I have about 300 gal. of waste motor oil I have to take out of a tank and put in 55 gal barrels. Draining it into buckets and pouring it in is too messy and time consuming. I am thinking of putting a connection in the bungs and hooking a small shop vac. pump to it. Would it vac it out without collapsing the drum?
How much vaccum will a 55 gal drum take??
- Thread starter john11139
- Start date
Buckgnarly
Well-known member
txvwnut
Well-known member
I've seen them implode when someone forgets to pull the other bung out while using a dispenser pump.
Buckgnarly
Well-known member
Why not use a siphon hose? I have one like this, works great for draining tanks...
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200639248_200639248?cm_mmc=Bing-pla
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200639248_200639248?cm_mmc=Bing-pla
maxpower_hd
Well-known member
You should be able to pump with no issue. We have had tanker trucks **** out of drums without imploding them. They simply leave both bungs off and use a pipe that goes to the bottom of the drum.
We use a drum vac as well for mostly wetted solids. No issues with vacuuming but have seen one implode when someone thought they could speed up the process by hooking two together in series. That completely collapsed the first drum.
We use a drum vac as well for mostly wetted solids. No issues with vacuuming but have seen one implode when someone thought they could speed up the process by hooking two together in series. That completely collapsed the first drum.
laser3kw
Well-known member
Personally, I wouldn't use a shop vac to **** any liquid, other than small amounts of water. 
years ago in the oil change business, we would periodically have to drain drums of oil.
we would put a rubber hose in the bung, then the tire chuck next to it, and a shop rag stuffed around it to seal it somewhat.
hit the tire inflator a few times until the oil flows. if you want to pump it fast, hit it with about 10-14 psi. hold it for too long, and the drum splits at the seam and you lose all the oil on the floor....after a bit you get the hang of it...mopping up oil is no fun...
we would put a rubber hose in the bung, then the tire chuck next to it, and a shop rag stuffed around it to seal it somewhat.
hit the tire inflator a few times until the oil flows. if you want to pump it fast, hit it with about 10-14 psi. hold it for too long, and the drum splits at the seam and you lose all the oil on the floor....after a bit you get the hang of it...mopping up oil is no fun...
Bruce Amacker
Well-known member
Yes, and if you don't get the pressure right it explodes.
A guy near here died doing that a few years back.
LS6 Tommy
Well-known member
Personally, I wouldn't use a shop vac to **** any liquid, other than small amounts of water.
Sucking up petroleum products can turn a shop vac into a nice flame thrower...
Tommy
that's why we used a shop towel for the seal...can't build too much pressure as it doesn't really seal...but either way, it wasn't the smartest thing we did, nor the dumbest (I won't get into what we did with the bulk drums of washer solvent)...just demonstrating a little air pressure will move the oil, and slightly more will split the drum...BTDT...
I am not using a shop vac. I plan on making fitting in the bung, attaching a hose to it and putting in the tank to be drained from. The other bung a ****** and attach a hose going to my vac pump. It is a small vac pump like the ones you vac a air cond. Would insert hose just far enough so it wouldn't pump out more than about 40 gal.
laser3kw
Well-known member
Ahhh! much clearer, I see what you are doing. I would "Tee" in a valve near the vacuum side. The vacuum pump should be able to start the flow. Once it starts, open the other valve and shut off the vacuum pump and let the siphon action take over. Make sure the vent valve is big enough to exhaust the displaced air flow as the oil fills the drum or the siphon will stop. I would reason the 55 gallon drum should with stand 10inch of vacuum at least. If you hear "creaking" or "pinging" or other groans, stop.
kaymccampbell
Well-known member
I would put my AC gauges on a sample barrel first and let the vacuum pump have at it and see how much vacuum it takes to crumple the barrel. I have been amazed at how little vacuum it takes to collapse things. And how much vacuum an AC pump can pull.
Bruce Amacker
Well-known member
^^^^^^
When I had a shop and waste oil furnace, I used one of these modified to run with a 1/2" gear reduction drill. Remove pump handle, use a cutoff wheel to make the round shaft square, put a drive bit in the drill and a 8 point socket to turn the shaft. This will empty a 55 in 2-3 minutes with no sweat, pumping that by hand gets old really quick.
When I had a shop and waste oil furnace, I used one of these modified to run with a 1/2" gear reduction drill. Remove pump handle, use a cutoff wheel to make the round shaft square, put a drive bit in the drill and a 8 point socket to turn the shaft. This will empty a 55 in 2-3 minutes with no sweat, pumping that by hand gets old really quick.
y'sguy
Well-known member
^^^^^^^