The subject of oil drums was raised in Solo in Coppermines, here are my comments.A drum correctly installed with packing for the sides will absorb the downward pressure from above.the only concerns are rusting but that depends on its placement. As I have been involved with drumming out levels here in the Lakes for over 20 years I think they are the best solution for easy access to interested parties (a triple drum can be fun), keeps out the walkers, keeps the Authorities in the 'dark', and preserves the level for 'future generations'
The satisfaction of finding and opening a coffin level has to be a unique experience, to enter the dustbin at Goldscope to see possibly the best coffin level in the north is fine example of drumming out. Digging is now almost finished here (£20,000 fine in the Caldbecks), except for authorised, fully engineered, risk assessed, permit granted and a years work of hassle. We now have risk assessed club meets !!
A correctly installed drum will give 20+ years of access to levels for 'future generations' and I wish I had done more.

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May be a daft question, but would not a plastic version be a better bet?

I'd agree that properly packed, an oil drum is effectively doing not much work other than to keep the structural stuff around it holding up what's above, but it's the rust problem that really worries me.

And how on earth do you replace an old and rusty oil drum?

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And how on earth do you replace an old and rusty oil drum?

With a galvanised dustbin of course !! :lol:

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Ho ho!

I was more wondering how one would remove a 'pipe' and replace it with another (the same size) without what's above collapsing?

I can see with timbers that you can install new ones between the old ones, but when it's a continuous support with no room for working, it's less easy!

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Nevertheless.. it has been done 😉

Where a drum forms an entrance to a mine, there is usually not such a lot of material. Its a question of a few hours work with a shovel :thumbup:
The big problem is the smaller diameter of a dustbin which is smaller than a drum, resulting in complaints from the more portly explorer.

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