35 or 55 gal dust bin? Steel or fiber?

[mark mcfarlane]

Obviously bigger is better from a capacity standpoint, but what is the weight of a 55 gallon bag of chips/dust? Anyone with a steel drum wish they had gone fiber, or vice versa?

[Andy Giddings]

Mark, I went with fiber 55 gallon and when its full, its a bit bulky to empty out into a plastic sack (sawdust is given to a friend for her chickens). I would guess around 50 pounds. I did think about steel, but would have probably had to go down to a smaller size for handling. Fiber seems to be holding up well and its main benefit is light weight but rigid enough to stand up to the suction. I just use the clamp that came with the drum to seal the steel lid and it works fine.

[glenn bradley]

I empty my 35 gallon more often but, I hurt my back less often.

[John K Jordan]

Mark, I use a 30 gallon galvanized steel can with my 5-hp ClearVue cyclone. In my case with 9' ceilings, a taller drum would have been difficult to make fit.

I'm happy with the 30 gal can - it has nice handles and is easy to carry. I haven't weighed it.

I do have a bin alarm to let me know when it is full but I tend to check it and empty it when about 1/2 full.

JKJ

[mark mcfarlane]

I empty my 35 gallon more often but, I hurt my back less often.

That's what I was thinking.

[William C Rogers]

I use a 55 gallon "plastic" container. I use to use a 30 gallon can, but didn't like to empty so often. I prefer the 55 gallon. I put mine on a cart. I do plane and join rough wood, so that is more about volumn than weight. If I was only sawing or sanding I would go 30 gallon as that is more about weight than volumn. I have mine on a cart and at 68 I can still lift it and put it in the Gator for disposal. I do have a hoist and could put it in the Gator that way whe I get to be 95. 30 or 55 it is still a pain to empty the bin.

[Jesse Busenitz]

55 Gallon steel. I fill it up too quick as is.

[Al Launier]

How about some pictures of your set-ups? Trying to perceive a way to implement this into my small shop where room is limited.

[Jim Becker]

55 Gallon and fiber, IMHO. the 35 gallon bins fill up faster than you can blink. Heck, you can fill up a 55 gallon bin in a very short period of time if you're processing lumber through jointer/planer! Fiber bins are lighter by a big margin over steel, too. No way would I use a metal bin as I can just lift a filled fiber bin comfortably onto my tractor's bucket to take it out for dumping.

[James Gunning]

+1 on the 30 gallon galvanized can. The 55 gallon would have been too tall, and really more weight than I want to manhandle when full. My bin sits on casters so I just roll it out from the DC. Then it's upended into a large lawn bag. Even full, the smaller can is pretty easy to dump. Yes I have to dump it more often, but since it's easier to do, not that much bother.

[Rod Sheridan]

Hi Mark, I have the 35 gallon fiber drum.

When it's full of fluffy planer chips I wish is was larger.

When it's full of compact sawdust from sawing I wish it was smaller as I struggle up the stairs with it................Regards, Rod.

[Ben Rivel]

I couldnt fit a 55 gallon under my V-3000, ceilings arent tall enough, so I have a 35 gallon. I dont work that often so its plenty for me. I did however go from a fiber drum to the steel and while I do feel the fiber drum would work fine, I also feel the steel drum will last a lot longer. I also got the drum dolly from Oneida for the 35 gallon steel drum so that means I never have to lift it. I just have to wheel it over to the trash can and lift the full bag up and out. Makes it a little easier.

[Hoang N Nguyen]

I have a 55 gallon steel drum under my V-3000 and have no issues throwing a bag over it and flipping it upside down. I'm a small guy, 135lb, 5'-7" on a good day. It's all about how you handle it, if you don't lift with your back than your back won't hurt.

[Mike Heidrick]

No problem flipping the filled steel 55 up and over and dumping in a bag?? Take video because I am not buying that.

I use a 55 steel and I just take the whole can to the dump spot. I have a 3320 Deere with a loader though and roll the can to the door on a drum mobile base. If I did not have that I would use a drum dolly.

[Greg Parrish]

I couldnt fit a 55 gallon under my V-3000, ceilings arent tall enough, so I have a 35 gallon. I dont work that often so its plenty for me. I did however go from a fiber drum to the steel and while I do feel the fiber drum would work fine, I also feel the steel drum will last a lot longer. I also got the drum dolly from Oneida for the 35 gallon steel drum so that means I never have to lift it. I just have to wheel it over to the trash can and lift the full bag up and out. Makes it a little easier.

Same here. I also like the metal one as I work in a garage and was afraid the fiber might present a moisture issue like cardboard whenever the humidity level is high. Mine is insulated, dehumidified and heated and cooled but I still treat it like I did before adding all that stuff due to mold/mildew problems in the past with humid garage conditions here in FL. Probably worried about nothing now though.