Looking for reconditioned metal drums? Browse live listings from suppliers across the US.
Browse ListingsAbout Reconditioned Metal Drums
A reconditioned steel drum is a used drum that a reconditioner has emptied, cleaned to bare or lined metal, inspected, leak-tested, repaired where needed, often re-lined and repainted, and re-marked. The original UN marking stays on the drum, and the reconditioner adds its own mark, which is what makes the drum legal for hazmat again under 49 CFR 173.28.
The grade below it, used, is a drum straight out of service with residue and no testing. The grade above, new, has no history. A reconditioned drum sits between them: a known cleaning and test record, with prior contents still worth asking about for food or sensitive fills.
For hazmat, the drum's original UN marking must still cover your product's packing group and specific gravity. Reconditioning does not raise the rating.
What to Look For When Buying
- Reconditioner's mark and test date next to the original UN marking
- Original UN rating covers your packing group and specific gravity
- Lining intact with no chips, blisters or rust spots inside
- Chimes and rolling hoops free of dents that stop the drum rolling
- New gaskets and bungs that seat without leaking
Ideal For
- Industrial chemicals and hazmat within the rating
- Lubricants, oils and petroleum products
- Waste collection and disposal
- Food fills when the drum is food-grade re-lined
Not Recommended For
- Fills specified as first-use packaging
- Products outside the original UN rating
Buying Tips
- Ask for the reconditioner's DOT registration for hazmat fills
- Ask what the drum held before reconditioning if the next fill is food or sensitive
- Confirm the lining type in writing, since paint hides it
- Fill a sample with water and stand it on its side before accepting a load
What buyers pay
$42.81average per unit