What is the best drum liner for me?
To choose the best 55 gallon drum liner, you should first know the dimensions of your drum. The outside height of a typical 55 gallon drum is 34 ¾”, and the diameter is 24 ½”. The standard 55 gallon liner should fit those dimensions. For food products, get an FDA compliant liner. If static electricity is a concern, get an anti-static liner. If you’re working with a reconditioned drum, you will likely want to use an accordion liner that expands and contracts.
There are several liner options available on BASCO, we’ll go over them in more detail below, so you can be sure to get the right liner for your application!
Time to Play “What’s My Liner?”
Terrible pun! For you young ‘uns, “What’s My Line?” was a game show in the early days of TV. The players would guess the occupation of a “mystery guest”. What does that have to do with container liners? Not much, except that, with over one hundred standard liners, and countless custom bag liners, BASCO takes the mystery out of choosing, and you’ll never have to guess about which is the Right one!
Why use a Drum Liner or Pail Liner in the first place?
An empty 55 gallon drum or pail that’s clean inside is way easier to reuse or dispose than one that has leftover goo in it. Besides, you paid for all that valuable product - don’t you want to get all of it out? And, if you’re using drums or pails for batch mixing, a liner lets you use that expensive container over and over; just change the liner!
Straight Bottom Liners are the most common type. They’re just like giant sandwich bags with a straight heat-sealed seam at the bottom. Advantage: lowest cost. Drawback: the straight seam at the bottom creates folds and pockets as it conforms to the round bottom of the container. Product can get trapped and is more difficult to remove. For liquids, choose a shorter liner that folds back over the top of the container and works with a separate cover disc. For thick liquids or dry products, choose a longer, tie-top liner.
Round Bottom Liners are flexible film with a circular welded bottom seam that fits the container perfectly, so the liner installs easier and the product comes out much easier. There’s less strain on the liner, too, so there’s less chance of a leak. Round bottom bags are also available in heavier gauge plastic for even more durability.
Molded Liners are one-piece and seamless, so there’s no chance of a leak. They made to closely fit the container, and they’re semi-rigid, so they’re easy to install and they stay put. They have a molded-in lip that keeps the liner in place during filling.
Pumping Product From Your Drums?
If your pump has a follower plate, stay away from bag-type liners. The follower plate pushes down on heavier fluids like grease, and helps the pump operate more efficiently. Trouble is, the plate can tear a thin bag, and a high-powered pump can suck the bag right into the pump. Ugh…the cleanup and repair will not be pretty. Use a molded liner instead.
Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) is the most common material for bag-type liners. It’s made with FDA-approved resin, so it’s great for foods, water-based liquids, and other mild products. But it won’t hold up with solvents, and you shouldn’t fill product at temperatures of more than 120°F.
High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) offers broader chemical compatibility and somewhat more heat resistance.
Polypropylene (PP) increases chemical resistance even more and permits hot-filling up to 200°F.
Anti-Static Liners are made with static-dissipating materials. They’re not conductive; they help drain away static electricity buildup before a spark can occur. These should always be considered when working with flammable liquids.
A word about Liners and UN-Type containers: If you use a liner with a UN-Specification container that was not originally certified with that liner, you should know that this invalidates the drum manufacturer’s UN certification.
With so many choices, you need expert advice to pick the Right one, and BASCO delivers. No matter what your product or package, BASCO we’ll help you get the liners you need to get your job done right. We have 75+ years of experience in the drum biz, and the best trained and most knowledgeable customer service people.
When you need a Liner, get it Right ... get it from BASCO!
