Where are yall finding 55 gallon plastic drums at?

Any hardware used for mashing, fermenting or aging.

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00Buck
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Where are yall finding 55 gallon plastic drums at?

Post by 00Buck »

Like the title says. Ive searched Facebook marketplace. Ive stopped at the one place around here who does have 55 gallon drums and Ive seen plenty of em but nobody can tell me what held them beforehand. The only barrels Ive seen that clearly had what was in them was some chemical called 2,4-DINITROANISOLE and when I googled that I obviously knew that was a no-go. So does anybody else have any suggestions where to look?
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Re: Where are yall finding 55 gallon plastic drums at?

Post by SW_Shiner »

I get mine from a local farm supply store. The ones i get are used to hold iodine or other milking/sterilising liquids for farms. They get dropped off by farmers for recycling and usually cost a $20 donation to the local charity box. Saves them the hassle of sorting out transport to recycle centre.
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Salt Must Flow
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Re: Where are yall finding 55 gallon plastic drums at?

Post by Salt Must Flow »

Ask around locally. I know of a few places that just have them sitting outside for sale. Maybe even check Craigslist too.

It wouldn't be ridiculous to ask someone who works at a TSC store or other farm supply companies.
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Re: Where are yall finding 55 gallon plastic drums at?

Post by Pure Old Possum Piss »

Those black 60 gallon pickle or olive barrels are great year round. Summer keep them in the shade, winter keep them in the sun. You can even pack hay bales around them to help the ferment temperature :thumbup:
If it's got hide or hair, I can ride it.
Wheels or tracks, I can drive it.
Rotor or fixed wings, I can fly it.
And if it's grain or fruit, i can make a drop outta it!
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Re: Where are yall finding 55 gallon plastic drums at?

Post by jonnys_spirit »

I got mine off fb marketplace. Took a minute to find the ones where the lid comes completely off and they ended up being a good deal. But they’re great for large batch AG or large batch anything. They previously held fermented peppers and took some time to get the smell out. Sun, water, and ferments did it and never tasted the peppers in product. I found a few where they didn’t know what was in them previously or it was something unsafe. Stay away from those.

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Re: Where are yall finding 55 gallon plastic drums at?

Post by Pure Old Possum Piss »

To get the pickle smell or olive oil residue out of them I will blast the funk out of the barrels with a water hose sprayer, then with a Scotchbrite pad and Dawn soap I scrub the inside good. Rinse it good with water hose and then fill it up with water and add a half gallon of unscented regular bleach with the 2 piece top screwed on. Let it sit overnight or at least 12 hours. Next day dump and rinse it again and it's ready. No smell then. That will also get any olive oil out as well as any acetabacillus from pickle vinegar.
If it's got hide or hair, I can ride it.
Wheels or tracks, I can drive it.
Rotor or fixed wings, I can fly it.
And if it's grain or fruit, i can make a drop outta it!
00Buck
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Re: Where are yall finding 55 gallon plastic drums at?

Post by 00Buck »

Thanks for replying yall.

My issue is theres no shortage of them but nobody seems to have a clue what was in em previously. Im fixing to break down and buy one of em brand new from Uline for $105 damn dollars
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Re: Where are yall finding 55 gallon plastic drums at?

Post by Pure Old Possum Piss »

And stay away from metal barrels unless they're SS. Regular steel barrels will rust after the first ferment and spring leaks within 10- 20 ferments in them. My grandpa used to use regular steel barrels but that's all that was available around here back then. He'd use them about 10 times and then sell then as burn barrels before they sprang leaks.
If it's got hide or hair, I can ride it.
Wheels or tracks, I can drive it.
Rotor or fixed wings, I can fly it.
And if it's grain or fruit, i can make a drop outta it!
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Re: Where are yall finding 55 gallon plastic drums at?

Post by Pure Old Possum Piss »

00Buck wrote: Mon Apr 14, 2025 5:49 pm Thanks for replying yall.

My issue is theres no shortage of them but nobody seems to have a clue what was in em previously. Im fixing to break down and buy one of em brand new from Uline for $105 damn dollars
The Food Grade plastic has a code on the bottom. It's something like hdpe or hpde, but you can look it up.
The black ones are a lot thicker and heavy duty than the blue ones. I've used a steam wand to mash in the black ones with out them melting.
If it's got hide or hair, I can ride it.
Wheels or tracks, I can drive it.
Rotor or fixed wings, I can fly it.
And if it's grain or fruit, i can make a drop outta it!
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Salt Must Flow
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Re: Where are yall finding 55 gallon plastic drums at?

