Frequently Asked Questions

Ordering

Can you handle unique orders?

Absolutely, just contact us and let's discuss your specific requirements (dimensions, gallon size, design). As a full-service manufacturer of steel containers and accessories, we go to all lengths to help our customers address a wide range of shipping, storage, containment, and environmental protection needs. And remember: Every Skolnik steel container meets or exceeds the highest standards of excellence and durability.

How soon can I get the product if I order?

It depends on what you order and when. Most stock items ship in 2-3 business days, while non-stock items generally take 5-7 business days. However, due to a variety of issues, some items can take longer. We make every effort to inform customers when an order will take longer than normal.

How can I tell the status of my order?

By contacting either your sales contact or customer service, order status can be updated. We take our ship dates very seriously, but transportation emergencies, system shutdowns and other unexpected acts can sometimes cause rescheduling.

How can you tell if my order shipped?

We can confirm whether an order has shipped over the phone, via fax or email within a few minutes.

Can you trace a shipment?

Yes, we can. Just contact us and we will trace your shipment to see the transit status.

Shipping

How do you ship?

We ship LTL (Less Than Truckload), Truckloads, UPS, Federal Express and sea containers. We can use either the customer's preferred shipper or choose one for them.

What is the best way to ship a steel container?

It depends on the quantity being shipped, the location, and the size of the containers. Containers in small quantities up to the 55-gallon size can ship UPS. Larger quantities of steel containers go either LTL or truckload. A simple rule to keep in mind is the larger the quantity you have shipped at once, the less you will pay per container for freight.

What quantities can ship UPS?

Generally, quantities of up to 10 steel containers can ship via UPS for drums 55 gallons or smaller. For drums that are 10 gallons or less, UPS will accept larger quantities.

What quantities should ship via truck?

Quantities of 10 or more are shipped LTL. For 55-gallon containers, orders for quantities of 8 or more are shipped LTL.

How many steel containers fit on a pallet/on a truck?

The number of steel containers that fit on a single pallet varies depending on the size of the container and the size of the pallet. As a rule of thumb, for a 48" x 48" pallet the totals would be the following (assuming that the container is a 53 foot trailer 102" wide.). View Details.

5 gallon	63 per skid (all 5, 8, 10 and 16 gallon drums have 9 per row on each pallet) and 1638 per trailer
8 gallon	56 and 1456 per trailer
10 gallon	45 and 1170 per trailer
16 gallon	27 and 702 per trailer
20 gallon	20 and 520 per trailer
30 gallon	15 and 390 per trailer
55 gallon	4 per layer, 8 per skid, 208 per trailer
85 gallon	3 per layer, 6 per skid and 156 per trailer
96 gallon	3 per layer and 6 per skid and 156 per trailer
110 gallon	1, total of 26 per trailer

Note that loading trailers is not an exact science but these numbers are very close to actual capacities

How can you tell if my order shipped?

We can confirm whether an order has shipped over the phone, via fax or email within a few minutes.

Can you trace a shipment?

Yes, we can. Just contact us and we will trace your shipment to see the transit status.

Features and Options

Can I get different colors?

Yes. Our standard colors are black, white, gray, medium and dark blue, harvest yellow, red and deep green. View color options.

What colors can I get?

There is really no limit to what we can do provided the color the customer requires is manufactured. View color options.

Why the different colors?

The different colors enable many of our customers to keep track of what they have stored in different containers easily without having to open them. They can glance at say, 50 drums, and easily identify what each contains.

What type of linings do you have?

Our standard linings are epoxy phenolics (both red and buff color), phenolics (both reddish and olive color), and modified phenolics (also reddish in color). All of our linings are food grade but their properties vary substantially, as does their compatibility and their composition.

What are the different kinds of gaskets?

There are a huge variety of gaskets both in material and profile (shape). Examples of different materials are EPDM, neoprene, Teflon, rubber and cellulose. All gaskets have differing properties that make them more suitable for some applications rather than others. Gaskets also vary substantially in terms of performance, specifically the profile/shape which affects the UN rating of the container, so their impact on the overall package can be very dramatic. It is important to note that a United Nations certified container must use the tested gasket in order not to invalidate the test certification.

What gasket will work with which container?

A number of gaskets may work with a particular container, but if the container is going to be used for the shipment of dangerous goods then the gasket must be tested with the container on which it is to be used, as it is an integral part of the container. There is no hard and fast rule on what gasket / drum combination are compatible, it is however not permissible to change one gasket type for another unless the container has been tested with both.

How does the bolt ring work?

A bolt ring is a closure ring that holds the cover on to the body of the container by encompassing the cover and the top of the container in a groove. This ring is then tightened by a bolt that pulls the ends of the rings together. A calibrated torque wrench is used to confirm proper closure.

How does the Leverlock ring work?

The Leverlock ring holds the cover on to the container with a latch (or toggle) that is pulled from one side to the other and applies torque to the two ring ends in a similar fashion to the bolt ring. No torque wrench is required to confirm proper closure.

What is an open head container?

Open head containers, also called 1A2 drums, have a fully removable cover secured with a Leverlock or bolt ring closure.

