Strength of a steel 55 Gal drum
 

Does anyone here know off hand how much a steel 55 gal drum can
support? I'm going to take my boat (approx 4,000 lbs) off the trailer
and I'm looking at options. I have two drums in reasonably good
condition that I can use in the rear and I'll use concrete blocks
forward.
I've never used drums before and I keep getting a mental image of what
happens to a beer can when I stomp on the top of it. I've seen other
people use drums though. But I never really thought much of the idea
before now. Are two of them strong enough to support half the weight
of a 4,000 lb boat for a week or two?
TIA,
Rick

Strength of a steel 55 Gal drum
 

On Sat, 24 Apr 2010 18:28:37 -0500, lid wrote:

Does anyone here know off hand how much a steel 55 gal drum can
support? I'm going to take my boat (approx 4,000 lbs) off the trailer
and I'm looking at options. I have two drums in reasonably good
condition that I can use in the rear and I'll use concrete blocks
forward.
I've never used drums before and I keep getting a mental image of what
happens to a beer can when I stomp on the top of it. I've seen other
people use drums though. But I never really thought much of the idea
before now. Are two of them strong enough to support half the weight
of a 4,000 lb boat for a week or two?
TIA,
Rick

I suspect that the answer may depend on whether or not the drums are
full or empty. Just a guess on my part.

Why not rent or borrow some Brownell boat stands? I know from past
experience jacking up my old Cal-34 that each stand is good for at
least 2,500 lbs.

Strength of a steel 55 Gal drum
 

On Sat, 24 Apr 2010 18:28:37 -0500, Phantman00 wrote:
Does anyone here know off hand how much a steel 55 gal drum can
support? I'm going to take my boat (approx 4,000 lbs) off the trailer
and I'm looking at options. I have two drums in reasonably good
condition that I can use in the rear and I'll use concrete blocks
forward.
I've never used drums before and I keep getting a mental image of what
happens to a beer can when I stomp on the top of it. I've seen other
people use drums though. But I never really thought much of the idea
before now. Are two of them strong enough to support half the weight
of a 4,000 lb boat for a week or two?
TIA,
Rick

On Sat, 24 Apr 2010 21:07:06 -0400, Wayne.B wrote:
I suspect that the answer may depend on whether or not the drums are
full or empty. Just a guess on my part.

Why not rent or borrow some Brownell boat stands? I know from past
experience jacking up my old Cal-34 that each stand is good for at
least 2,500 lbs.

They're empty at the moment. But I can spare 110 gallons of water if
need be. I hadn't thought of that.

I'd rather use boat stands for sure. But the two boat yards I've
always depended on here were swept clean in Katrina and didn't come
back. Not sure where I could find stands here locally. I can check
around on Monday though. Just occured to me that the owner of one of
the rental centers here is a boat guy. Maybe he 'em. Or maybe I can
convince him to buy some. I'm not the only one here with this problem
and he'd have the market cornered. lol!

Strength of a steel 55 Gal drum
 

Assuming the load is in column and applied across the entire barrel top, there is absolutely no problem and water is not
necessary.
Steve

wrote in message ...
Does anyone here know off hand how much a steel 55 gal drum can
support? I'm going to take my boat (approx 4,000 lbs) off the trailer
and I'm looking at options. I have two drums in reasonably good
condition that I can use in the rear and I'll use concrete blocks
forward.
I've never used drums before and I keep getting a mental image of what
happens to a beer can when I stomp on the top of it. I've seen other
people use drums though. But I never really thought much of the idea
before now. Are two of them strong enough to support half the weight
of a 4,000 lb boat for a week or two?
TIA,
Rick

Strength of a steel 55 Gal drum
 

Music to my ears :-)
Thank you
Rick

On Sun, 25 Apr 2010 09:42:43 +0200, "Steve Lusardi" wrote:
Assuming the load is in column and applied across the entire barrel top, there is absolutely no problem and water is not
necessary.
Steve

Phantman00 wrote:
Does anyone here know off hand how much a steel 55 gal drum can
support? I'm going to take my boat (approx 4,000 lbs) off the trailer
and I'm looking at options. I have two drums in reasonably good
condition that I can use in the rear and I'll use concrete blocks
forward.
I've never used drums before and I keep getting a mental image of what
happens to a beer can when I stomp on the top of it. I've seen other
people use drums though. But I never really thought much of the idea
before now. Are two of them strong enough to support half the weight
of a 4,000 lb boat for a week or two?
TIA,
Rick

Strength of a steel 55 Gal drum
 

Strength of a steel 55 Gal drum
 

Phantman00 wrote:
Does anyone here know off hand how much a steel 55 gal drum can
support? I'm going to take my boat (approx 4,000 lbs) off the trailer
and I'm looking at options. I have two drums in reasonably good
condition that I can use in the rear and I'll use concrete blocks
forward.
I've never used drums before and I keep getting a mental image of what
happens to a beer can when I stomp on the top of it. I've seen other
people use drums though. But I never really thought much of the idea
before now. Are two of them strong enough to support half the weight
of a 4,000 lb boat for a week or two?
TIA,
Rick

On Sun, 25 Apr 2010 11:40:00 -0500, brian whatcott wrote:
I did a quick scan for strength properties of 55 gal steel cans.
55 gal can crushers feature forces from 3.8 tons to 20 tons (but they
need to compress to around 6 inches, which increases the force required.)
On the other hand, compressive force allowables are harder to find. I
saw one figure of 1800 lb mentioned which probably carries a safety
factor...

Your estimated load of 1000 lb per can, particularly if you can put some
load spreader on top - a plank or small ply sheet - should give no
problems.

