Re: Rainwater collectors.

**David Smead s*@amplepower.com**

Sean,

Using the weight of water at 8 pounds per gallon to make the math easy, 50
gallons of water will weigh 400 pounds, so make sure you can support that.

One way to make a stand is to lay out a square of stacked 2X4s, where the
square is about the diameter of a barrel, (about 30 inches).  You don't
want the 2X4s to slip, so you can glue them together, screw them together,
or interlock them by routing cross slots.

Rot is also an issue over the long term.  I made such a barrel stand using
surplus crating wood that was slightly interloked by using a power plane
to make the slots.  Then I epoxyed up the frame and pulled the corner
tight with baling wire until the epoxy cured.  Finally the frame was
painted to prevent UV from damaging the epoxy.  Sealed in such a fashion,
the frame may last for 30 years.

Good luck on your project.

-- 
Sincerely,

David Smead
http://www.amplepower.com

On Wed, 26 Mar 2003, Sean C. Gambrel wrote:

> Hi all.
>
> This is my first post to the list (though I've been watching awhile).  I'm
> starting a community garden here in Bath, Maine...  We don't have access to
> water, so we'll need to construct ourselves a rainwater collection system.
> I have a couple of questions regarding the design of such a structure.
>
> 1) What is the diameter of a typical 30 or 50 gallon barrel?  I'll need to
> know this so I can design a stand for the tanks.
>
> 2) Related to that, what kind of structure do you put the barrels atop (so
> that spigots can be placed at the bottom and you can still get a good-sized
> bucket underneath)?  I'm assuming it will have to be relatively sturdy,
> since two full 50-gallon drums would weigh around 800lbs.  Would a lumber
> frame & truss work?
>
> 3) What do you use to cover the barrels?  We'll need at very least a
> mosquito-proof screen, but are thinking we might need a more substantial
> grate to keep cats, children, etc. from climbing atop and falling through.
> What are your thoughts?
>
> Thanks everyone.  I appreciate all your advisement!
> Sean
>
> Sean Gambrel
> AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteer
>
> Coastal Enterprises, Inc.
> P.O. Box 268
> Wiscasset, ME  04578
> (207) 882-7552 ext. 185
> scg@ceimaine.org
>
> CEI's mission is to help people and communities,
> especially those with low incomes, reach an adequate
> and equitable standard of living, working and learning,
> in harmony with the natural environment.
>
>
> ______________________________________________________
> The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org
>
>
> To post an e-mail to the list:  community_garden@mallorn.com
>
> To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription:  https://secure.mallorn.com/mailman/listinfo/community_garden
>

______________________________________________________
The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org

To post an e-mail to the list:  community_garden@mallorn.com

To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription:  https://secure.mallorn.com/mailman/listinfo/community_garden