What is a closed head container?

Closed head, also known as tight head or 1A1 drums, have a non-removable top. Access to the container is via 2" and 3/4" plugs in the top of the container.

What's the difference between an Open Head and a Tight Head container?

An open head container is one in which the cover of the container can be completely removed. A tight head container is one where the cover is an integral part of the container and is non-removable (and access is only via the plugs).

What is a bolt ring?

A bolt ring is a closure device used to secure a cover to the body of an open head container. This ring requires a nut and bolt to secure the closure.

How is the lining put on the container?

The interior lining is sprayed on to a container in an interior-lining booth. The shell of the container rotates and as it rotates the interior is coated with a coating that is sprayed from a nozzle inside the container. The container is then oven-baked for a specified time and temperature.

Testing, Ratings, and Quality

How do you know your containers don't leak?

Every single container that is manufactured is leak-proof tested twice while in production, both the body and the top and the bottom intersections with the body are all tested. This test is carried out on 100% of the containers manufactured.

How do you measure the quality of the containers?

We have the following quality inspections to verify that the requirements of the purchase order and Customer's quality requirements are met: On-line inspections based on visual inspections and random source inspections are performed on a daily basis. In addition, we document corrective actions based on non-conformances found with an associated cost. This allows us to quantify the cost of poor quality products and keep track of improvements through the decrease of the corrective action cost from month to month and year to year. Also, each order has a traceable link, which allows us to confirm quality compliance.

What sort of testing does Skolnik do?

We do two types of testing. One is the production testing described above and is carried out on 100% of the containers that are manufactured.

The second type of test is the United Nations (UN) recommended performance tests that are carried out on every design of container that we offer at least once a year.

A design is essentially a type of container. If, for example, you change the steel, you are considered to have changed the design.

The tests carried out on a design will consist of the following:
If the container is designed to hold liquids, six tests will be performed where the container is filled with water and dropped (The height depends on the packing group, the higher the performance the higher the drop.). Three of these drops will occur on the bottom of the container and three on the next weakest point. If the container is to hold solids then the tests are repeated with the contents of the containers being a solid material and an additional six drops are performed.

All containers to hold liquids will be subjected to a hydrostatic water pressure test where pressure is applied to the interior of the container through water under pressure and the container then gets a rated pressure rating measured in kilo-pascals.

All liquid rated containers and salvage drums are also subjected to an air leak proof test where 5 psi of air is injected into the container and the container is submerged in water to detect leaks.

Finally, as a last part of the performance tests, all containers are placed beneath weight that corresponds to the weight of a stack of the same filled containers to a height of ten feet. For example, if a container is three feet tall and filled weighs 400 KG, the weight placed upon the bottom container would need to equate to 1200 KG, or the same as three containers placed on top of the one on the ground.

What is a UN rating and what does it mean?

A UN rating is a mark that is placed on a container that signifies the performance level that the container was manufactured to. The higher the mark, the higher the corresponding performance of the container. A Packing Group I (or X) container would be the highest rated container and a Packing Group III (or Z) rated container the lowest.

What difference does gauge of steel make?

Generally the heavier and thicker the gauge of steel used to manufacture the container, the sturdier the container will be in service. The gauge used will not always be reflected in the performance of the container with regard to it's UN marking, but a sturdier container will certainly stand up better to the rigors of transportation. A lighter container will most certainly not stand up as well.

What does 1.2 mean?

In reference to a steel container, 1.2 could mean one of two things: It could simply refer to the maximum specific gravity of the material allowed to be transported in the container or it could refer to the thickness of the steel (the gauge) in which case 1.2 would mean 1.2mm as all measurements for steel containers are regulated in metric. (Link to Gauge Chart)

Questions We Don't Know How to Answer

Can your stainless steel drums be used to go over Niagara Falls?

While our drums are put through rigorous UN and 7A testing, going over Niagara Falls is another matter! An empty drum going over the falls will more than likely survive, but we would never recommend putting a person inside. If you are looking for thrills we recommend a visit to a log ride at your local amusement park!

What size drum will fit into my bathtub so that I can wash clothes in it?

A 20 gallon open head drum will fit just fine in most bathtubs. But, we suggest that you save up those quarters and visit your local laundry mat instead.

Can your drums be used for Baptisms?

If John the Baptist were alive today we would be able to ask him that question. Whether you sprinkle or dunk, there probably is a drum that will work, but since we are unable to ask John that question ourselves, we’ll leave this one up to the ones doing the baptisms.

What's the best drum to make a BBQ?

All our drums can be adapted to use as BBQ’s, however, one must be cautious never to cut or weld a drum in which the plugs or cover are still secured. If air is trapped inside a drum, a build-up of pressure, when cutting or welding, can lead to an explosion.

Can your drums be used as coffins?

Our drums, like coffins, are made from steel ranging from 0.9mm to 1.5mm in thickness. Our maximum container height is approximately 41.00”. Presuming the drum would be used horizontally. this would allow for a maximum height of a very small person. However, our diameters vary up to 30”, therefore, a short, wide person could be accommodated.