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I was searching for good 55-gallon drums and I didn’t have a great time finding it. The problem is that one can’t just walk into a store and find a good 55-gallon drum for sale there.
At least that’s what I’ve experienced. So I wanted to make it easier for all of you and share all the useful information I’ve learned about it.
In the beginning, I was searching for a good and quality 55-gallon plastic drum, which is an international standard size for these types of containers.
They’re vastly used for shipping or storing bulk goods, like food, water, oils, and powders, there are even some specially made to carry more hazardous cargo.
In this article, you will find all the information you need about any kind of 55-gallon drums and what to look for. Starting with the types of barrels and where you can find the best price for your money, whether they were new or used ones.
Best 55-gallon drums on the market
| PRICE | PRODUCT | |
|---|---|---|
  |  | Good Ideas RB55-BLUE
|
  | | Augason Farms 6-07910
|
  | | SKOLNIK Carbon Steel Drum
|
  | | Good Ideas RW50-GRN
|
  | | RTS Home Accents
|
  | | Eagle 1656BLK Black Drum
|
  | | Emergency Essentials Water Barrel
|
1. Recycled 55-gallon rain barrel by Good Ideas
If you are looking for an effective and ecological way to collect rainwater, then this barrel is the right deal for you. This blue barrel will help you be resourceful in these times of over wasting.
You can store rainwater for any kind of outdoor purpose with this recycled, rust, mold, and mildew resistant 55-gallon rain barrel.
It comes with 2 separate spigot holes, depending on what you need it for. The upper one can be used for example for bucket filling, while the bottom one is great for hoses.
Don’t worry, you don’t have to buy a spigot since you get a neat little brass spigot for hose hook-up or dual overflow. Great thing is that it also has a removable screen on top to protect the rainwater from bugs and other pests.
It’s very affordable, so besides saving on water bills, you will also save money spent on it. It’s great that the plastic in this barrel is made of isn’t wasted.
But, being recycled from food barrels, this one could show cosmetic blemishes or slight juice odor.
2. Augason Farms Emergency Water Barrel
Never run out of the water thanks to this 55-gallon water barrel for emergency water storage from Amazon Farms. In the times when water is becoming to be more and more scarce and with droughts being more frequent, this BPA-free 55 gallon drum is a necessity.
to mention the cases of water contamination and natural disasters. It’s also great if you have a cottage or holiday house without freshwater access.
When treated properly, water can stay safe for up to 4 years. To achieve this you will get water treatment bottles that can purify up to 60 gallons of water, which is just enough for a 55-gallon water barrel.
You will also get two 2 inch barrel plug fittings, a 6′ siphon hose with a hand pump, and a barrel opener together with this 55-gallon drum.
The good thing about it, besides the obvious, is that it’s very sturdy and made to last and you can get it for a very affordable price.
However, it could use a spigot to make things easier. Pumping water every out of this 55-gallon water barrel every time you need it can be a bit of an annoyance.
3. Skolnik Open Head Gallon Drum
This 55-gallon steel drum steps in where many others can’t. It’s made with the purpose to safely and effectively transport both hazardous liquids and solids.
This carbon steel 55-gallon drums are secured by a removable cover and a bolt link using EPDM gasket that prevents leaking and is resistible to heat, water, wear, and also pests.
This 48-pound steel barrel (33” high x 22-1/2” in diameter) meets all ASTM international criteria for carbon steel, while the carbon steel wall is about 1.2 mm thick.
Coming from a reputable company it’s extremely sturdy and resistant to abuse and wear. Just put the content in, secure the lid and you can store and transport any kind of hazardous or nasty materials.
Hazardous storage drums like this one are used in multiple industries, especially in manufacturing, shipping process.
Even though it’s from steel, it holds up nicely against rust, I expected it to start appearing much quicker. I’ve seen quite nice projects with this kind of barrel, a friend of mine even made an amazing smoker out of it.
The only downside is that it does not come with instructions for shipping hazmat, and I’ve seen some people complain about the dents. Although I get their concern, I don’t think a dent would spoil the impression of this 55-gallon steel drum too much.
4. RW50-OAK Rain Wizard 55 Gallon Barrel
This 55-gallon drum is a bit more expensive than the other water storage barrels, but it’s worth it just for its looks alone.
