From Zephyr in Baltimore (Thx!):
Hey Don;
Came across this- for anyone on the east coast should beat most even
w/shipping;
http://www.fiberglasssite.com/servlet/StoreFront
This might be another alternative.
A local friend here in the populated area of Idaho was able to find a counter-top maker that sells clearcasting resin. polyester resin.
They get the stuff in 55 gallon drums and apparently have sold 5 gallon buckets for around $80. That is a local supply so there were no shipping charges.
Check into that type of thing in your area. Perhaps you can get into a good supply that way.
I was thinking of stocking up for winter… but knowing me, I’d be likely to make a 55 gallon CB with it- given the chance.
So maybe 5 gallon buckets would serve better for the winter.
The US Composites GP resin is indeed reasonably priced BUT add $20 HAZMAT fee for 5 gallons plus shipping and you’re up to $150+.
Gene
Well, poop
I’ll just have to deal with it like always!
And just how would you move a 55-gallon one?…. Hmmmm?
Pahinh,
I think the correct answer to your question is “VERY carefully” (wink)
I agree. A 450 pound (plus) drum isn’t exactly the easiest thing to move around even with a hand-truck that can handle the weight and then, how are you getting it home from the truck depot? They won’t deliver to residential addresses.
Definitely a cheap way to go if you need to be making 3000+ TB’s for a major gifting run. Just think about how big a pile of aluminum shavings that would be – small mountain would probably be more accurate!
Resin is only guaranteed for 6 months post manufacture but for structural uses like fixing boats and similar. You’ll get more storage life if you only care about whether it still cures properly (wink). Talk to them if you’re serious about buying a drum, asking them what expected storage life of a drum of uncured resin would be for non-structural (casting art objects – wink) uses.
Better, as Ben stated, is to try and find someone kind-of local who buys many barrels a month for their manufacturing operation and then try to talk them into selling it to you in 5-10 gallon quantities for a little over their cost.
You can move 55 gallon drums quite easily with that!
But the stand is expensive in itself, only if you are going to buy many drums it’s worthwhile…
The other problem is getting the drum home from the truck depot. You’re going to need a pickup truck or similar. Its either going to have to have a lift gate or a drum hoist. No way are you running a drum this heavy down an incline ramp out of the bed.
A drum cradle and a syrup tap are about the best way to handle a drum. As Gare told me and I agree, the barrel pumps work but they’re not cheap and they last about a year. Syrup taps are cheap by comparison.
Most people don’t have any way of moving anything this heavy so you’re going to have to buy something anyway.
I agree that if you’re only ever going to buy 1 drum of resin, its probably worth your while to figure out some cheaper way to get the stuff out of the barrel.
