Grease threads on stainless steel barrels

[rgmaple]

Our stainless steel syrup barrel caps are hard to open. Does anyone recommend using a grease on the threads of these?

[ennismaple]

I guess you could put a bit of food grade grease on the threads before you tighten them in. Never tried it but should work.

[backyard sugaring]

Why couldn't you put teflon tape on it? Just a thought. Good luck. Lee

[wiam]

Should not need anything on stainless drum threads. I only have a problem with one of my 14 drums and that is because the threads are beat up.

[ennismaple]

Why couldn't you put teflon tape on it? Just a thought. Good luck. Lee

I'd be concerned about getting pieces of the teflon in the syrup.

[rgmaple]

Wondering the same about the grease. Even food grade grease might make the bulk syrup packers question it.

[backyard sugaring]

Good point on the teflon tape. Good luck. Lee

[tuckermtn]

may sound like a dumb question, but what tool are you using to open it? I wonder if some hot water around the bung would loosen anything up?

[rgmaple]

using a barrel wrench. it's easy to cross thread the barrel cap because of the way the cap is made.

[maple flats]

Be sure to start the bung by hand, after you know it is not cross threaded use the bung wrench. I don't use grease or teflon tape.

[oneoldsap]

Each bung needs a good gasket too ! The threads don't have to seal if the gasket is good , and clean .

[wiam]

Each bung needs a good gasket too ! The threads don't have to seal if the gasket is good , and clean .

Drums do not have tapered threads as pipe does so it would be very hard to seal with just the threads.