Drum Faucet Buying Guide: Find the Right Faucet for Your Application
A good container goes beyond just storage, if you’re using 55 gallon drums to contain liquids, you’ll also need a safe and reliable method to dispense those liquids. Unless you’re a super-hero, simply picking up the drum and tipping it over isn’t an option, which is why BASCO offers a curated selection of drum faucets, so you’ll have the right product for any situation.
But how will you know which type of drum faucet is the right fit your specific application? Today, we’ll break down the options, and hopefully help you get the perfect faucet for your container, product, and workplace.
When it comes to choosing a drum faucet, you first have to evaluate the material that you’re dispensing.
- Working with thin, free-flowing liquids? Choose a 3/4” drum faucet. They won’t drip, and you can control the flow more easily in most cases.
- Have heavier, more viscous liquids like syrups or oils? Use a 2” faucet or gate valve.
However, the measurement of the faucet isn’t the only factor that needs to be considered. Let’s go over some questions that we’ve received from customers, and the specific faucets that we recommended for their problems.
What thread size do I need?
First, you’ll need to know the thread size of your drum’s bung, you can find this information in the drum’s spec sheet. The same thread size drum faucet will fit that drum bung.
However, if needed, you can get bung adapters to adjust faucets of a different thread size to fit your drum’s bung thread size. If your drum only comes equipped with 2” fittings, you can buy a drum adapter that will allow you to affix a 3/4” faucet.
What material do I need?
Depending on what you’re dispensing from the drum, different types of faucets will be required. For example, if you’re dispensing chemicals like acids or alkalis, you’ll need a corrosion-resistant plastic faucet to get the job done safely.
PLASTIC FAUCETS
Features & Capabilities:
Many plastic drum faucets are FDA compliant, which means that they are an excellent option if you’re working with food or edible products. Many also have 1/2 turn, positive on/off control on the handle that allows you to control the amount of fluid flow without wasting any product.
Pros:
Plastic drum faucets are lightweight and less robust. This makes them very easy to install with no tools needed and they are easy to operate.
METAL FAUCETS
For daily-use, metal faucets shine. Repetitive product filling and dispensing works well with a metal drum faucet, due to their durability.
Features & Capabilities:
Most metallic faucets are self-closing and lockable. Iron drum faucets are extremely durable for wide varieties of applications. Metal drum faucets made of zinc are the most economical for light oils, cleaners, and non-flammable solvents and paints. Brass and aluminum drum faucets are non-sparking and safe for flammable liquids.
Pros:
Metal drum faucets are highly resilient, heavy-duty, and bound to last a long time. Great for permanent or semi-permanent installations.
Which drum faucet should I use if I’m working with flammable materials?
Flammable liquids and materials require special handling, and call for a non-sparking or FM approved safety faucet model.
Features & Capabilities:
Factory Mutual (FM) approved safety drum faucets have self-closing handles and built-in flash arrestors, which prevent flashback of fire into the drum. If you’re working with flammables, this safety feature can save your life. You'll often see these in brass and aluminum drum faucets since both are sparkless metals.
Pros:
They work perfectly with our FM-Approved vent plugs, safety cans, and grounding/bonding wires.
What about drum faucets with extra features, like tamper-evidence, or extra security?
If you want to limit access to the contents of your container, but you still need to attach a drum faucet, we recommend a padlockable drum faucet. These extra safety measures ensure that only individuals with a key or combination can dispense from your containers.
PADLOCKABLE DRUM FAUCETS
Features & Capabilities:
Padlockable drum faucets have small restrictive handles that can take security seals or large hasps, fasteners that can accommodate large padlocks.
Pros:
They can be easily accessorized with add-ons that fortify safety even more. For instance, you can use security seals on the faucet that need to be cut to be removed for tamper-evident security. A cut seal will be proof that your container’s faucet has been meddled with.
Examples: 650M
I’m concerned about product leakage, and I want to minimize that risk. Which drum faucet can stop product leakage as much as possible?
SELF-CLOSING DRUM FAUCETS
Features & Capabilities:
Self-closing drum faucets are available in many varieties, so they can be perfect for dispensing non-flammable viscous liquids as well as flammables, depending on which faucet you choose. Make sure to read the exact product details of the self-closing drum faucets, so you can be sure to get the right one for your specific product. The types of self-closure mechanics vary: some are operated to close with a push/push-button tap, others have an internal shutting door.
Pros:
The self-closing drum faucet minimally restricts fluid flow, which makes it an industry favorite for thick liquids and viscous, non-corrosive flammables like paint, heavy oils, and adhesives.
I’ve tried several drum faucets, but I can’t find one with a smooth enough pour. Which drum faucets can mitigate chugging and splashing?
SELF-VENTING DRUM FAUCETS
Features & Capabilities:
Chugging and splashing during draining can happen when air can’t get back into the container. Self-venting drum faucets have an innovative two-way spout that eliminates this problem.
Pros:
Gone are the days of product splashing onto the floor, wasted material is money out of your pocket. Many of these drum faucets are FDA compliant as well, which means they can be used in direct contact with food materials going into a container or out of one.
Examples: 435
I work with food and edible products, which drum faucets can help me safely dispense my materials without risking contamination?
FDA COMPLIANT DRUM FAUCETS
Features & Capabilities:
FDA compliant drum faucets are made of material that is safe for direct contact with food materials. These work great for manufacturing, packing, packaging, transporting, or holding food. Many also have half-turn on/off handles for quick and precise flow control.
Pros:
They can tolerate almost any non-flammable liquid. They work great for breweries and other food industries.
I’ve found the perfect faucet for my application, how can I install it onto my drum?
Once you’ve selected the correct drum faucet for your needs, the process is simple. To connect it to your drum, you’ll place the threaded end of your drum faucet into the drum’s bung opening and screw it in clockwise. Twist it in until the grip is snug.
If you’re utilizing an adapter with your drum and faucet, screw the adapter into the drum first and then affix the faucet to the adapter.
Hopefully, this guide has helped you get the right drum faucet for the job. If you still have any questions at all, please contact our expert customer service team. BASCO is here to help you ensure that you get the perfect product for whatever your application may be, and we’re more than happy to sit down and talk to you until we find the right product for the job!
