55 gal sealed plastic barrels for storage - preferred methods for filling and drainin

[birdmancf]

Hey gang,
Long time hobbyist looking for some advise on using 55 gal drums as my main storage in the shack. They are food grade Emergency Essentials blue barrels from Walmart. I picked up several this year as I started a tubing/Shurflo pump to a couple leg tanks in the woods. I am tossed as to whether I should lay the tanks on their side and cut a hole in the side for a bucket so that it is easier to fill, clean, etc or try to keep them vertical and use a pump to get sap out or to try to attach a bung near the bottom. Neither way in my opinion is perfect but I am open to any suggestions that others might have for what they consider their worry-free solution or gross failures. Thanks for you input.

[Zucker Lager]

Hey Birdmancf:
I"m doing just that for storage outside my sugar shack. I'm laying my two 55 gallon drums on their side in a cradle piped together with a combination of PVC and hose, into one draw off, connected to a pump to the head tank. I'm plastic welding bucket tops into holes in the tops of the drums and putting on gama (sp?) covers to seal them. Easy to clean, easy to disassemble and store, I can add more drums using a stacking cradle, and I can dump a loader bucket of snow on top whenever I need to keep it cooler. I did try to use drums right side up but it was way too hard to clean. Jay

[ADK_XJ]

Hey Birdmancf:
I"m doing just that for storage outside my sugar shack. I'm laying my two 55 gallon drums on their side in a cradle piped together with a combination of PVC and hose, into one draw off, connected to a pump to the head tank. I'm plastic welding bucket tops into holes in the tops of the drums and putting on gama (sp?) covers to seal them. Easy to clean, easy to disassemble and store, I can add more drums using a stacking cradle, and I can dump a loader bucket of snow on top whenever I need to keep it cooler. I did try to use drums right side up but it was way too hard to clean. Jay

This sounds like what I'd like to do, too - could you share some pictures of the setup?

[tgormley358]

Hey Birdmancf:
I"m doing just that for storage outside my sugar shack. I'm laying my two 55 gallon drums on their side in a cradle piped together with a combination of PVC and hose, into one draw off, connected to a pump to the head tank. I'm plastic welding bucket tops into holes in the tops of the drums and putting on gama (sp?) covers to seal them. Easy to clean, easy to disassemble and store, I can add more drums using a stacking cradle, and I can dump a loader bucket of snow on top whenever I need to keep it cooler. I did try to use drums right side up but it was way too hard to clean. Jay

Hi, wondering if you could explain your sealing method for the tops, “plastic welding” and putting on “gama”, as I’ve been having trouble with leaking out of mine. I use them for sap Collection in the bush, I cut holes in the sides to run tubing in, and I can see a little weeping or even dripping from the low point of the lid on the ground. Mine are the removable Lids with a rubber gasket metal clamp that pulls tight. So far I’ve tried adding a layer of Extreme Tape to the rubber gasket tight the seal. The removable Tops are nice for easy cleaning but Have to reason to believe I’m losing quite a bit of sap (when thesap is running but I see no increase in the volume in the barrel). Thanks.

Tom

[Zucker Lager]

Here is the drum / cradle I made for collecting, the one for my storage drums is the same just is longer with two notches for barrels. The drum / bucket is the same also just on the storage drums I set them in so the tops don't stick up so high. I cut the hole in the drum as close as I can with a jigsaw, Then I use a dremal tool with a rotary file in it to carefully remove material till the bucket fits very closely then weld it in. When you weld make sure all three materials are the same kind of plastic and clean. I clean with acetone. The trick to a good weld is even heat on all three parts bucket drum and rod but direct most of the heat towards the drum that is the thickest. Then when you see the plastic get "wet" looking its almost ready and when you push the rod into the "V" that the bucket / drum connection makes you will see the three kind of flow together. You just need to get it hot enough to melt the surface of each part. Too hot and its a mess. Preheat the rod a little bit as you go and you'll be able to bend it and kind of roll it into the joint. Then I snap on gama lids I get from the big box store.
https://www.amazon.com/Gamma2-4123-Gamma-Seal-Lid/dp/B0089QJQTS/ref=asc_df_B0089QJQTS/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=194937169370&hvpos=1o9&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4926741922752544259&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9019234&hvtargid=pla-314759189688&psc=1

