Biohazard Beer Barrel

by zieak

26K11122

Intro: Biohazard Beer Barrel

A cheap and easy cooler that belches fog into your party.

Any mention of this project must provide a link to www.zieak.com with credit to Ryan McFarland.

STEP 1: Collect Materials

For this project you will need:

*55 gallon metal drum (try industrial sites or the local landfill for a free one)
*32 gallon plastic garbage can
*square
*marker
*circular saw with metal cutting blade or a hand saw
*hearing and eye protection
*metal file
*biohazard sticker or magnet (cheap ones at labsafety.com) or paint and a steady hand
*fog machine
*duct tape
*ice

If you don't want to cut the metal you can easily use a hand saw and cut the handles off of the garbage can. I wanted to keep the handles on my garbage can and have access to more barrels so opted to cut the barrel. Put the garbage can on top of the drum. If you plan on having the drum against a wall or in a corner offset the garbage can so that the gap between their rims will allow the fog out toward your guests. Mark where the cuts will have to be made with a marker.

STEP 2: Test the Fit

Cut the slots for the garbage can handle deep enough to allow the barrel to hang with the rim at the same height as the rim of the metal drum. If you cut the handles off of the plastic garbage can then you'll need to make something to raise the liner up and still allow the fog machine space to sit below. Filled with ice and cold beverages, the liner will be quite heavy. Test the fit of the liner and make any changes necessary. File any sharp rasps off of the metal barrel.

STEP 3: Assemble and Decorate

Put the fog machine in with the cord hanging out. Ideally your machine will have a corded remote or have dials that set the frequency and duration of the fog. I had intended on painting a biohazard symbol on the barrel but found a cheap and very large magnet at labsafety.com. This saved me a lot of hassle, looks more authentic, and gives me a huge magnet for the fridge.

STEP 4: Fill With Ice and Enjoy

It takes a lot of ice to fill a container that big!

Fog machines heat the fluid used to make the fog. As the fog passes by the cooled garbage can it drops the temperature of the fog and makes it flow down the outside of the barrel instead of just suspending in the room.

23 Comments

Luziviech 11 years ago

Ever thought bout adding sum fluorescein to the ice? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluorescein

Warlrosity 14 years ago

Yet another wonderfully disturbing piece.

implaxis 17 years ago

Perhaps use dry ice if you don't have a fog machine?

I'd also recommend not to use a real biohazard container! ;-)

Ellsinc 16 years ago

You could but theres probably a chance that the temperature would crack the bottles.

aphyllophorales 16 years ago

if the dry ice is in water, and separated from physical contact with the bottles, the bottles would be safe, but it would still be a trade off. - dry ice will eventually ice over without water circulation and become ineffective - dry ice fog production relates directly to water temperature, so one would have to test whether a desirable fog production to water temperature level can be established and maintained + dry ice fog is completely hypoallergenic, which, i can assure you, is not truly the case for any sources of fog other than LN2 or dry ice. that's why professional theater uses dry ice or LN2 about 98% of the time, and, due to the risks of LN2, thats probably 90% dry ice. LN2 (liquid nitrogen, FYI) is a second option, but the risks in handling LN2 almost never outweighs the benefits of its use. If it splashes on your clothes, youre fucked.

bennyboy13 14 years ago

Whats the prob with LN2 getting on your clothes???? I have been working with it for years and never had a problem, It must be used with respect and sensibility but its not acid :) I have been working with it long enough to know the burn time and even able to put my hand in a vessel full of liquid nitrogen and come off unscathed ( about 1/2 a second) as long as it doesnt get caught in any crevices LN2 runs off you it doesnt "stick"

zieak 16 years ago

I went with the fog machine because 1. i had one and 2. i can not bet dry ice. (I live on an island.)

lifelong-newbie 14 years ago

That's a really sweet looking barrel. I'm thinking about making one for halloween

Dark Solar 15 years ago

MMMMMM....Newcastle Brown Ale...Lrrgrglrlglrgglrlrrrglg

parsephoni 15 years ago

I am so doing this for my Halloween party this year! I love it!

Esmagamus 15 years ago

Find some green glop that glows in the dark or under blacklight!

rheide 16 years ago

I know you mentioned getting the magnet at Lab Safety Supply store but I can't find it there. Any possible way to make a direct link? Awesome work by the way.

ThinkBeforeYouSpeak 16 years ago

where do you but the fog machine? just stick it in then put ice on top?

zieak 16 years ago

The fog machine is between the garbage can and the 55 gallon drum. The ice is in the garbage can.

lemonie 17 years ago

You could also paint it "military" and have include an 'in case of emergency' (zombies) phone number...

zv_odd 17 years ago

Insted of using a Biohazard sign, just whip up a stencil and spray it on, it looks cooler, plus you can stencil one of those biohazard symbols too. As theRIAA suggested Green LEDs at the bottem shining up through the ice, now that would kick ass.

andresm 17 years ago

amazing!! GOOD JOB ZIEAK

_diyMATT 17 years ago

Damnit i really want to make that one.
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