How do you dry a drum or barrel?

[BeerCan]

I have come across a few 15,30 and 55 gallon drums that I would like to use for various projects. I would like to store fuel in the larger ones and oil in the smaller ones.

The drums originally contained fruit concentrate of various kinds. I would like to clean them but I am not sure of the best method to make sure they are completely water free when I am done. Does anyone have any ideas?

 

[oldhp]

Dawn, bleach and HOT water. Shake the behootins out it.
Turn upside down toward opening and let dry for a few days.
What ever water left over would be not enough to hurt anything in my opinion.

 

[HTSS_TR]

I use shopvac with blower to dry my car after wash, the air flow is very strong and it will dry anything.

 

[widman]

The two places hardest to really clean are the top and bottom seams. Use a mirror to make sure there is no residual there. A lot of cheaper bulk oils are packaged in used drums, but I know of one blender who stopped when they found they had to reject more than half of those delivered.

After draining upside down, turn right side up and put in the sun with a piece of newspaper over the opening. That will let moisture evaporate without dirt getting in.

 

[gomes512]

Simplest way to get all the moisture out is a shop vac reversed and attach a long enough section of 2" pvc (duct tape works just fine) to the vac's hose.

You can cut the end (that'll sit at the bottom of the barrel) at an angle. Let it run for 30-40 minutes at a time and check with a flashlight. Forces air in through the bottom and works it back up allowing the entire inside to dry out.

This worked really well at my former job were we needed to get all moisture completely out.

 

[Phishin]

Go to any hardware store and get a gallon of acetone.

After cleaning, put some acetone in a squirt bottle and hit all those seams

 

[OtisBlkR1]

dump it upside down...

 

[dave123]

These are steel unlined drums right.

 

[Tegger]

Originally Posted By: BeerCan
I am not sure of the best method to make sure they are completely water free when I am done. Does anyone have any ideas?

1) Build a fire. Make an elevated framework above the fire (two metal poles on deck chairs will do). Place drum on framework and let the fire boil out the water.

2) Get a propane blowtorch. Heat up the bottom seam all around until it's way too hot to touch. Takes time, but this too should cook out the water from the seams. Then leave overnight in a dry environment for any remaining residue to evaporate.

 

[bluestream]

Pour 1/2 gallon of gas in each drum, swish around inside, then repeat

Pour the gas out and use a campfire starter fluid. The little gas inside the drum will evaporate. This all assumes that you are using these drums to store oil or gasoline....

 

[expat]

Alcohol!