19768 19769 19770 19771 19772 The last photo is the welding gun and rod you can get them (not as old as this one ha ha) through Amazon Jay

[Zucker Lager]

The plumbing is just PVC I get 3/4 threaded and that fits one of the bungs that has a knockout threaded for 3/4 NPT. I also get some 1/2" pipe turn the end on the lathe to fit into the ID of the 3/4 glue it in to extend into the drum and once the valve / bung is tightened in place I can reach into the drum through the bucket hole and install the drop so it drains the drum all the way. If I can help more let me know. Jay

19773 19774 19775 19776

[birdmancf]

Zucker, thanks for all of the details. Beautiful work on all that you do. I was just thinking about an elbow inside the barrel last night, as not being able to get out that last little bit of sap below the bung was one of my hangups on the horizontal setup. I always tipped it up to get the last bit out. I just need to find a couple 2 gallon buckets to cut in. Thanks again. Chris.

[tgormley358]

Here is the drum / cradle I made for collecting, the one for my storage drums is the same just is longer with two notches for barrels. The drum / bucket is the same also just on the storage drums I set them in so the tops don't stick up so high. I cut the hole in the drum as close as I can with a jigsaw, Then I use a dremal tool with a rotary file in it to carefully remove material till the bucket fits very closely then weld it in. When you weld make sure all three materials are the same kind of plastic and clean. I clean with acetone. The trick to a good weld is even heat on all three parts bucket drum and rod but direct most of the heat towards the drum that is the thickest. Then when you see the plastic get "wet" looking its almost ready and when you push the rod into the "V" that the bucket / drum connection makes you will see the three kind of flow together. You just need to get it hot enough to melt the surface of each part. Too hot and its a mess. Preheat the rod a little bit as you go and you'll be able to bend it and kind of roll it into the joint. Then I snap on gama lids I get from the big box store.
https://www.amazon.com/Gamma2-4123-Gamma-Seal-Lid/dp/B0089QJQTS/ref=asc_df_B0089QJQTS/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=194937169370&hvpos=1o9&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4926741922752544259&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9019234&hvtargid=pla-314759189688&psc=1

19768 19769 19770 19771 19772 The last photo is the welding gun and rod you can get them (not as old as this one ha ha) through Amazon Jay

Zucker, how are the lids attached to your barrels? They don’t seem to have the metal clamp that holds the top on. Did you plastic weld them on like your bucket?

[Zucker Lager]

Hey Tgormley:
just a standard 55 gallon food grade drum. You must have "open top" drums? removable lid with a metal band / screw that clamps the top onto the drum lip. Unless you replaced the gasket in them every year I would think they might be leakers. If you can find the standard drum like the ones I use that would work better.
Closed top drum: https://www.uline.com/Product/Detail/S-10757BLU/Drums/Plastic-Drum-55-Gallon-Closed-Top-Blue?pricode=WB0298&gadtype=pla&id=S-10757BLU&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI29jblMyT4QIV6iCtBh2HsgznEAQYASAB EgKJ5vD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Open top drum: https://www.uline.com/BL_8154/Plastic-Drums

I get my drums from a guy who ships wine in them........................must be some great stuff hey? the ones that have white wine in them clean out and deodorize well with a good cleaning. I've also used some containers that had coconut oil in them work good also. Jay

[ADK_XJ]

How do you go about finding the 55g barrels, just word of mouth or Craigslist? Around here nobody is advertising food grade barrels ever it seems...

[Zucker Lager]

If you want to buy new then I would suggest just a google type search I think ULine is a good supplier??? I get mine from a guy about 50 miles away that recycles buckets, drums, ICB's etc so maybe search recycling too. Here in northern Wisconsin seems that a Craigs search finds lots of them. One other place to look is any food business that might use larger quantities of oil or (friendly stuff that cleans out well) Also ask any of the local sugarmakers in your area they probably have a source. I drive that 50 miles just to get clean out friendly barrels. Jay

[birdmancf]

ADK XJ, I bought mine new. Believe it or not Walmart had the best price with free shipping. Other places could match the price but not the free shipping. I would have liked to get white, but these blue barrels are meant for storing water. This year they ran out of the 67$ ones in late January.