Rain barrel stand and my last couple of days

[reible]

Hi Ed,

I just used a SF3 (safety factor of 3X the load), that makes it good for a static load of about 1500 lbs. It is not over engineered it is safe engineered.

The intent of the design is to last about 15 years so if we are both still here and posting I'll let you know how it all turned out.

OK I did go to the safe side but since I have a few grandchildren that are going to be around and playing and possibly climbing on it, well better safe then sorry.

I still have to wait for the water to settle the ground to make sure it remains vertical enough as that is the other bad news situation, tipping over that worries me.

For reference the bottom of the barrel is about 40" off the ground. A lot of people seem to like to go 12" to 20" high so this is about twice as tall. They also seem to like a simple stand but I plan to turn the barrel over for the winter and need something to keep the wind from blowing it over and away so I've added the higher support for that.

BTW a lot can be said in the case of a over built workbench, stead wins the day. In one of our labs we use to have an 800 pound granite block for a reference surface to measure off of.

Ed

Ed

I'm glad to see I'm not alone in the over engineering dept. 60 gallons a 8 lbs per gallon would be about 480-500 lbs. I'm guessing your stand would support about 2000 lbs.

I once built a workbench that I'm sure to this day would hold four or more 500+ Cubic Inch diesel engines. Never put anything heavier than 6 x 6 x 10 foot long post on it.

[reible]

Hi,

We got .37" of rain overnight. More then enough to fill the barrels. Birds were taking drinks but I missed the shot. Got the step ladder to see how they were getting drinks since the top has a screen... pretty easy to see, the water level was above the screen.

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Everything looks stable so all is well.

Ed

[eagleta2]

This turned out to be a nice looking project...please pardon my ignorance though...what do you use the collected rain water for?

The reason I ask...I live in Phoenix where so far this YEAR we have accumulated a total of 0.84inches of rain...

Sure would be nice to contain some of it when the monsoons finally get here...if I only knew what to do with the water I saved. Plus, it would give me a nice project to do..

Thanks
Geo

[eagleta2]

This turned out to be a nice looking project...please pardon my ignorance though...what do you use the collected rain water for?

The reason I ask...I live in Phoenix where so far this YEAR we have accumulated a total of 0.84inches of rain...

Sure would be nice to contain some of it when the monsoons finally get here...if I only knew what to do with the water I saved. Plus, it would give me a nice project to do..

Thanks
Geo

[reible]

Hi,

We get somewhere in the order of 37-39 inches of rain a year but like everywhere else we have no control of when it comes and when it doesn't. We collect the water for the garden and potted plants, and sometime even to fill a pan for cleaning something. This stretches out the water for at least a while.

More storage could become an option if I get around to building a wet planting bench for the wife next year. It has been on the list for about 7 or 8 years, never the time for all the projects.

Ed

This turned out to be a nice looking project...please pardon my ignorance though...what do you use the collected rain water for?

The reason I ask...I live in Phoenix where so far this YEAR we have accumulated a total of 0.84inches of rain...

Sure would be nice to contain some of it when the monsoons finally get here...if I only knew what to do with the water I saved. Plus, it would give me a nice project to do..

Thanks
Geo

[dforeman]

Nice looking barrel. I was looking to see where the rainspout connected into the barrel. But, on closer inspection I see that you just have a screened top to collect the water.

Rain barrels and rain gardens have become real popular here in this part of the country. Especially, since they are starting to get real serious with storm water management issues around the Chesapeake Bay. I have two on my barn and I have a couple more planned for around the house. I figure I mine as well be proactive than reactive because I'm sure the day will come when they start mandating some sort of rain management measures for every home. But anyway, eagleta2 you asked about the use for the water. A lot of folks around here use the water for their gardens and yards. So far, this year we have been averaging one rain event per week which has not been all that bad. But, we haven't hit July and August yet (typically our driest months of the summer). So, saving a little water when it rains really helps to keep the garden going during dry spells and of course it also saves a little off the utility bill as well.

[charlese]

Hey! This is my 1,000 post. Do I win a prize? LOL!!!

Sure you do, Cinci!:) You'll get it in the mail, MAÑANA!

Aint gonna comment on the value of a rain barrel here, but swamp coolers work here and won't in Northern IL.

[dforeman]

What is a Swamp Cooler charlese? Just being curious. I've never heard of those before.

[JPG]

What is a Swamp Cooler charlese? Just being curious. I've never heard of those before.

Evaporation cooler. Works ok in dry climates. Makes it rain indoors in other climates.

[dusty]

What is a Swamp Cooler charlese? Just being curious. I've never heard of those before.

Swamp Cooler = Evaporative Cooler = works great here in Arizona UNTIL the monsoons begin (next month).

Once the humidity goes up, the swamp cooler is useless.