Post by Salt Must Flow »

00Buck wrote: Mon Apr 14, 2025 5:49 pm Thanks for replying yall.

My issue is theres no shortage of them but nobody seems to have a clue what was in em previously. Im fixing to break down and buy one of em brand new from Uline for $105 damn dollars
Have you tried sticking your nose inside of any? I'd do that before spending over $100 per drum.
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Re: Where are yall finding 55 gallon plastic drums at?

Post by 00Buck »

Salt Must Flow wrote: Mon Apr 14, 2025 6:09 pm
00Buck wrote: Mon Apr 14, 2025 5:49 pm Thanks for replying yall.

My issue is theres no shortage of them but nobody seems to have a clue what was in em previously. Im fixing to break down and buy one of em brand new from Uline for $105 damn dollars
Have you tried sticking your nose inside of any? I'd do that before spending over $100 per drum.
I have. And none of em smell suspect. But the problem is when its printed on the side that it was carrying some shit called 2,4-DINITROANISOLE I still cant risk it
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Re: Where are yall finding 55 gallon plastic drums at?

Post by Pure Old Possum Piss »

2,4D=herbicides. Ever hear of Roundup? :sick:
If it's got hide or hair, I can ride it.
Wheels or tracks, I can drive it.
Rotor or fixed wings, I can fly it.
And if it's grain or fruit, i can make a drop outta it!
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Re: Where are yall finding 55 gallon plastic drums at?

Post by SW_Shiner »

According to google it is a replacement for TNT :shock: It is also used as a dye
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Re: Where are yall finding 55 gallon plastic drums at?

Post by 00Buck »

SW_Shiner wrote: Mon Apr 14, 2025 7:52 pm According to google it is a replacement for TNT :shock: It is also used as a dye
Exactly. The one type of barrel Ive found anywhere near me that I know the contents of its some volatile stuff lol
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Re: Where are yall finding 55 gallon plastic drums at?

Post by greggn »

Try restaurant or food service suppliers.

Like this for $67 ...

https://www.therestaurantstore.com/items/572576
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Re: Where are yall finding 55 gallon plastic drums at?

Post by Tammuz »

Google, there are many companies selling used barrels. Look for their location as shipping can be more than the barrel.
00Buck
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Re: Where are yall finding 55 gallon plastic drums at?

Post by 00Buck »

Tammuz wrote: Tue Apr 15, 2025 11:56 am Google, there are many companies selling used barrels. Look for their location as shipping can be more than the barrel.
Yep. Thats my issue. I can find em online all day but after irs said and done one will cost me 200+ after shipping. I cant find any locally where the contents were known. So I have to assume there was bad stuff in em
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Re: Where are yall finding 55 gallon plastic drums at?

Post by dtrb »

I got a used one through walmart for $110 and free shipping. previously had olives in it.

Cheers

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Re: Where are yall finding 55 gallon plastic drums at?

Post by kiwi Bruce »

We have a Health food store close to us, they re-bottle Organic Agave syrup from the big 55 greens and Sorghum Syrup in nice white 20's. Look at your local health food store.
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Re: Where are yall finding 55 gallon plastic drums at?

Post by joschi »

I got one from a car repair shop, i cut it and juse it only as a water bath to control temperature for my 120 liter fermenter.

But maybe it's usuable as fermenter itself, it contained anti-freeze, just the stuff you don't want (glycol, ethanol... ) but if cleaned very well ?? I think there's worse stuff that could have been inside? Correct me if i'm wrong, i could get another barrel if i would need one ...
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Re: Where are yall finding 55 gallon plastic drums at? That were used for the same purpose.

Post by OtisT »

I got my big blue barrel from a brew store. Originally they were pumping LME out of it. I also got a couple of smaller 20ish gallon barrels from them that previously had LME in them.
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Re: Where are yall finding 55 gallon plastic drums at?

Post by Saltbush Bill »

Pickled onions and olives around here, time is your friend for getting the pong out of them.
Fill with water fit lid loosely, leave for six months, empty and rinse.
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Re: Where are yall finding 55 gallon plastic drums at?