This type of barrel stores our most valuable resource and it makes our garden look better with its classic whiskey barrel look. It’s perfect if you don’t want blue plastic barrels beside your house.
Millions of people collect and store rainwater and this 55-gallon rain drum will make this as easy as possible.
Made with ultra-strong, BPA-free Polyethylene that’s approved by FDA, it will provide free water for gardening and save your water bills, as well as the environment. It’s carefully molded to hold up to cracking or splitting.
Top of the barrel holds an opening, covered with anti-debris and bug screen, keeping your water clean. A nice little brass plated spigot comes with the barrel and it’s perfect for container filling and hose connection. There’s also a screen in the front that prevents overflow and flooding.
This barrel is reliable and it looks fantastic, many people don’t even notice that it’s not wood. It’s easy to use and install and it can last for years. What I don’t like about it is the fact that you can’t open the top and clean it thoroughly, but it serves its purpose more than well.
5. RTS Home Accents Collection Barrel with Brass Spigot
Here is another great choice if you don’t want to have some boring old blue drum for collecting water.
It doesn’t only look great, but it’s also designed well. With the build-in aluminum screen, it will keep out all insects and debris.
It’s great for saving money by capturing rainwater to use it for your garden. And since it has brass Spigot shut off valve for hose hook-up, watering your garden couldn’t be easier.
6. Eagle 1656BLK Black 55 Gallon Plastic Drum
This 55-gallon drum with lid is one of the most affordable, good quality containers, which can be used for various purposes.
The most frequent role of this black drum (36.38” height x 22.5” diameter) with a poly lever lock ring is to collect rainwater. When you have a big garden or lawn, having free irrigation water collected can pay off in the long run.
But options are almost limitless. I’ve even seen some great DIY projects done with it. I guess that UN certified black polyethylene makes it look better than the other blue barrels. These 55-gallon drums work equally well for both liquid and solid material, as well as for powders.
I like how it’s sturdy and stable even when it’s empty, but it’s also very lightweight, weighing only 20 pounds. Although the cap ring comes with a lever lock and it holds and seals very tight, It would be neat if it had rubber gasket too.
All in all, it’s a neat little versatile plastic 55-gallon drum for a fairly reasonable price.
7. Emergency Essentials Plastic 55 Gal Drum
Emergency Essentials are providing us with a blue 55-gallon drum for emergency and backup water storage. It holds enough water for 14 days of drinking, cooking, and light personal sanitation for a family of four.
Due to climate change, water outage will probably be more frequent. It already affected some cities, so it’s important to be prepared.
The dark blue color of the barrel helps control the growth of algae and bacteria as it restricts light. It’s also made of BPA-free and FDA-approved polyethylene resin that is extremely strong and heavy-duty and it includes two bung nut caps.
With proper treatment, purified water can stay safe for drinking even up to 4-5 years in this plastic 55-gallon drum. It’s good that they are lightweight, so it’s easy to transport them when empty.
The price may seem a little steep, but in my opinion, it’s pretty fair considering that you have a way to safely store water for crises.
What’s the 55-gallon barrel best for?
When we talk about 55-gallon drums, the plastic one is probably one that is used the most for domestic purposes. It is a great material for storing liquids, powders, and some of the abrasive substances that metal barrels can’t handle.
They are being used by almost everyone! People use it privately for their own needs of storing and shipping. Major retail companies use them in storage or to deliver or transfer bulk shipments.
While contractor companies use the 55-gallon drums to drive their materials to the workplace. People even found a way to re-purpose them in gardens or for some cool DIY projects.
The main advantages of the plastic drum over the steel one is that it’s a lot easier to move, it’s more affordable, it doesn’t when exposed to the elements and it can also store or ship abrasive materials that could make damage to the steel one.
Never run out of fresh water with a 55-gallon water barrel
You’ve certainly experienced at least once a situation where you ran out of freshwater when it was needed. Whether you own a remote cabin or live in a place where water outages a not that uncommon, 55-gallon water barrel is a must-have.
Even if the freshwater is plentiful at our place we now always make sure to have at least one 55 gallon water drum filled with water just in case.
While water barrels are slightly pricy compared to the regular ones, don’t try to substitute them at any cost. There’s no price for peace of mind of having fresh and safe water when none is available. It’s of huge importance that water barrel is quality made.
