Mocking up my new batch box core

Uncle Mud has posted a few videos of burning paint off a barrel also which may be of interest: Mud 1
Mud 2

Ernie and Erica also go the extra length of wrapping the barrel in newspaper coated with clay slip as but another method.

Knocked out a form box this afternoon, while feeding the burn barrel out back.
This form allows me to build the correct size batch box the first try...
My shop dragon (with no form) had a tapering burn tunnel that needed to be rebuilt the very next day!
I decided then, that burnable or removable wooden forms are needed!

Big boy training wheels. We understand its hard to stay in the lines when your a mad scientist and not an engineer!

Finished burning the paint on my barrel and brought it inside.
With good lighting and no ash... I find that there are four little holes thru the metal near the top rim !  
Dang it, hate when that happens! I mean those barrels have only been there 25-30 years!!! They should still be good!

I'm so sure of that. Today, after a good inspection. I brought up barrel #2... burning out is happening as I write!
I have high hopes that this barrel is in better shape than the last... we will see.

Meanwhile, I popped the barrel top off the shop dragon to see how my 5 minute riser fared over the winter.
A fine layer of ash coats the top. No discoloration  or degradation has happened at all!
Exactly what I expected to see.  

Nice to see your riser in such good shape!
Curious to know how deep the crusty surface goes? Last time I checked mine after 6 or so fires, it was a very light crust.
In other words, I'm wondering if for some reason you wanted to take it out and put it into a new pipe, would it still be flexible enough to do so?

Good Morning, Rocket scientist's;
When the blanket was new, it was soft and smooth and very pliable.
Now a year later. It has a hard crusty feeling on the outer surface.
It still moves, so I would guess it could be removed and placed in a new pipe.
Possibility it would tear if I guy wasn't careful.
Considering the cost ... I would be wearing kid gloves if I needed to handle it!

Discovered a bit about how uncle mud's clean barrel, got that way.
The outer paint flakes off a barrel quickly as it heats. Underneath there is a white primer paint that resists coming off.
Waiting until the barrel is cold and the attempting to wire brush it... is way to much work, and the primer still looks funky.
Using diesel & oil on it at that point will remove some more of the primer, but it still has a "mottled look"

If you can stand the heat.
Using a wire brush on the primer while the barrel is still hot will easily remove everything right down to shiny metal!

Just wanted to show how nice a barrel can be cleaned up.
A little extra work with a hand held wire brush and the primer comes right off!
The last bit of paint on the bottom I'll burn off with a torch.

I’d love to see an update on this !

We got updates.. check this one out  https://permies.com/t/138779/Breaking-News-Shop-Dragon-admitted
And then check this out   https://permies.com/t/145824/Building-door-batch-box