run out and smoke a lot and burn.

 

[hydramatic]

safteykleen will dispose of the whole thing

 

[DHS]

I dont think he wants to burn the paint on the barrel he is trying to save. I would get an old plastic bowl and dip as much as possible out then wipe it best you can with some old shirts or towels. Then brake clean it.

 

[jca]

safteykleen will dispose of the whole thing

Which Safety-Kleen product are you referring to? I'm not familiar with them.

 

[kursplat]

DO NOT try heating it up from the bottom, even slowly. the stuff on the bottom will expand until it blows the hardened plug at the top coating everyone and everything around it in flaming grease. why not just leave the stuff in it, nobody wil steal it