Help finding pump for 55 gallon drum.

[Magpie]

I have two 55 gallon drums that originally held Dr. Pepper syrup. Our water smelled yummy last year! The pump we had didn't fit the threads in the opening and I have to get a new one this year that fits and works better. I don't know where to find one, though. The old one was something a campmate had lying around. It broke because I got mad and stomped on it.

Any ideas where to find something to get the water out of the drum and into my camelbak?

[ygmir]

I have two 55 gallon drums that originally held Dr. Pepper syrup. Our water smelled yummy last year! The pump we had didn't fit the threads in the opening and I have to get a new one this year that fits and works better. I don't know where to find one, though. The old one was something a campmate had lying around. It broke because I got mad and stomped on it.

Any ideas where to find something to get the water out of the drum and into my camelbak?

I love that avatar.

try Harbor Freight, Tractor supply, Home Depot..........
any store the caters to construction equipment, as well.
they are 2" pipe thread on one and 3/4" on the other, if it's a "standard" steel drum.

[Magpie]

Hmmm, I dunno if they are standard, but they are plastic. I tried home depot, but I'll try the other ones too. thanks!

[ygmir]

many pumps can just sit in the "hole"........as long as the pickup makes it to the bottom, and, you can hold it while using, threading is not totally necessary.
There are battery powered pumps, as well.
and, of course, a siphon........

[Elliot]

Stores that sell parts for RVs, like the Camping World chain, sell little hand pumps for the kitchen sink in an RV. You rock a handle back and forth, and the water comes out a spigot. You would need to fabricate some sort of mounting bracket for it, and run a hose into the barrel. These things are very poorly made, but may serve well enough for your purpose.

By the way, for the hose into the barrel I use plastic pipe, which reaches to the bottom without curling.

[Sham]

I did a search on ebay under "55 gallon pump" and several came up. You may want to go to Home Depot and try to find a bolt that fits the hole to get the correct size that you need. Once you have a bolt that fits, you will know the size you need to look for on ebay!

Good luck!

[DoctorIknow]

Hand pump?
Motorized pump?

If it isn't being pumped to a shower, you could:

-----use a siphon, and a big clamp to sqeeze the tube when you want it off. If the drum is on the ground, by time the siphon doesn't work anymore, you can tip the drum.
-----a Beckson Bildge Pump (the grey one) for boats can do 10gal/minute, and it is possible to adapt a hose to fit on the bottom...just reduce the diameter thru a series of off the shelf parts...I would get the brass pump, which is slower, but what's the rush? Here is a smaller Beckson that would suit you better than the bigger one in the picture: http://tinyurl.com/26v7mq8
-----a brass pump, Jabsco brand, needs much less attention to attach a hose. Damn, it's gotten expensive, but will last a lifetime and can be used with any liquid: http://tinyurl.com/279v9vd
-----go to an auto parts store or Harbor Freight Tools and find something much cheaper than anything I've written about...

[FIGJAM]

Alot of people use garden sprayers for all kind of things on the playa.

So what do you use yours for and how did you modify it to suit your purpose?

There may be a few people that dont know what a garden sprayer is.

Something like this....



They have a great many uses.

Thier small and portable.

I didnt like pumping mine up so I installed a steel tire valve stem from a local auto parts store.

Now I can just give it a shot of air from my compressor instead of pumping.

I think most burners will have at least a small 12volt compressor for bike tires and such.

A garden sprayer was a little small for my needs.

Sooooooooooo...........

Got a double bung water barrel for $30










and bought some stuff in the plumbing isle.....











the bungs are theaded and there enough nipple on the bottom to connect a piece of garden hose long enough to reach the bottom of the barrel.





Intalled steel valve stem.



Add some air.




PRESTO.......running water for my camp!




Its set up to put a regular garden hose on.

Add a spray nozzle and its a FIGJAM garden sprayer.

The barrels come in alot of different sizes, so build to suit your playa needs.

Mines 55gal. but I need enough for my swamp cooler and me and with the hose I can deliver water anywhere in my camp.

The walls of the barrel are about 1/2" thick so they can handle the pressure. More presser=longer squirt.


Your turn.

[igor47]

people here seem to use harbor freight way more than mcmaster carr, but imho mcmaster carr is waaaay better. their website works really well and, here in SF, i get orders via ground shipping two days after I place them.

i recently got this pump for our 55-gallon barrels:
http://www.mcmaster.com/#catalog/116/319/=8h98wt
(item number 2578K35)

[Zhust]

I met someone who used to work for McMaster-Carr and they said they have people trying to figure out what you (the customer) want all the time. This matches my experience.

Harbor Freight is marginal as an Internet supplier, but when you can walk into a store and buy the el-cheapo Chinese version of that whoosit you want, it's much more gratifying than finding a perfect match at McM-C.

[Magpie]

FIGJAM, that's the exact barrel I have. thanks for that great tutorial! Thanks for all the other tips as well, I'm going to pick up a garden sprayer or two!

[theCryptofishist]

You knew about this elevan months ago and are only dealing with it now?

Oh good, there's competition in the procrastination sweepstakes this year.

[gyre]

Northern tool

[gyre]

Farmer's co-ops

[Magpie]

You knew about this elevan months ago and are only dealing with it now?

Oh good, there's competition in the procrastination sweepstakes this year.

Don't mock my artform

[ygmir]

"we mock, what we do not understand"