Water Butts

[Roger Cain]

Anyone know of a source of used carboys (around 50 gallon) for use as water butts in the Manchester area? Ta.

[Andy Hall]

Have a look at

can be used anywhere, including Manchester, although I would go for a larger size there......

[Weatherlawyer]

The drums used on SciFi sets to denote corridors to laboratories of Machiavellian types, are 45 gallon tins about 50 gallons US.

I believe that the ones used to hold resin for fibreglass manufacturers and the like are just dumped. They come with two threaded holes in the tops which might be useful. And of course one of the holes is designed for a tap.

You could try asking for empties at such yards. There must be hundreds in the city.

They are not very pretty though and will rot through in a few years. Would matter in a garden? You could just replace them.

Ask for a kilo of resin and some catalyst and coat the inside as a waterproof.

[Grunff]

Call a local agricultural supplier and ask for fruit juice containers. They sell them to farmers for water storage. These come in several sizes, the most popular being 330 litres and 1550 litres (that's right,

1550). The large ones are great if you have the space.

[Huge]

Are they the cubical ones that come in a steel cage?

[Harry Bloomfield]

Roger Cain presented the following explanation :

Just drive around any large industrial area, there are bound to be factories which have liquids delivered in none recyclable containers which are often free for their removal - just be wary of what they might of had in them.

[Grunff]

Those hold around 900 litres - they're quite a bit more expensive, but you can usually get them locally.

The ones I was talking about are cylindrical, black MDPE containers. The

330 litre ones are about 60cm diameter and ~1 metre high, while the 1550 litre ones are about 1 metre diameter and 1.8 metres tall. They're amazingly cheap - ~£20 and ~£70 respectively.

[Roger Cain]

Thanks, Andy. And, YES, my syntax was absolutely disgraceful :-(

[Guy King]

The message from Andy Hall contains these words:

Bigger ones would be harder to nick...

[Guy King]

The message from Grunff contains these words:

Cor - just what I need. I've never had any luck finding them though.

[Andy Hall]

Sorry, couldn't resist.

I bought one of their oak barrels earlier in the year. It turned out to be an ex whisky barrel - in fact there was still about a litre in the bottom when it arrived. Even now, several months later, there is a pleasant aroma when passing it on the patio.

The plastic containers that they do are quite reasonable too, but it looks like you have a few more options as well now....

[PhilC]

1000 litre IBC about 20-30GBP

PhilC

[Grunff]

I wonder if you can specify when ordering that you only want ex-whisky barrels. Quite appealing for garden use.

[Grunff]

I can name 2 places in Devon that do them, but that's a bit of a way from you. Have you tried phoning a few agricultural supply places?

[Andy Hall]

Probably doesn't matter too much. I think they are in Newcastle area so alternative would probably be a brown ale barrel.

[Andy Hall]

One interpretation. I was thinking more in terms of it raining more.

[Guy King]

The message from Grunff contains these words:

I'm going to Devon in a few weeks - with the trailer, too, so I might well grab one. Where are they?

[Grunff]

Mole Valley Farmers Ltd Pathfields Business Park, South Molton, Devon EX36 3LL Tel: [phone]

Call ahead to make sure they have them in stock. We bought some a few months back.

Other place that I know does them is:

Mole Avon Town & Country Stores Exeter Rd, Okehampton, Devon EX20 1QQ Tel: [phone]

[Dave Liquorice]

Do they use timber barrels for beer these days? The dreys appear to only carry ali kegs for all the beers; Gasso lager, grotneys Red Barrel (or modern equivalent) or "real ale".

[Frank Erskine]

Gateshead, actually - south of the river Tyne.