Cleaning 55 gallon drum

[chas0218]

I have 2 55 gallon drums one I was planning to use for diesel and the other for waste oil. Both of these drums previously were used for honey. Anyone know the easiest way to remove all the residual honey from these?

 

[Industrial Toys]

You certainly don't want any residue. I would use my steam genny, but I guess hot water and detergent. I have put electric BBQ heaters in water for heating, but not something I would recommend if you are not comfortable about electricity or using it in unorthadox or danergous ways. It would blow a GFCI if on one. But it worked for me and that's all I cared about.

 

[chas0218]

I was thinking of filling with water and using my turkey fryer burner to heat the bottom to help loosen it up. Would diesel cut through the honey and allow it to flow out the opening? I was thinking about hooking my pressure washer to my hot water and giving that a shot. Electricity and water don't scare me long as I'm not standing in the water.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Some washer pumps may not like hot water. They can make heat as it is. Heat, water and soap should work. No need for messy fuel oil. Heat some water with your fryer burner in another vessle and pour it into the drum. How much residue are we talking?

 

[fidowanttobe]

It might not be worth the effort or drawback if it causes issues, what I did was go to my local oil supplier (Cenex) and paid the deposit on an oil barrel. Already clean. Just my $0.02.

 

[Industrial Toys]

True, what's propane worth to heat water? Any good oil left in a drum can't hurt, and in some cases is a bonus. Maybe not for CAT equiped machines.

 

[chas0218]

It might not be worth the effort or drawback if it causes issues, what I did was go to my local oil supplier (Cenex) and paid the deposit on an oil barrel. Already clean. Just my $0.02.

Didn't think of that I'll call around and see what they want for one. Only have 2 places within 50 miles so if they aren't a lot I'll go that route.

 

[Industrial Toys]

The LAST thing you want is SUGAR in your engine, if that's even what's in honey.

 

[chas0218]

The LAST thing you want is SUGAR in your engine, if that's even what's in honey.

Yeah no doubt, I have been trying to figure out the best way to clean these things. My buddy is a bee keeper and reached out to see if he knew of anything that cuts through the stickiness of the honey.

 

[/pine]

Around here the bears would have them licked clean in a heartbeat...!

 

[ruffdog]

I would tie the drum down onto my small trailer, put 10 gal of hot water in the drum (from hot water heater), then, pull the trailer around the property for 30 min....rinse, repeat.

 

[chas0218]

I would tie the drum down onto my small trailer, put 10 gal of hot water in the drum (from hot water heater), then, pull the trailer around the property for 30 min....rinse, repeat.

I can do that no problem. I'll give it shot and see what I end up with and how much comes out. I'm betting I should dump it by one of my tree stands....

 

[Industrial Toys]

I never found cleaning out a honey jar in warm soapy dish water to be any particular trouble at all.

 

[Kingsqueak]

Yeah for sure, just soap and water. It's a food product not an oil based compound, water is enough of a solvent. Ten gallons or so of hot water, dish liquid or powdered Tide etc, roll them around, rinse, repeat. Probably very clean in two runs.

 

[chas0218]

So here is what the 1st one looks like after cleaning. I can't see any remaining honey.

 

[chas0218]

And the 2nd one.

 

[PA hayseed]

The pictures make it seem clean. When I clean things I use my nose. So if it strongly smells of honey I would imagine some residue is in there. I would put them outside with the opening facing the ground and stick my pressure washer in there with a soap tip. I would let it drain and dry again, then rinse with a little kerosene and let dry again. I'm not a honey expert, nor a barrel cleaning expert.

Like someone else said, I got my 55 gal barrel off the oil people for like $5, worked for a couple of years until I got a used 275 gal tank.

 

[Diggin It]

I guess you already have them done, but I was going to suggest the wand at a self serve car wash.

 

[chas0218]

I guess you already have them done, but I was going to suggest the wand at a self serve car wash.

Thought about that too.

The pictures make it seem clean. When I clean things I use my nose. So if it strongly smells of honey I would imagine some residue is in there. I would put them outside with the opening facing the ground and stick my pressure washer in there with a soap tip. I would let it drain and dry again, then rinse with a little kerosene and let dry again. I'm not a honey expert, nor a barrel cleaning expert.

Like someone else said, I got my 55 gal barrel off the oil people for like $5, worked for a couple of years until I got a used 275 gal tank.

Yeah they don't smell much anymore. I was thinking the same thing.

 

[chas0218]

FWIW I paid scrap price for these per the lbs. with little to no rust on the exterior and interior. I think it was something like $5 for the pair, bought them last year and didn't have the need to clean them.