Reconditioned Drum Closures and Accessories

Drum reconditioning is a process whereby empty used drums are cleaned, re-shaped, assembled with the appropriate lid, ring and/or fittings, painted and recoated where needed. The method through which a drum is cleaned and reconditioned depends upon the drum’s prior contents and its construction.

All steel drums must have the heads removed prior to reconditioning. Steel drums that contained paints and related items are burned in drum furnaces at high heats, while open head steel drums which previously housed solvents and similar items are washed with high-pressure alkaline-based solutions and steam. After cleaning, steel drums are straightened, reshaped and blasted with steel shot before painting, recoating and assembling with the appropriate drum lid, drum ring and/or drum fitting.

Poly drums are reconditioned with alternating submersion and high-pressure alkaline solutions, while fiber drums are usually cleaned with air, high-pressure steam and/or alkaline rinses and then visually inspected before reassembly.

Visual inspection and leak testing to satisfy DOT and UN regulations is part of the final reconditioning process of all steel and poly drums.

Drum closures for reconditioned drums are devices used to seal these drums in order to protect the contents against air, dirt, liquid and other contaminants during transportation and storage. Reconditioned drum closures also maintain the shelf life of the contents and provide a means of reclosing and reusing the drum. The reconditioned container closures are covered with cap seals to prevent tampering and further protect the contents. Drum plugs and flanges, leak lock plugs, plug gaskets, and other related accessories also are used with reconditioned drums.

The reconditioning thickness for steel drums is the minimum gauge set by federal regulators for reconditioning or recycling of steel drums. As of now, steel drums constructed for re-use (per CFR 173.28) must have minimum wall thicknesses of 0.92 mm or 20 gauge.

A steel drum may be reconditioned up to six times and maintain its certification, depending upon the thickness of steel and the propriety of its handling and reconditioning.