airrj
Well-known member
So when my neighbor was cleaning out so they could move, I received allot of their cast off stuff. One of the items was several 55 gallon plastic drums. Not knowing what I was ever going to do with them I stuck them in the back corner of the shop waiting for a purpose.
First I found out what was originally in the drums and found out that it wasn't methyl-ethyl-death and I was able to safely clean them out with soap and water. I needed a few drums to use a essentially garbage cans. I am specifically using them to hold my plastic recycling. I have to collect my recycling and take it to a center, so I don't put it out to the curb every week like many do.
To cut the top off of the drum I used a cordless 5 1/4" circular saw. After making a line around the drum, using the circular saw made for a fairly straight smooth cut. Next I used a hole saw and a mini hacksaw to cut in some handles which worked out very well for the light weight of these barrels and their contents.
So, now what to do with the cast off top to the barrel?
It looked like it might be useful in the shop, so I tossed it in the corner and there it sat for many months. Then one day, I was installing a water pump on a neighbors Ford tractor. I quickly realized that when I took the pump off of the block there was going to be antifreeze dripping everywhere even though I drained the radiator. No matter where you put your drain pan the coolant always finds a path to miss the pan.
So, I noticed the big blue tub sitting there and it was noticeably larger than the normal drain pans.
So I have now used this pan for a larger diameter pan for messy jobs. I next had to drain 10 gallons of foam out of a fire engine and the manufacture put the drain outlet directly over a cross member again, so it would drip all over the place. And once again, the larger pan was very helpful.
Just another idea for you all to think about.
Thanks for looking.
First I found out what was originally in the drums and found out that it wasn't methyl-ethyl-death and I was able to safely clean them out with soap and water. I needed a few drums to use a essentially garbage cans. I am specifically using them to hold my plastic recycling. I have to collect my recycling and take it to a center, so I don't put it out to the curb every week like many do.
To cut the top off of the drum I used a cordless 5 1/4" circular saw. After making a line around the drum, using the circular saw made for a fairly straight smooth cut. Next I used a hole saw and a mini hacksaw to cut in some handles which worked out very well for the light weight of these barrels and their contents.
So, now what to do with the cast off top to the barrel?
It looked like it might be useful in the shop, so I tossed it in the corner and there it sat for many months. Then one day, I was installing a water pump on a neighbors Ford tractor. I quickly realized that when I took the pump off of the block there was going to be antifreeze dripping everywhere even though I drained the radiator. No matter where you put your drain pan the coolant always finds a path to miss the pan.
So, I noticed the big blue tub sitting there and it was noticeably larger than the normal drain pans.
So I have now used this pan for a larger diameter pan for messy jobs. I next had to drain 10 gallons of foam out of a fire engine and the manufacture put the drain outlet directly over a cross member again, so it would drip all over the place. And once again, the larger pan was very helpful.
Just another idea for you all to think about.
Thanks for looking.
Makes a good electrolysis tank. Mine is white (food industry IIRC).