55 gallon plastic barrel

[maple maniac65]

I have a bunch of these 55 gallon plastic barrells. They have roughly 1/4 walls. I am wondering if anyone has ever tried to put vacuum on one? I am thinking that I could put one horizontally before my sap ladder to act as holding tank. Sap usually runs before I get over to start the pump up and once the line fills before the ladder no sap runs from the laterals on the lower end.

Any thoughts on this? or do I just hook a barrell up and see what it does.

[OGDENS SUGAR BUSH]

plumb it up and try it now that qay you wont be disappointed at sugar time

RICH

[Haynes Forest Products]

You will suck it into a useless piece of plastic but hey it will be cool to watch
I turned a doubble wall Zero tank into a big shiny piece of crap with my vac. pump...............screwd the regulator down all the way when the main lines were frozen.....oops. Its unbeliveable what outside air pressure can do.

[802maple]

It will squeeze flat before you can get the switch off. Like Haynes Forest said it will be cool to watch

[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[Fred Henderson]

Those old galv barrels make the best barrel stove on the market.

[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[Homestead Maple]

Maple maniac65, they just aren't constructed right to take much vacuum. Save your effort for finding the right tank.

[brookledge]

Also remember the bigger diameter the thicker the wall needs to be to hold vacuum so while 1/4" will hold up to smaller diameters it is unlikely it will for a 55 gal drum. However if it has ribs in it that might add enough strength or you might be able to externally add ribs and fasten with pvc cement.
But if you have alot of them and don't care if you implode one put 20" to it and see what happens.
Keith

[OGDENS SUGAR BUSH]

couple years ago i vac'd a plastic barrel and it folded at about 12" of vac

ROCH