55 gal drum cleaning

[merlebo02]

I have a 55 gal drum that was storage for fish oil.. anybody have any experience or ideas on getting it cleaned out for diesel storage? I carried it to the car wash and got a lot of thick yellow slime out but would like to make sure it痴 as clean as possible..

 

[SPYDERLK]

Try 1st leaving it open for awhile to dry out the water - then pour a gallon of gas in and tumble it around. Shake/slosh it with help of a friend. That should take out all the organic oils. Shouldnt be much left but the smell.

 

[merlebo02]

My goodness this barrel stinks! I can’t get the smell off my hands!!

 

[tomplum]

Think about the exhaust smell had you just mixed the diesel with the fish oil!:laughing:

 

[repete]

When I need a barrel I just go to a local oil distributor and get a good practically new used barrel for $20 and if it has an ounce or two of motor oil in it I do not really care.

 

[Captain Dirty]

I have a 55 gal drum that was storage for fish oil.. anybody have any experience or ideas on getting it cleaned out for diesel storage? I carried it to the car wash and got a lot of thick yellow slime out but would like to make sure it逞ｴ as clean as possible..

While my experience with fish oil is limited, I have worked with a lot of animal fat and vegetable oil. Those fats and oils are usually cleaned with trisodium phospate (TSP) and hot (180ｰF+ water) or steam. TSP is effective but requires a lot of rinsing. Steam is not as effective as the oils cling and the steam jet just pushes the oil around.

Is it an open head (top end held on with a band and comes off completely) or closed head (just a couple of 2" plugs in the end and maybe a bung plug on the side). The former allows access for physical scrubbing; the later are usually cleaned with specialized equipment (wands with rotating nozzles). Repete's idea (post #5) has merit and would be my choice.

 

[merlebo02]

Thanks for the replies. It is a closed barrel, no top to remove.. I have changed directions and have been given a 100 gal tank on a trailer from my grandad but the kicker is it’s not been used in 10 years. It’s been garage kept and from what I can tell there is no rust in the tank. I’m training to get the drain plug off so I can drain what little bit is left in the bottom and see what comes out.. any other suggestions on what I should do before using the tank?