Plastic drum for dust collection bin?

[Steve Mathews]

I'm thinking of replacing my partially rusted out steel 55 gal. dust collection bin with one made out of plastic or polyethylene. Any downside to this? My dust collector is a 3hp Oneida.

[Frank Pratt]

I don't think so. I have a fiber bin, basically just thick cardboard, and it doesn't collapse. A DC doesn't generate nearly as high a vacuum as a shop vac.

[Steve Mathews]

Thanks Frank! The barrel collapsing is what I was concerned about. Some barrels just became available locally for $20 each so I'll probably pick one up tomorrow. They apparently have steel locking lids.

[Jim Becker]

Lots of folks use the heavier plastic 55 gallon drums. The same premise applies...you have to have an absolute seal to the cyclone. One of the original clamp-on 55 gallon tops works well and generally develops a good seal...same for the fiber barrel like I use.