55 Gallon Barrels $10-20 in the GVRD

gregzz4 · #1 12-09-2011, 04:42 AM

For those of you that haven't found this guy on craigslist...
He told me he gets them from a guy who makes chocolate, so they are food-grade. They just need a good rinse/wash.
He has more than one add, but this is the one I used. He contacted me through e-mail first thing in the morning.
He has a day job, so you have to live with after-work transactions.

http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/pm...735199094.html

I have no interest in this guy's sales, just want you all to find what I had to search for (actually my Wife found it for me

)

I bought a blue 55 Gallon plastic barrel today for $15. This one is approx 23" in diameter by 34" tall. Outside is very clean, just some handling dirt or whatever, but not dirty by any means. It probably got dirtier coming home in the back of my truck

There is a label that states it contained 'Super-improved Polydextrose'. I did some research on this and it is a sugar ( and sometimes protein ) additive in foods.
You can do your own research from here on that.
The locking lid was tied off with one of those little inspection tabs that you have to break away before you can pull the top off. This lets us know that nobody else has been inside it. Upon opening the lid I found maybe a cup of the fluid inside. I will report back if I have trouble cleaning it out.
The seller has 3 types for sale. His prices are based on demand/season so now is the better time to buy as they sell for more in the summer due to rainfall.
He has;
-the blue one I bought, with the lock-down lid, and has 2 bungs
-blue with solid top and 2 bungs
-white with solid top and 2 bungs

I chose the removable lid to wash it out well yet keep it sealed and inspect it whenever.
He is near Coquitlam Center and is nice to deal with, especially considering the money he's collecting per sale.
Good luck

Delphinus · #2 12-09-2011, 04:49 AM

Man that is a smokin' deal. Wish I was closer. It's on my to-do list to pick up a 55gal, I just about ordered one today but by the time you factor in the lid, a dolly and shipping, the total was up to near $200. OUCH!!!! So $15, dang, I'd get .. 2 or 3 !!!!

SeaHorse_Fanatic · #3 12-09-2011, 05:16 AM

Yup barrels are cheap around here.

gregzz4 · #4 12-09-2011, 05:18 AM

OMG, you have to be kidding me. $200? I thought $78 was way too much. You can't find any near you?
I wish I could help you out with my truck

To all the rest of you...
I will help you buy one of these, but it will cost you gas money for my guzzling truck.
Costs about $15 round-trip from my place in Burnaby to Richmond and back.

Now that I think about it, it probably cost me $20 in gas to pick up the barrel.
Anyway, still better than $78 from Russel Foods.
The offer is there if anyone doesn't have a large enough vehicle.
Pay my fuel (and maybe a couple of beers

)

smokinreefer · #5 12-09-2011, 06:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregzz4

-the blue one I bought, with the lock-down lid, and has 2 bungs

is the lock down lid water tight?

the ad says the openings are threaded, so it would be nice to be able to plumb this inline with a sump. know what i mean?

gregzz4 · #6 12-09-2011, 06:38 AM

Not knowing how you would 'inline' this with your sump...
The whole lid itself is locked down with the steel 'ring' and stands up to transport, so it's tight.
The lid itself has 2 'bungs'. One is 2" FPT and the other is "3/4 FPT.
The larger one is the industrial style that requires a 'wrench' or 2 long-handled screwdrivers locked together in a cross to open and close it.
The smaller one requires a slip-wrench to open and close.
The lid can be drilled and pumbed with bulkheads. I'd suggest these Uniseals as they are great for irregular surfaces and PVC just gets forced into them

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/...ad-alternative

Hope that answers your question, but I'm here for awhile if you have more

gregzz4 · #7 12-09-2011, 06:40 AM

And the lid has a seal to the drum

gregzz4 · #8 12-09-2011, 06:43 AM

I'm rushing and not completing my thoughts...
I bought the Uniseals from Bulk Reef to put into this style of drum.
I plan on having one down low for draining into a bucket or running a hose, and the other up hi in case I over-fill it with RO/DI.
That upper will go to a drain.

dsaundry · #9 12-09-2011, 03:01 PM

Yup, I picked up one in Aldergrove last night, food grade and great for ato systems as well.

Myka · #10 12-09-2011, 03:17 PM

Wtf is a bung?

These sound like better barrels than I have found. I get mine at Early's Garden Center where they have been used for food-grade oils (like canola or flax). If they have been sitting in the sun that oil is baked in there and can be quite a pain in the butt to remove! These barrels you're talking about are pre-drilled? That's awesome!!!! I wish Burnaby was closer!

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregzz4

I bought the Uniseals [...] and the other up hi in case I over-fill it with RO/DI. That upper will go to a drain.

Good idea! I overfill barrels, tubs, washing machine...etc, etc, etc all the time! I haven't had water on the floor for about 10 days now so I am WELL overdue. I started putting the waste line into a 5 gallon bucket that I set in the bathtub so I can't make a mess. Then I pack the 5 gallon pail to the washing machine. It's a pain in the butt, but I hate wasting water almost as much as I hate cleaning up wet floors.