Sorry if you've answered this already, folks, but does anyone out there have any current information about Atlanta's readiness? I have spoken to Rep. Grindley (who gave much the same info you've posted already). I'd appreciate anything new.

Also--stupid question about 55gallon water drums. How do you open the d**m things? I realize there must be some sort of torque wrench or something but the very little information printed on the container about minimum pressure, etc, has me baffled. If any of you can give me some pointers, I'd appreciate it.

-- Sally Dalloway (aeronwy@hotmail.com), August 08, 1999

Answers

Does d**m stand for drum, doom, dumm?

-- Butt Nugget (nubuttet@better.mousetrap), August 08, 1999.

You can use a pipe wrench to open the bungs if they are on really tight (yes, they're actually called "bungholes"). For storage of water I would think hand tight would suffice if the drums are stored right side up.

If you are buying a large quantity of the drums, you may want to alert the neighbors and the authorities to avoid being suspected of making drugs or bombs.

-- (@ .), August 08, 1999.

Sally,

I'll take a stab at this one. You need a bung wrench. It is a cast aluminum piece, with three fingers to reach into the bung while you turn, and is about 8 inches long. Look for a container supplier in the yellow pages and call them. Also, get at least one wrench and one funnel which screws into the pipe thread bung which makes adding water really easy (read - no spills). While your their, buy some different size plastic buckets 5 and 6 1/2 and 15 gal sizes for hauling stuff to where you will need it. If your really "upscale", get a lid removal tool for those plastic bucket lids. Also, a gamma lid which is a screw on lid is slick for food storage in any of the 5 or 6 gal buckets, i.e. dog food, rice, beans, etc. Also, buy extras of some of this stuff, they will break, disappear, get borrowed, etc., at the least opportune time. Hey, that reminds me, get an extra bung in each size!!!

-- barrel pro (rgt350@aol.com), August 08, 1999.

The wrench has 4 "teeth"....call a janitoral supply. The bucket opener "easy open" would be at a hardware, janitoral or paint store. The barrel wrench should cost around $10. and the bucket opener around $4.

-- rb (drumamature@y2k.now), August 08, 1999.

sally watch out that No Sperm in Spain guy will ask you dirty questions

-- bung wench (sdj@net.org), August 08, 1999.

Sally,

You can get a bung wrench from the folks at:

www.watertanks.com

-- flora (***@__._), August 09, 1999.

sally,for the benifit of King of spain,do you like mud-wrestling?

-- zoobie (zoobiezoob@yahoo.com), August 09, 1999.

Damn you zoobie you beat us to it!

-- Andy (2000EOD@prodigy.net), August 09, 1999.

email me - I'll give you a better alternative to bung wrenches.

They are exhorbitantly too expensive at 15.00 to 17.00 a copy retail, and other choices are possible.

-- Robert A. Cook, PE (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), August 09, 1999.

Bung wrenches can be found at Ace Hardware. Also, Grainger in May-retta.

-- dangit (home@atlanta.com), August 09, 1999.

Also - small pry bars on their side work pretty good. Cheaper too. We used one of those for awhile, but if you're not careful the plastic tends to get dog eared. If you have several drums, bung wrench is the way to go.

-- dangit (home@atlanta.com), August 09, 1999.