How to Make a Dip Stick for a 55 Gallon Drum
Fifty-five-gallon drums are most widely used for bulk storage of oil, farm chemicals and, in some cases, pure water, if the drums are of the food-grade type. Most 55-gallon drums have no see-through vertical level indicator that allows you to judge how much fluid is inside them, and makeshift dipsticks must be created if re-ordering or purchasing additional supplies depends upon visually assessing the remaining material. It is quite simple to create a dipstick.
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Things You'll Need
- 1 piece of metal rebar, 38 inches long
- Cutting torch
- Grinding wheel
- Tape measure
- Welder (MIG or Stick)
Instructions
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1
Cut off four inches of rebar from the 38-inch long piece using a torch. Grind the ends of the rebar until rounded and smooth with a grinding wheel to eliminate cuts to the hands.
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2
Measure halfway from one end of the remaining 34-inch piece of rebar, and use the edge of the grinding wheel to make a notch into the rebar metal. Divide the two halves into quarters, and make notches in the metal with the grinder so there are now four quarter marks on the developing dipstick. These will measure full (55 gallons), 3/4 full (about 41 gallons), 1/2 full (about 27 gallons), and 1/4 full (about 13 to 14 gallons).
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3
Weld the short piece of rebar perpendicular to the top end of the rebar to form a "T." This will serve as both a handle and a stopper to prevent the stick from falling into the barrel.
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4
Remove the lid from the 55-gallon barrel. Allow the entire length of the new measuring stick to fall into the barrel, allowing the "T" handle to stop it once it is completely submerged. Lift the dip stick out of the fluid and observe the level remaining in the drum.
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Tips & Warnings
Clean off all fluids from this metal rebar dipstick after use to prevent rusting. Hang in a moisture-free area. Proper care of this dipstick will provide years of use.
If you don't have a torch or a welder, nor access to one, purchase the rebar and ask a local welding shop to form the "T" handle on the top for you with all ends rounded. As this entire project should only take about ten minutes; any fee should be extremely small.