First of all, make sure that it’s BPA-free and food-grade; it should also be approved by a food administration like FDA or EFSA. Honestly, I can’t think of a better way to maintain a long-term water supply.
Just so you get the picture, it supplied us with necessary freshwater for 10 days on our camping trip, and there were 5 of us using it.
What is the 55-gallon drums price?
Now let’s get to the part that probably interests everyone the most. What is the 55-gallon drum price? It depends on what you need for the most. That the 55-gallon drum price will be higher for the drums used to store foods, water, and both sensitive and dangerous material.
On average, prices range between around 80$ and 120$. My advice is not to be too frugal and risk buying cheap knock offs, especially if you are going to work with foods or expensive materials. I’ve managed to find some fantastic deals for both steel drums and plastic drums on amazon, there’s something for everyone’s taste on the site.
Where to look for 55-gallon drums for sale?
To be honest, I’ve spent a significant amount of time trying to discover where to buy a 55-gallon drum that’s good quality, without breaking the bank. If you need a more substantial quantity, you can always buy them directly from most manufacturers.
You also buy a smaller amount in some local shops, but few stores are having a 55-gallon drum for sale. The safest bet is to go online.
You can find all types of both used and new drums, depending on your needs. It’s also easier to compare features and prices and you can find some great deals as well on online stores like e-bay and craigslist.
I’ve found some of the best deals on amazon. It’s also worth noticing that the shipping is often free or affordable at least.
Where to look for used 55-gallon drums?
When it comes to buying things, I always tend to go for the new and proven ones, but sometimes it makes more sense to look for a used item. If you need a 55-gallon barrel to store food or water, new is always the best and the safest bet. The same goes for storing and transporting pricy or hazardous materials.
You can never know what those things have been through, especially if you are buying on the internet. On the other hand, used 55 gallon drums are great for storing less serious stuff.
Likewise, they are perfects for your DIY projects, and trust me; you can make a crazy range of items. A friend of mine has made stunning patio furniture from 3 used drums.
The struggles with the 55-gallon steel drum lid
It’s happened thousands of times that the 55-gallon steel drum lid somehow gets sucked in a black hole never to be found again. I had this happen to me and it was annoying as hell. You can find steel drum lids in some stores, but most of the time they don’t have it or don’t sell it separately.
My recommendation is to measure what kind of 55-gallon steel drum lid you need and to go online. Amazon includes some great offers for the owners of the open-top steel drums.
Roll your barrels with a 55-gallon drum dolly
Do you have one or more barrels that you need to move around a lot? If so, I hope that you have a good dolly or a drum cart. I’ve read that it made life inexplicably easier for everyone that got it.
Just be careful and make sure that you purchase a quality one. If the drums that you are moving are weighty, cheap ones are not going to handle it well.
Why it’s important to get a 55-gallon drum rack?
Storing drums can be a proper struggle. It’s hard to stack them horizontally without them rolling away and going in height can be dangerous, I’ve seen some not very pleasant accident clips. One of the best solutions for this is to get a high-quality 55-gallon drum rack, especially if you work with full and heavy drums.
It’s useful to have drums at a higher level if you need to pour out the liquids from them often; some racks are made especially for this and they collect spills and drips. One of the most common racks is the stackable 55-gallon drum rack, usually for 1, 2, or 3 drums.
For more heavy-duty stuff, there’s also the 55-gallon drum rack stand with frame and shelves, which makes moving easier and provides better protection.
55-Gallon Plastic Drum For Sale
When we are talking about drums, the 55-gallon plastic drum is probably the most used when it comes to domestic purposes. Liquids, powders, and some abrasive substances can be stored in these containers. You can even store some substances that can’t be handled by metal 55-gallon barrels.
The 55-gallon plastic barrels for sale are being bought and used by almost everyone. A lot of people use it for their private needs of shipping and storing. Some major retail companies make use of the 55-gallon plastic drums to deliver or convey bulk shipments to their customers while some simply use them as storage.
Also, contract companies make use of 55-gallon plastic barrels to transport their materials to work, and they are people who have found ways to re-engineer the 55-gallon plastic drum to serve an important role in their gardening and some other DIY projects.
