After 15 years of heavy use, my 55 gallon drum I use for boiling traps finally went to heck. I picked up a new one but it has a grey color that I was told is an epoxy-phenolic lining. Do I need to burn that out before I start boiling traps?

Do use the whole barrel, or just a 1/2? If 1/2, try using the bung side as a test, if it holds up, add some dye and see what happens. If you trash it, you still have the other 1/2.

I do cut the barrel down so I'll give that a try. Thanks!

I’d get rid of that. Burning it may give you a bad smell. Is it a hard plastic? Maybe boiling water in it would allow you to pull it out?

I doubt boiling water will do the trick. That lining is supposed to handle being hot packed.

^^^^This

That stuff likely won't come off easily or all at once. It's baked on. In places where the coating gets scratched you'll see rust form around the edges etc but that is about the extent of it.

Sand blast it out.

BTW: I made a barrel trap boiler for a guy and I cut the barrel in thirds at the ridge line. Used the middle piece as a riser with a cutout for stoking it with wood. Worked out pretty slick! He used the odd end as a stock waterer.

If that material is heat baked onto the steel, I don't see trying to get rid of it needed. Boiling water won't reach those temps and even with lye, drano or dye etc. in there the epoxy may hold up well. The layer may actually help the steel hold up longer. To me sand blasting would also pit the steal and increase rust etc. to the drum. If odor is a concern you will probably be waxing in another container and that should remove that issue as well.

Bryce