FAQ

Are these Drums Food Grade?
This is probably the most common question we get. Most sellers of used stainless drums list the drums as made from 304 Food grade stainless. That is true as far as it goes, but it is not that simple. Drums are only food grade when they are new. As long as the original purchaser has the drum, it is food grade. They can use it once or hundred times, but when they sell or dispose of the drum it loses its food grade rating. If someone tells you a used or reconditioned drum is certified food grade they either don't know what they are talking about or they are lying. That being said, stainless steel is used in kitchens the world over because it can be cleaned to like new condition and put back into use. 

What is a reconditioned drum? 
A reconditioned drum is previously used drum that has gone through a rectification process. The process can vary, but it always includes leak testing and a thorough hi-temp cleaning. The cleaning solvent is made from Caustic Soda. Carbon steel drums also get a new paint job. Reconditioned drums are not FDA approved for food use.

Why does my closed head drum stink?
The smell is generally from leftover cleaning solvent. Leave the tops off for several days or fill part way with hot water, clothes detergent, and Arm & Hammer washing powder and roll it around. Be careful if you use bleach; it can corrode the stainless.

I've got rust 
Stainless does not "rust" as you think of regular steel rusting with a red oxide on the surface that flakes off. If you see red rust, it is probably due to some iron particles that have contaminated the surface of the stainless steel -- i.e. SOS pad, wire wheel, or a screwdriver scratch -- and it is these iron particles that are rusting. Look at the source of the rusting and see if you can remove it from the surface. We recommend Barkeepers Friend for removing surface rust and general cleaning. If the Barkeepers Friend doesn’t work, you can try a solution of 10% nitric and 2% hydrofluoric acid at room temperature or slightly heated. The SSNA has a great deal of general information regarding the care and cleaning of Stainless steel.

What was previously in my Drum? 
Rarely can we say for certain, but in the past we have had drums that contained: Tea Tree Oil, soft drink flavorings, and dry goods. We do our best to describe previous contents in our listings.

What’s up with the scratches and dings?
The reconditioned drums had a previous life and sometimes they do show some signs of cosmetic wear. The photo gallery has pictures of typical drums and their imperfections.

What Type of Stainless are the Drums? 
Unless specified differently, the drums are food grade 304ss

Do you offer discounts to groups? 

Yes, if you would like to put a group purchase together, Contact us and we will put something together. 

Why don’t you offer free shipping?

There is no such thing as free shipping. It’s either factored into the price or added on to the order. The shipping costs on a kettle can vary dramatically depending on where it’s shipped. I think it’s unfair to charge the person next door the same price as someone who lives on the other side of the country. I have no desire to make money on shipping, but I do want to break even. If the shipping seems out of line on your particular order, contact me and I’ll work up a custom quote.

Payments 
We have partnered with Authorize.Net , a leading payment gateway since 1996, to accept credit cards safely and securely for our customers.

The company adheres to strict industry standards for payment processing, including:

  • 128-bit Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology for secure Internet Protocol (IP) transactions.
  • Industry leading encryption hardware and software methods and security protocols to protect customer information.
  • Compliance with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS).

Deposits

If you have an order over $2,000.00 and you would like to make a deposit for the order to be paid in full upon order completion, we are happy to accommodate you. Deposits require that you pay 50% up front and you can use a coupon code, DEPOSIT. If you have any questions regarding this process, feel free to contact us.