55 gallon drum

Blackoak · Post by **Blackoak** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 2:26 pm

Anyone know offhand what guage metal these are usually made from?

I think I can get one, and I figured with them being rounded I could make some LH or dress spangens from it. Or if it is worth it at all.

Funny how in this hobby, you tend to view most things as armour potential.

Uric

Mad Matt · Post by **Mad Matt** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 2:37 pm

Steel is cheap just buy new steel it's a lot easier.

Blackoak · Post by **Blackoak** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 2:47 pm

Well it was more a question if it was worth getting this free, if the metal it's made out of was any good.

Uric

Mad Matt · Post by **Mad Matt** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 2:51 pm

Ok the amount of time you spend making the steel in a 45 gallon drum usefull makes it worthwhile to just buy new steel. I get my steel from an HVAC contractor because they charge me what they pay for it. But if you go to places like that they usually have useable scraps which are good as new steel just smaller pieces. They'll let you have them cheap possibly free.

Konstantin the Red · Post by **Konstantin the Red** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 3:09 pm

Drums are made inexpensively, so they are of mild steel. At a guess, hotrolled.

If you get the drum for free, or for an old song, and purpose to make curved pieces of it -- legs and body mostly, I daresay -- it might be about worth it. What everybody else says up above is good advice, though. Avoid the strengthening flutes; cut around those and discard them unless you have a forge and want to practice heating and beating light stock for some reason. Trying to flatten out an entire drum fluting by cold work is a lot of effort for minimal reward -- a reward in ugly, bashed, Mad Max metal. Expect to generate a lot of scrap from this source, and to be removing paint or inner coatings too.

There isn't a lot you can do with the top of a drum either. I made a roundshield of one once. It looked exactly like the top of an oil drum, even with some dishing.

Blackoak · Post by **Blackoak** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 3:40 pm

Thanks guys, that answers my question then.

Uric

Cat · Post by **Cat** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 8:06 am

If you do end up getting it, you may want to find out what was in it so you can take any safety precautions needed. Especially if you are going to heat the metal.

I don't know what gauge it is, but it may be good for making spaulders. Just a thought.

Cat