Post by Yummyrum »

Saltbush Bill wrote: Fri Apr 18, 2025 3:34 am Pickled onions and olives around here, time is your friend for getting the pong out of them.
Fill with water fit lid loosely, leave for six months, empty and rinse.
Same as Salty . Ex Olive barrels . They sure do stink . You scrub them and wash them and they still stink . Just leave them full if water for months-year and they are just fine .
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Re: Where are yall finding 55 gallon plastic drums at?

Post by 00Buck »

Yummyrum wrote: Fri Apr 18, 2025 2:33 pm
Saltbush Bill wrote: Fri Apr 18, 2025 3:34 am Pickled onions and olives around here, time is your friend for getting the pong out of them.
Fill with water fit lid loosely, leave for six months, empty and rinse.
Same as Salty . Ex Olive barrels . They sure do stink . You scrub them and wash them and they still stink . Just leave them full if water for months-year and they are just fine .

Well I broke down and ordered brand new barrels from a place. Brand. New. And they got delivered to the house and Ill be damned if the barrel dont have "REC-Not for food or drink" molded into the barrel itself. I cant win for losing.
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Re: Where are yall finding 55 gallon plastic drums at?

Post by SW_Shiner »

As long as they are HDPE they should be fine. Making containers for food grade purposes is pretty much the same as not, certification is annoying and costly. Much cheaper to put "Not For Food" on them to cover their own ass. Many people ferment in buckets with no issues.
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Re: Where are yall finding 55 gallon plastic drums at?

Post by 00Buck »

SW_Shiner wrote: Fri Apr 18, 2025 4:55 pm As long as they are HDPE they should be fine. Making containers for food grade purposes is pretty much the same as not, certification is annoying and costly. Much cheaper to put "Not For Food" on them to cover their own ass. Many people ferment in buckets with no issues.
The markings I see are PE-HD2 on the bottom aside from the other things. I know for a fact though the barrels are brand new, other than that I see what youre saying. But am I risking it using them
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Re: Where are yall finding 55 gallon plastic drums at?

Post by Yummyrum »

00Buck wrote: Fri Apr 18, 2025 5:13 pm
SW_Shiner wrote: Fri Apr 18, 2025 4:55 pm As long as they are HDPE they should be fine. Making containers for food grade purposes is pretty much the same as not, certification is annoying and costly. Much cheaper to put "Not For Food" on them to cover their own ass. Many people ferment in buckets with no issues.
The markings I see are PE-HD2 on the bottom aside from the other things. I know for a fact though the barrels are brand new, other than that I see what youre saying. But am I risking it using them
I would use it . Although it is more common to see HDPE stamped on ,
PE HD 02 means the same thing .
It is High Density Polyethylene and the 02 is the recycling number .
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Re: Where are yall finding 55 gallon plastic drums at?

Post by 00Buck »

Yummyrum wrote: Sat Apr 19, 2025 2:02 pm
00Buck wrote: Fri Apr 18, 2025 5:13 pm
SW_Shiner wrote: Fri Apr 18, 2025 4:55 pm As long as they are HDPE they should be fine. Making containers for food grade purposes is pretty much the same as not, certification is annoying and costly. Much cheaper to put "Not For Food" on them to cover their own ass. Many people ferment in buckets with no issues.
The markings I see are PE-HD2 on the bottom aside from the other things. I know for a fact though the barrels are brand new, other than that I see what youre saying. But am I risking it using them
I would use it . Although it is more common to see HDPE stamped on ,
PE HD 02 means the same thing .
It is High Density Polyethylene and the 02 is the recycling number .
Hopefully itll be fine. I see those words "not for food" and my neanderthal brain freaks out. But like the other dude in the thread said, I reckon anything not food grade would say the same
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Re: Where are yall finding 55 gallon plastic drums at?

Post by Rusty Ole Bucket »

I'm lucky, around here we have an abundance of different size food grade salt barrels, no olive or pickle blik to deal with, they just get a quick wash and a good rinse and their ready to go. I bought (3) 14 gallon ones last fall for $20 each. They worked out to be the perfect size for my 15.5 kettle.

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Re: Where are yall finding 55 gallon plastic drums at?

Post by Yummyrum »

Rusty Ole Bucket wrote: Sun Apr 20, 2025 2:49 am I'm lucky, around here we have an abundance of different size food grade salt barrels, no olive or pickle blik to deal with, they just get a quick wash and a good rinse and their ready to go. I bought (3) 14 gallon ones last fall for $20 each. They worked out to be the perfect size for my 15.5 kettle.

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