Making Your Own Rainbarrel?

[bluelacedredhead]

We have a couple of plastic 50 gallon drums that I would like to turn into rainbarrels.
These are the kind where the lid is fused to the barrel.
I'm hoping that some of you have gone this route instead of just buying one ready made at the hardware store..I can do that too (especially since I work at a hardware store, lol) but then what would I do with these two barrels, hehe.

I'd appreciate some suggestions about how to open up the top? Could I use a jigsaw?
And what about a spigot? Where's the best height to mount one on the side?

[redbrick]

I can't give you those answers, but I can tell you where to find them. Mel Bartholomew outlines a method for preparing a rainbarrel in Square Foot Gardening. If I remember right, his is metal, but the principal is the same. And yes, you can cut the lid with a jigsaw. Drill a hole in the lid for a place to start cutting, as I don't think a jigsaw will pierce the plastic. I would imagine you want the spigot about an inch or so above the bottom of the barrel so you don't have "wasted" water space. Oh, and a couple drops of dish detergent goes a long way in stopping mosquitoes from moving in. The detergent destroys the surface viscosity of the water and keeps the larvae from being able to breathe.

[bluelacedredhead]

Thanks Andy. I will check the library system here to see if I can get Bartholomew's book asap.
And yes, your recommendation for the height of the spigot sounds good.
But never knew that about dish detergent..Sounds like a Good Thing to me!

[bluelacedredhead]

Yeehaw, the Library system has it. I ordered if from another branch; with luck it will arrive at the local one for pickup early next week.
Anything else in this book that I should take a look at while I have the book? I should mention that I have several books out right now and I really don't know if I have time to read any of them cover to cover...But he sounds like quite the garden guru, so I'd appreciate knowing about the good parts while I have the opportunity at hand.

[redbrick]

Well, it's been awhile since I read it (lent it to a friend last year, and he promises to replace it), so I can't pick out any specific sections. Except the info between the first page and the last page! :D

Really, it's a great book, and I highly recommend picking up a copy for your personal library.