There are a bunch of marketplaces, both online and onsite, where you can get your hands on some intact 55-gallon drums for free. While the online places include websites like Craigslist, OfferUp, and Facebook, onsite places include construction companies, insulation companies, beverage manufacturers, car washes, and salvage yards.
Places to get free 55-Gallon Drum Plastic Metal
Craigslist
Type of drums available: Both plastic and metal
Craigslist is a consumer-to-consumer (C2C) marketplace where you can get everything ranging from scrap to ship-shape furniture free of charge. This attested website is, therefore, guaranteed to bring your search for a 55-Gallon drum to fruition in no time.
Use the following navigation steps to get your drum right away!
Step 1: Go to https://craigslist.org/
Step 2: Select your city of residence from the location bar to the right
Step 3: Select “Free” under the “For Sale” section
Step 4: Enter “55-gallon drum” in the search bar
Kudos! You’re done. Just choose your preferred drum and place an order.
Caution: Just a heads up that sellers on Craigslist are not certified, hence, ensure the transaction takes place at a public place and someone accompanies you at the planned meetup.
OfferUp
Type of drums available: Both plastic and metal
Similar to Craigslist, OfferUp is another consumer-to-consumer (C2C) marketplace where people gather to buy and sell items both with and without charge. However, unlike Craigslist most items that one finds at OfferUp are in a pristine condition.
Having established how important equipment a 55-Gallon drum is, you will find a bunch of people willing to trade it at OfferUp.
Follow the below-mentioned steps to get your drum with all speed!
Step 1: Go to https://offerup.com/
Step 2: Select your city of residence from the location bar
Step 3: Enter “55-gallon drum” in the search bar
Step 4: Filter the results by Price: “Low to High”
Ta-da! You have made it to the drum of your dreams. Just choose the most suitable drum and place an order at once.
Construction companies
Type of drums available: Usually plastic
Construction companies use barrels to store heaps of supplies and materials and therefore might come in handy in your search for a free-of-cost 55-Gallon drum.
Caution: If you plan on getting a drum from a construction company, ensure deep cleaning of the drum before use as it might have been employed to carry hazardous material before the transfer of possession.
Insulation Companies
Type of drums available: Metal
Big names like Johns Manville and Owen’s Corning in the insulation industry have been using drums and barrels for storage of spray-foam insulation over decades. Their ever-growing customer base reflects on their gigantic storage facility which in turn implies a large number of spare barrels and drums that they potentially have. Hence, this poses a good opportunity for you to borrow some of these drums from these giants for free!
Caution: Getting drums from insulation companies comes with a risk of intoxication as the insulation stored in drums can contain hazardous chemicals like formaldehyde.
Beverage manufacturers
Type of drums available: Usually plastic
Beverage companies like wineries, breweries, bottled water plans, soft drink companies, and similar ones may also be your go-to places for a 55-gallon drum. These companies get most of their ingredients such as syrups in drums and might lend you some without charge.
Facebook Marketplace
Type of drums available: Both plastic and metal
Facebook is an online marketplace where you will find various groups that sell free items. Look up one such group and search for a 55-Gallon drum. From the list of people willing to make a sale, choose the one that suits your need the most and make the deal without further ado!
Car washes
Type of drums available: Usually plastic
Gigantic plastic barrels are used as a mode of delivering soap to car washes. These barrels, when emptied, are of little or no use to a car wash and are, thereby, up for grabs without charge.
Scrapyards and Landfills
Type of drums available: Both plastic and metal
When we think of scrapyards and landfills a wide variety of useless things like food-tainted items, kitchenware, yard waste, etc. come to our mind. However, among these numerous items which make their way to a scrap site are some very useful 55-gallon drums. The drums at scrap sites are an easy deal and you must give them a shot!
Caution: If you plan on getting a drum from a scrap site, ensure deep cleaning of the drum before use as it might have been employed to carry hazardous material before the transfer of possession.
Places to buy 55-Gallon drums at the cheapest rates
In case you cannot find a free drum, which is safe to use, or you do not deem used drums a right fit for your project, you can certainly buy a new drum for affordable rates at the following places:
eBay
Price Range: $10 to $250 each
McMaster-Carr
Price Range: $18 to $1,300 each
Uline
Price Range: $20 to $750 each
The Cary Company
Price Range: $25 to $1,200 each
Global Industrial
Price Range: $60 to $900 each
Home Depot
Price Range: $100 to $140 each
Precautions for a used 55-Gallon drum
As you get your hands on a free used barrel or drum it is essential to ensure its cleanliness before use. Most industries like insulation, construction, and paints use plastic and metal drums to carry hazardous chemicals such as petrol, oxidizers, cyanide, etc. The presence of these carcinogenic and flammable toxins calls for special care.
One must wash the drum with soap solutions and chlorine bleach. Then, test for any remaining chemical residues. Keep repeating the aforementioned procedure until all chemical residues have been removed and the drum is safe to use!
Conclusion
While a free drum or barrel would be a blessing in disguise, saving a few dollar bills at the stake of your safety may not be a very wise decision. Hence, either ensure the cleanliness of these free drums or buy new ones at a charge.
Question 1: What can you ship in a 55-gallon drum?
Anything compatible with the drum material can be shipped. Avoid storing corrosives in a metal drum and strong solvents in a plastic drum.
Question 2: What does a filled 55-gallon drum weigh?
The weight of 55-Gallons of water is around 459 pounds. Hence, a 55-Gallon drum would weigh approximately 500 pounds (can be heavier or lighter based on the density of stored product).
