Didn’t have one on hand, so I used a U bolt with a bar and moved the nuts up the threads until the bolt seated to the bottom of the plug (bung). Then I put a hammer handle through the u bolt and turned it. Worked better than I expected. Just thought I’d share if you get in a pickle. U bolts cost like $2 those barrel openers are like 10-15.
Here is a picture of one similar to what I used. https://www.amazon.com/National-Hardware-N222-174-2190BC-plated/dp/B000BPRP8Y?ref_=s9_apbd_orecs_hd_bw_b16qvP&pf_rd_r=PS9D3EWCFYQGGMW921G2&pf_rd_p=60e83cf9-f1a4-5fec-90f0-3aab62d97323&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-10&pf_rd_t=BROWSE&pf_rd_i=16409751
The U bolt didn’t fit exact, so pump pliers and some elbow grease made it fit just right (I bent it). I didn’t want to take a hammer and a screw driver and pound away on the plug until it turned, because the barrel and the plug are plastic. I also wanted to seal it back up after I got my SH transferred.
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Two box wrenches do the trick and won’t bust your knuckles
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One large crescent wrench works like a dream and I don’t have to spend money on a tool that only serves one purpose.
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The plug was below the lip of the bung, couldn’t get a pipe wrench or pump pliers on it. If I could have I would have never made the u bolt thingy.
Every “plug” on every drum I’ve ever bought has been below the lip. If it’s not then the “plug” isn’t fully seated.
Sorry, just not seeing how a crescent wrench works, unless your using the butt end and then turning it with something else.
Like the old TV commercial IT’S JUST THAT EASY
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Unless you’re talking about the smaller bungs that come on 15 gallon carboys with the + thingy. Those are a PITA to open. So I just never open it there
Thanks, I now “see” what you were saying. I have lots of tools, but wasn’t thinking of using it that way, this is what I did, and it will stay with the drum until done.
Now I don’t need anything to open it back up, just spin the u bolt. It comes off too.
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Two flat bladed screwdrivers work like a charm too.
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I actually tried that, but it wasn’t budging, they really torqued it in.
So many ways to open a drum. And all this time I’ve just been drilling a hole in the bottom.
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No worries. I think that crescent wrench is a 12" so there’s plenty of leverage to spin off on of those bung caps with very little force. Your gadget works fine too. Brian’s method also works but that’s only if you like to live life on the edge.
Did I mention I transfer it by the mouthful?
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No you don’t, You have a barrel exploder/psi thing ah bob.
Btw hows it holding up Grunt ?
Funny you should mention that. I had a drum last week that had a few splits on top around the edge. There were probably two that were about 3" long each. I didn’t notice them at first until I realized the flow wasn’t very strong. I only had about 12 psi in it and then “boom”. Those splits turned into one big one that went over halfway around the drum…lol. At least it didn’t completely pop off since I was standing right over it.
Did you get a chem bath ? Golly man.
No, not even a splash. I had to pull out the 12v to transfer after that. I guess you have to look out for crappy barrels. I meant to update that thread with an incident report…lol
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I hope you had spare underwear nearby!
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