Air Manifold and Taps : 55 gal drum

"Drew Cutter" wrote in message
...
How do you add a air manifold and tap to a 55 gal drum (plastic) ?
Pictures ?


I made a tap 2 different ways. The first way is kind of crummy and doesn't
as well as I hoped (but good enough)

Method 1
You'll need
1: 3/4" nipple, stainless steel from a plumbing supply is preferred but
galvanized will do.
2: 3/4" pvc threaded couplers (schedule 40)
3: 3/4" garden hose faucet (may need some adaptors)
4: a roll of Teflon tape.
5: a tube of aquarium caulking (not kitchen/bath or window)

Procedure
1: Drill a 3/4" hole into the drum
2: wrap half of the nipple with Teflon tape
3: Screw the pvc coupler as far as you can onto the taped nipple. You'll
need to go as close to the halfway point as possible. So you'll need 2
wrenches and a buddy.
4: Push the nipple through the hole with the pvc coupler side on the inside
of the drum
5: screw on the garden hose faucet on the other side as tightly as possible.
6: seal the gaps around the drum to make it water tight

Method 2
You'll need
1: two 3/4" schedule 40 couplers
2: a foot of 3/4" schedule 40 pipe
3: 3/4" schedule 40 valve
4: 1 bottle schedule 40 cleaner
5: 1 bottle schedule 40 solvent
6: pipe cutters
7: a tube of aquarium caulking (not kitchen/bath or window)

Procedure
1: Drill a 3/4" hole into the drum
2: cut a about 3" section of pipe
3: clean 1 end of the pipe and 1 end of the coupler with the cleaner
4: apply the solvent to the pipe and coupler
5: push the pipe into the coupler as far in as you can
6: push the pipe through hole, and repeat.
Note steps 4 and 5 have to be done quickly (the solvent sets very quickly)
7: seal the gaps around the hole with aquarium caulking

In my examples I used 3/4" pipe, which is fine as a drain for emptying the
drums during cleaning, but you'll need at least 1.5 or 2" pipe for your main
plumbing.

Good luck
Sameer