Stainless Steel Container Blog

Many factories have to deal with sludge and other hazardous byproducts of their industrial processes. This sludge must be collected and stored until it can be hauled away by a licensed waste removal service, and one of the safest, most convenient ways to do this is to use steel drums.

Stainless steel drums are resistant to corrosion, which allows them to maintain their structural integrity even when used to store industrial sludge or harsh chemicals. Moreover, their size and strength enable you to stack more containers in less space so you don’t have to use up as much precious real estate on your factory floor or in your warehouse facility.

To order steel drums for sludge or waste storage, visit DrumsofSteel.com today.

One of the most important properties of stainless steel drums is their resistance to fire. In fact, type 304 stainless steel, which is what Mutual Stamping & Manufacturing’s 30 gallon drums and 55 gallon drums are made of, can withstand temperatures up to 800 C or more. That’s significantly higher than other metals, which would start to deteriorate and melt in the face of such extreme heat.

This fire resistance makes stainless steel drums ideal for storing and shipping flammable or explosive materials, components, and products. When you use these containers in your factory, warehouse, or transportation vessel, workers and handlers will be better protected from hazardous materials in the event of a fire and will have more time to escape the premises before the container contents are compromised.

With cold weather now fully upon most of the country, it’s time to start thinking of efficient ways to warm your home. We have heard of some people converting 30 gallon drums into wood burning stoves that they can then use to heat houses or cabins.

This can be accomplished by purchasing a stove kit (which usually consists of a cast iron door and cast iron stands) and stove pipe, and then hooking everything up to your stainless steel drum according to the included instructions.

If you’re interested in a very practical pre-winter project, why not try making your own stove with one of our stainless steel barrels?

Steel and plastic parts that are cut with a punch press or similar machinery often emerge with burrs, flash, and other excess material that must be removed before further processing can take place.

Using a stainless steel barrel to tumble the parts with porcelain or ceramic media is an excellent way to get the polished, unmarred finish you need. Not only can stainless steel barrels accommodate large loads at once, but they also eliminate the need for the kind of labor-intensive hand finishing that creates bottlenecks in the production chain.

MSM has both 30 gallon drums and 55 gallon drums that are suitable for tumbling applications, so visit our website and place your order today!

Many of our customers are involved in the food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries, and require that their stainless steel drums arrive in pristine condition. We can achieve this thanks to two extra steps that we take prior to shipping our containers.

First, at the customer’s request, we can install safety seals on all stainless steel drums after we’ve cleaned and inspected them. The seals prevent dirt, dust, and other contaminants from getting inside during shipping. Second, we wrap each container in corrugated cardboard to further protect it from damage while in transport from our facility to yours.

These steps are highly labor intensive, but they ensure that our customers receive the top-quality products MSM is known for.

Biodiesel fuel (or biofuel) is becoming an increasingly important source of renewable energy, particularly in large farming operations. Biodiesel is made from a mixture of diesel fuel and specially converted vegetable oil, and is a wonderful way to reduce energy costs when fuel prices are rising.

You can make your own biodiesel at home, as long as you have a safe place to store it. Stainless steel barrels are the best option because they provide a stable, nonflammable environment for the fuel while also preserving purity. Either 30 gallon drums or 55 gallon drums would work, depending on how much biodiesel you intend to store. Be sure to outfit your drum with a pump so you can convey the fuel directly from the container to your equipment without making a mess.

With Thanksgiving coming up soon, now is the time to finally get that backyard BBQ smoker you’ve always wanted so you can smoke this year’s turkey instead of roasting it in the oven.

Some commercial smokers can cost up to $1,000, but you can build your own for far less than that. All you have to do is start with a food-grade stainless steel drum (preferably one with a couple of drainage holes), and then add a fire basket, grill rack, plugs for the holes so you can control airflow (and thus temperature), and a grill thermometer. Most people choose to use 55 gallon drums for their smokers, but 30 gallon drums would work too  if you don’t mind the size limitation.

Once everything is in place, you simply add charcoal or wood as fuel and smoke away!

The autumn months and hard cider go hand in hand. If you want to try making your own hard cider, this is the time to do it. Since the fermentation and aging processes can take a year or more, you should get started soon so your first batch will be ready by next fall.

Using stainless steel wine drums to ferment and age hard cider will help ensure that the concoction turns out well. These containers protect can protect your cider from extreme temperature and pressure changes, thereby allowing the flavors to meld without external interference. This is just one of the reasons stainless steel wine drums are becoming the norm at major wineries, microbreweries, and other alcohol production facilities.

If stainless steel barrels are good enough for commercial use, you can bet they’re good enough for your home brew!

Stainless steel drums are incredibly versatile products that can be used for a diverse range of applications in nearly every type of industry.  Many customers are able to use our tighthead or openhead 55 gallon drums without any modifications at all, but some customers require customization for their particular product specifications.

When customization is needed, MSM can outfit your stainless steel drums with mechanically inserted rings, plugs, and flanges in practically any placement or configuration. This allows you to add important capabilities to each drum, such as venting, draining, or lockable lids, and further ensures you get a durable container that precisely suits your product or manufacturing requirements.

Essential oils are an important ingredient in many beauty products such as cleansers, moisturizers, and toners. As part of the manufacturing process, essential oils must be extracted or distilled from plant material, and then collected in stainless steel containers for further refinement.

Stainless steel drums are the collection vessel of choice because they protect the integrity of essential oils and prevent contamination. Large-scale manufacturers can use 55 gallon drums or 30 gallon drums for this task, while home hobbyists would likely opt for a stainless steel pail. In either case, tightly fitted lids are a must to guarantee that the oils maintain purity throughout the process.