This seems like a lot of back breaking work. Got the job done but how about you? A bit tired and sore I bet. Stump removal are a pain. But id you have a stump that is a few inches smaller than a 55 gallon drum, I may have another solution. Cut top and bottom from the barrel. Dig around the stump an area a little bigger than the diameter of the barrel and deep enough to expose some roots. The barrel should fit down around the stump. Then you set a fire to burn the stump and exposed root. It may take some time but the root should be easier to deal with afterwards. Your method seems less messy but if you don't have access to a tractor this is the next possible solution.
It is not a lot of back breaking work. Doing what I tried previously was! I tried using jacks to lift the stump out of the ground, pulling the stump without cutting it up, chopping the roots. All that did not work. But quartering the stump was fairly simple.
As for the bigger stumps, that is a great idea! I love it. It would take a while if the stump is green or wet. But the barrel would contain the fire and heat to help burn the stump out. I've also seen some people drill holes into the stump to help dry it out and to get the fire into the stump.
The only caution is to make sure the fire does not get into the peat moss as the fire could get a way on you. But I like it! Thank you for sharing!
You are very welcome.