As you walk around your office or travel on the road, you may have noticed 55-gallon plastic drums that are either black or blue in color. Some of the drums are made of plastic while others are made from metals such as steel.

Usually, these drums are used for storage and shipment of toxic and dry materials. If your company ships liquids, flammable materials, or toxic materials, using drums is an excellent choice. But, you may be wondering, which type is better? Well, let’s take a look at some details and figure it out.

Price

One factor when comparing plastic to metal drums is to consider price. Buying new metal drums will set you back nearly $100 while a plastic drum of the same size is nearly half the price. If you are using drums for shipment, provided that regulations are met correctly, you should consider choosing plastic drums since the cost savings will be significant. Even for your own projects, consider what you need and pick the least expensive option that will meet your needs. Also, consider buying used drums to save money. In terms of price, plastic is the clear winner.

Weight

Another important factor to consider, especially when shipping or storage is involved, is weight. Plastic drums, on average, weigh nearly half as much as a steel drum. You need to combine the drum’s weight with the weight of the item stored per gallon in order to determine the total load. With large quantities, given that other regulations are met, the cost of the container can make a huge difference. In addition, if you plan to store liquids on a structure designed for a certain load, the type of drum you use will be the deciding variable to reduce the overall weight. In terms of weight, plastic is again a clear winner.

Temperature

In school, you probably learned that metal tends to dissipate heat more quickly than materials such as plastic and ceramic. If you want to store heated water long-term and maintain the temperature, you might think that plastic drums are a better option. On the contrary, a study by Small Farm Magazine showed that there was no advantage to using either. In this case, neither plastic nor steel prove advantageous.

Food/Liquid Storage

If you have ever stored liquids such as juice or even food products such as fish, you may have noticed that plastic containers tend to keep the smell and flavor of whatever was stored. If you decide to store something else, the previous flavor could leak into the new item stored. Even though this is a serious drawback of plastic, using steel is not an option because water and other liquids contain traces of chlorine and oxygen molecules which will cause steel to corrode and mix with the liquid.

In terms of storing liquids such as water, plastic drums are a better choice. However, try using new drums to prevent your stored items from acquiring an unusual flavor. You can also try thoroughly washing the plastic containers to get rid of harmful bacteria and make them more suitable for storage of liquids and dry foods.

Toxic Substances

When shipping toxic chemicals, companies store them in metal drums because they tend to be non-reactive and are stronger. Also, some regulations mandate that these chemicals be stored in steel drums. Living in a remote area, especially a long distance away from gas stations, may require you to store several months of fuel. If you plan to store fuel or another harmful substance, then steel drums are the best choice.

Alternatives

Of course, plastic and metal drums don’t have to be all work. Apart from their industrial uses, many people have used their creativity to make some unique items out of both metal and plastic drums. Since metal drums are stronger and can withstand heat, people have used them to make furniture and barbecue pits. Those interested in gardening, have turned both types of drums into hydroponics bays and pots to plant vegetables or flowers. People with dogs have even turned steel drums into dog houses.

Conclusion

Plastic and steel drums are everywhere and used by numerous industries to ship and store goods. You may be thinking of buying one and wonder, which type is better? There is no definite answer because it depends on what items are stored and your budget. Take these into account to decide what to use.