putting a drain on a 55 gallon drum?

[yamaha_1fan]

Any ideas on how to add a drain to a 55 gallon drum? Is it possible to flatten a small area so the fittings will be flush? I was thinking of using a plumbers torch to heat an area and flatten it but I dont want to screw it up.

 

[Daemon]

^^Do you mean like a drain on the bottom? I assume you're using a plastic drum? We used to make rain barrels out of them and would add a small spigot on the bottom/side. All we did was drill out the hole and seal it up with caulk, worked fine.

 

[SomeGuy]

http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/product.asp?catalog_name=usplastic&category_name=37&product_id=5719
They also have some with spigots attached if you dig around and find them.


http://www.wormsway.com/detail.asp?sku=BBH201
I used these from Worms to add drains to 5 gal buckets direct to 3/4" tube. I just drilled the hole, cleaned off the burrs and tightened them down.

Also boat part places have similar items listed under "bulkhead fitting" or "through the hull" fitting.

 

[yamaha_1fan]

I mean on the side, near the bottom. The issue I am concerned with is the that bulkheads and other fittings are flat, while the container is round.

So you just caulked the gaps?

 

[SomeGuy]

I mean on the side, near the bottom. The issue I am concerned with is the that bulkheads and other fittings are flat, while the container is round.

So you just caulked the gaps?

Shouldn't be any gap. The fittings come with 2 - 1/8" thick rubber washers that flatten out as you tighten them. I suppose you could add a second set of washers but on a plastic barrel I'd try it with the single set first and tighten it till the washers start to pooch out a bit.

I just put together 4 last night on 5 gals about 3 inches from the bottom and got good seals.

 

[Guest]

The circumfrence of a 50 gallon drum is large enough so that any 3/4" is "flat enough" that bulkhead fittings will not leak if properly installed.

pedro

 

[Daemon]

Shouldn't be any gap. The fittings come with 2 - 1/8" thick rubber washers that flatten out as you tighten them. I suppose you could add a second set of washers but on a plastic barrel I'd try it with the single set first and tighten it till the washers start to pooch out a bit.

I just put together 4 last night on 5 gals about 3 inches from the bottom and got good seals.

Bingo.

 

[yamaha_1fan]

The circumfrence of a 50 gallon drum is large enough so that any 3/4" is "flat enough" that bulkhead fittings will not leak if properly installed.

pedro

You know, I didnt even try. I just figured round drum, flat bulkhead = trouble.

I'll get a bulkhead and give it a shot


Thanks

 

[SomeGuy]

I was thinking more about this last night and if you want you could heat up the barrel some with a hairdryer or heat gun when you install. I wouldn't think you'd need to heat it up much though.

The hydro fitting I got didn't have flat spots where you could get a tool on it, the bulkhead fitting from USP does have a flat spots, but then you have to figure out what fitting to add to get a tube or something on it.

I also sprayed a little alcohol on the washers to lube them as I was tightening, you want that washer to remain flat and not kink while you are tightening. Careful if you do that and use a heat gun.

I've been eyeballing these things. Its a bulkhead fitting, shutoff and tube connector all in one. I may grab a few as they appear to be discontinuing them. Looks like it might be handy for a reservoir or something.


Barrel Tap

Good luck with your project!

 

[GeorgeSmiley]

Just google rain barrels and you'll see tons of examples.

 

[Guest]

If you look at a hydro catalog, you'll see that the fittings they sell for tray drains. They come in 1/2" and 3/4". They have a strainer on one side(interior) and a 1/2" or 3/4" nipple on the outside piece. They come with washers. I have found similar fittings from time to time at places like Ace Hardware. Bulkhead type fittings are used on swamp coolers for the overflow drains.

Anyway, get a 3/4" one. Drill your hole. Mount the thing on your barrell. DO NOT over torque the nut. I used a small amount of bathroom type sealer over and around the assembly to ensure sealing.

It is then easy to adapt that 3/4" nipple to anything you want.

pedro


The yellow arrows points to the type of fitting i described above. I did this half ass adaptation because I had the parts laying around and it met my purpose. I left off the strainer on the inside because it isn't needed for what I was doing.

You can buy 50 gallon used barrells around here for $40-50 that come with a standard hose bib already mounted. I've thought about using one or more for a outside grow rez. Some are black, some are bright blue. If you aren't locked into the drum you have, check out farm/ranch supply stores. They have a lot of the stuff growers can use.

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