The major benefits derived from using the 55-gallon plastic drum for sale is the fact that it is easier to move or transport, no form of decay when exposed to elements, can contain some abrasive materials that could do a lot of damage to other types of 55 gal drums, and it is a lot more affordable compared to the other 55 gallon drums for sale.
Barrel Lining For 55-Gallon Plastic Drums
With 55-gallon plastic drums, environmental hazards sometimes happen. This is because these drums tend to leak thereby spilling whatever content they contain.
Good thing is, you can control the leakage by not making it happen at all. This means that if you are buying a 55-gallon drum for sale that is made of plastic, then you need to get yourself the CDF style liners.
These liners are ceramic coating which will stop your 55-gallon drum from decaying or rusting from the outside. You will have to coat the exterior and the interior of your 55-gallon drum with the CDF liners. With these liners, you 55-gallon plastic drums can last fifty to a hundred years in the open.
So, if what you are storing in your plastic gallon has to do with chemicals that could cause environmental hazards, which you don’t want to happen, then getting the CDF style liners is your best bet. Using special coatings and liners can ensure that the 55-gallon drum for sale that you bought lasts longer and also prevent leakages.
55-Gallon Steel Drum For Sale
This 55-gallon drum for sale, also known as the 55-gallon metal drum, has been popular since World War II, where they were used to convey gasoline reserves. This is because when they fill the 55-gallon steel drums with gasoline, it floats on water as gasoline is denser than water.
There are two types of these drums. The 55-gallon steel drum with the welded top and the 55-gallon steel drum with an open top. They work well for hazardous or sensitive liquids though they are not practical for most materials.
The 55-gallon steel drum for sale is used to store or ship heavy-duty bulk goods. Just like the plastic version, the 55-gallon steel drum can be used for domestic purposes too. There are cases where this container has been reused to make a steamer that works quite well.
Yes, the plastic version of the 55-gallon metal drum for sale has a lot of benefits compared to the steel version but then the steel 55-gallon drum also has its advantages. If you happen to be stranded after a shipwreck, these metal drums can serve as a much better raft base.
They are better for rougher handling and it’s safer to stack them upon each other compared to their plastic counterparts. This way, you save up space with no risk of them breaking each other or falling off. It can also be used to store products that could damage their plastic counterparts.
55-Gallon Metal Drum For Sale – Advantages Of Using Them
TESTED FOR LEAKS – The 55-gallon metal drums are severely tested for leaks, this means that if you are going to be storing or transporting liquids, the 55-gallon metal steel drums are highly recommended. One factor that is common with long-distance shipping is temperature.
Using a metal drum can help with this factor as it can withstand high temperatures, humidity, and different types of pressure, which can cause a lot of damages to your items.
Since this variation of the 55-gallon drum for sale can prevent leakages, it serves as the ideal container to store your dry items in, as long as whatever you are saving in it won’t be affected by the steel drum. This way no wet factor can get to whatever you save inside from outside.
SAFETY AND SECURITY – This 55-gallon drum for sale is always tested and proven to be safe and secure as its motive is to help convey, store, and secure whatever is kept in it.
Some tests are carried out to ensure that the covers are correctly attached to the body, and no matter what force is placed on it, it will still be able to maintain its shape without damaging the products inside.
Used 55 Gallon Drums For Sale
Buying used 55-gallon drums for sale is a very good idea, but it depends on what you want to use them for. If you are going to be storing water or food items, then you need to get yourself a new barrel as this will be the best and safest bet for you.
The same thing goes for sensitive and hazardous materials. The reason why you need a new one regarding these items is that you don’t know what the used 55-gallon drums for sale you are about to purchase have gone through, most especially if you are buying online.
On the other hand, if you are saving less serious items, then you can get a used 55-gallon drum for sale. Also, if you are going to be making DIY projects, then the used one will be good for your projects. There are amazing things you can create with these drums.
Conclusion
It’s important to notice that most manufacturers don’t recommend going more than 4 levels in height. Some racks can be made from plastic, but most common and the safest material is steel.
So we’ve rolled our barrels and drums to the end, I hope that you found what you were looking for and that I’ve managed to help you somehow.
I’m confident that you are going to make the right decisions based on the provided information. If you need additional information, feel free to take a look around the site for more details about 55-gallon drums.
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