I notice my kid's Hunter 25 ft up for scrape and paint this week, was
supported on a few spindly 1.5 inch diameter jack stands at the pro yard.

Brian W

Good info to know. Thanks.
Normally, I would rest the boat's weight on the keel so the stands (or
drums) would be there more for balance than support. But my boat has
a stub keel that houses a centerboard and I'll need working room
underneath it to lower the centerboard at least partially. So that's
why the weight will all be on the stands/drums.
And thanks.....
Rick

Strength of a steel 55 Gal drum
 

On Sun, 25 Apr 2010 12:48:06 -0500, lid wrote:

Good info to know. Thanks.
Normally, I would rest the boat's weight on the keel so the stands (or
drums) would be there more for balance than support. But my boat has
a stub keel that houses a centerboard and I'll need working room
underneath it to lower the centerboard at least partially. So that's
why the weight will all be on the stands/drums.
And thanks.....

On a humorous note, quick calculations reveal that if you fill each
drum with concrete and rebar, they should support in excess of
2,000,000 lbs each. :-)

Strength of a steel 55 Gal drum
 

On Sun, 25 Apr 2010 12:48:06 -0500, Phantman00 wrote:
Good info to know. Thanks.
Normally, I would rest the boat's weight on the keel so the stands (or
drums) would be there more for balance than support. But my boat has
a stub keel that houses a centerboard and I'll need working room
underneath it to lower the centerboard at least partially. So that's
why the weight will all be on the stands/drums.
And thanks.....

On Sun, 25 Apr 2010 20:15:17 -0400, Wayne.B wrote:
On a humorous note, quick calculations reveal that if you fill each
drum with concrete and rebar, they should support in excess of
2,000,000 lbs each. :-)

I'll make note of that. It'll be useful for when I began work on my
houseboat conversion plan from a decommissioned aircraft carrier. :-)

Strength of a steel 55 Gal drum
 

If you fill them, I'd use something like sand or dirt.

I had 4 drums filled with wheel balancing weights. Each drum held
about 1800 lbs. The sat outside for several years and developed some
rust. I was able to pick them up without the bottoms falling out. Of
course that is the opposite direction of the force you're talking
about.

Strength of a steel 55 Gal drum
 

On Sun, 25 Apr 2010 20:15:17 -0400, Wayne.B
wrote:

On Sun, 25 Apr 2010 12:48:06 -0500, lid wrote:

Good info to know. Thanks.
Normally, I would rest the boat's weight on the keel so the stands (or
drums) would be there more for balance than support. But my boat has
a stub keel that houses a centerboard and I'll need working room
underneath it to lower the centerboard at least partially. So that's
why the weight will all be on the stands/drums.
And thanks.....

On a humorous note, quick calculations reveal that if you fill each
drum with concrete and rebar, they should support in excess of
2,000,000 lbs each. :-)


That is round a bout 2800 psi/sq. inch, isn't it? Whatcha going to use
to stand it on :-?



Cheers,

Bruce
(bruceinbangkokatgmaildotcom)

Strength of a steel 55 Gal drum
 

Bruce wrote:
On Sun, 25 Apr 2010 20:15:17 -0400, Wayne.B
wrote:

On Sun, 25 Apr 2010 12:48:06 -0500, lid wrote:

Good info to know. Thanks.
Normally, I would rest the boat's weight on the keel so the stands (or
drums) would be there more for balance than support. But my boat has
a stub keel that houses a centerboard and I'll need working room
underneath it to lower the centerboard at least partially. So that's
why the weight will all be on the stands/drums.
And thanks.....
On a humorous note, quick calculations reveal that if you fill each
drum with concrete and rebar, they should support in excess of
2,000,000 lbs each. :-)


That is round a bout 2800 psi/sq. inch, isn't it? Whatcha going to use
to stand it on :-?



Cheers,

Bruce
(bruceinbangkokatgmaildotcom)

Good thought. That pressure's even higher than a woman's stiletto heel.
Hopefully not on an airliner's passenger floor then :-)

Brian W

Strength of a steel 55 Gal drum
 

On Mon, 26 Apr 2010 19:44:10 +0700, Bruce
wrote:

On a humorous note, quick calculations reveal that if you fill each
drum with concrete and rebar, they should support in excess of
2,000,000 lbs each. :-)


That is round a bout 2800 psi/sq. inch, isn't it? Whatcha going to use
to stand it on :-?

Good question, different problem. :-)

Deep-driven pilings? Footings excavated to bedrock? I-beam latice?

PS, I'm not a civil engineer, just playing one on the internet. :-)

I was once working on a boat supported by steel drums . As we progressed it got steadily heavier, til one day while we were standing on deck, they all collapsed simultaneously.
They were empty. Had they been filed with water and the bung screwed in, they would have supported all the weight we could have put on. Unlike air, water doesn't compress.

Strength of a steel 55 Gal drum
 

Did u get your trailer out

Strength of a steel 55 Gal drum
 

On Fri, 9 Feb 2018 18:24:06 -0800 (PST), wrote:
Did u get your trailer out

Unfortunately no. And thanks for asking. The project is still on my
things to do list, but bumped down in priority due to aging and health
problems.... among other issues. I still have the drums and hope to
get back to the boat project someday if I live long enough. Otherwise,
the project could fall to one of my unfortunate heirs. In my will
though, I'll point to this thread for guidance. There's some good info
here that an unfortunate heir is going to need. ;-)
(but hopefully I'll get back to it myself at some point)

Strength of a steel 55 Gal drum
 

On Mon, 26 Apr 2010 19:44:10 +0700, Bruce
wrote:
That is round a bout 2800 psi/sq. inch, isn't it? Whatcha going to use
to stand it on :-?

Good point.
Something very very solid and stable.