Anyone know of a reputable firm selling 55-gal steel drums over the Internet? I plan to store kerosene in them.

Also, does anyone know if it's OK to store kerosene in those food-grade blue plastic drums?

-- rick blaine (y2kazoo@hotmail.com), September 06, 1999

Answers

No, the food grade barrels are not suitable for the storage of kerosene. 55 gal barrels-- go to your nearest petroleum supplier / bulk fuel supplier/ fuel oil supplier.... they all will have used barrels to buy at low cost-- just be sure to drain & rinse with kero before filling. Do not store upright outside or you will get water contamination & that will quickly ruin the kerosene heater wick.

-- johnah (jahalder@infinet.com), September 06, 1999.

If you can't store the drums of kerosene standing up, how do you store them?

-- (snoozin@no.more), September 06, 1999.

On their sides.

-- Daryll (twincrk@hotmail.com), September 07, 1999.

Try Global Industrial Equipment

http://www.globalindustrial.com

On page 95 of their current catalog they list steel drums. They also list plastic drums that are FDA approved. Their catalog contains other useful items for Y2K.

-- (southeastern@my-deja.com), September 07, 1999.

Look in your local yellow pages under "Barrels". If you buy them locally, you don't have to pay the outrageous shipping charges.

I got my 55 gal steel barrels locally for $30 each NEW, or $21 each "reconditioned". Pretty good deal, all things considered. You can also try http://www.watertanks.com

-- Dennis (djolson@pressenter.com), September 07, 1999.

Mt Pleasant Steel and Salvage has new-condition ones (had silicon in them previously). $5 each if you buy 10 or more. Have to pick them up yourself. Mt. Pleasant is in the central part of Michigan.

-- Steve Hartzler (s.hartzler@usa.net), September 07, 1999.

You can store kerosene in the blue plastic 55 gal drums.

It is made of the same material as the black ones used for

machine shops. We have been doing this for years. Yes, do not

store them outside. Nor store them on bare concrete floors. Use

wood pallets on the concrete floors and the drums on top of them.

Keep as always, your drums from all high heat areas, and once or

twice a month open the cap to release pressure. Make sure you

have ventelation to do so. In a factory storeage setting, we

have two story steel buildings on concrete. A large detached

garage is highly preferred above a small packed one attached to

the home. For only less than $500, one could get a small steel

shed, 6x4 or 7x8, to store the fuel.

Do not store kerosene in the home or basement. Their are risks

and danger to life if a fire should spread to the storage location.

The blue plastic 55 gal drums are HDPE (high density polyethelene)

both machine shops and food grade use these. WARNING: DO NOT

STORE food or water in ONCE USED fuel barrels. Will cause death

or rapid developing cancer. The exposure from fueling our cars

is a risk, but to take some in via the mouth is to far dangerous.

Joe Martin -- Buffalo, Ny

-- Joe Martin (nospam@nospam.com), September 08, 1999.

You also might try local bakeries...we're finding that a local cookie factory will sell us drums (formerly used for cooking oil) that would do nicely for storing of petrochemicals (fuel oil, gasoline, kerosine, etc.).

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), September 10, 1999.

If you live near western NY, you can get very nice steel and plastic 55 gallon barrels from one of three juice companies located in the Buffalo area. One is Seneca. Can't think of the others. They have had juice in them and sell for $1 each. I have fuel stored in blue plastic barrels and grain in both plastic and steel barrels. I'm also using the plastic ones for water storage.

I did not buy the barrels for $1 myself, though I know others who have. I bought 100 barrels a couple of months ago for $8 each from "THe Barrel Man". He delivered them to my house and I sold them to around 20 other people who are GI's. I didn't do it to make money--- just to help, and get 20 barrels for myself.

If you have an interest in this, the barrel man is Jim Robertson. Phone # is 607-765-0662. Last I knew, he could also be reached at y2kbarrels@yahoo.com He can transport over 100 barrels at a time. Has been doing this since before Y2k reared it's ugly head.

-- Farmbeet (barrelsin@NY.corn), September 12, 1999.