For the want of a barrel...

[bourbonred]

I haven't been able to find any 55 gallon metal drums with rings to make them airtight on craigslist locally. I have a prepper supply store within an hours drive and they have the used, open metal 55 gallon drums, but with the cost of scrap metal, they aren't getting the rings to make them seal. They tell me that each brand of drum uses a slightly different size ring. Do Ya'll have any suggestions for me? I'm looking for 4 drums for now that I can load with wheat, sugar, salt, and rice, then use a candle to de-oxygen them. How important are the rings? I don't see how the candle method will work without an airtight seal. BTW, they do have poly pickle barrels with screw on lids but the price has gone up to $25 each and I just don't trust the poly to be rat-proof as these will be stored in a shed area. I'm starting to overflow with 5 gallon buckets in the house and would really like to make the move to barrels. Thanks, Pamela

[||Downhome||]

use to work at the paint store, we had commercial customers.

they would buy 1000's of gallons of paint in 55 gallon drums. open head double bung barrels. I would get them from them for burn barrels. if you have any big contractors around that would be a good place to try. just call your sherwin-williams and ask whose buying drums of paint then call them.

[mpillow]

If you have a dairy farm near you you can ask for teat dip barrels 30 gallon w/ bung...I wash them out and use for all sorts of different things...I get them for free

[Just Cliff]

Check any local snack manufacturers. I get them for $5.00 each for barrel, lid and ring. Cooking grease comes in them.