Rain barrel #2, almost complete...

I had a bit of free time in the last few days so I was able to complete construction on the rain barrel stand for one of the two 58 gal. barrels I'm installing. I also was able to get the lid completed on this barrel and get the gutter attached properly to dump off into the barrel. My one big problem is that the spout is leaking. I think it is because the rubber washer I used on the outside of the barrel isn't sealing the hole properly. I will most likely have to get an O ring and metal washer assembly in place to make it stop. Here are a few pictures:

From Stuff I Made

From Stuff I Made

As you can see, I built a 2x4 base and topped it with some wolmanized plywood for the barrel to sit on. Since one gallon of water is 8 pounds and these barrels will hold approximately 58 gallons, I needed to build something sturdy enough to hold the 464 pounds that a full barrel will weigh. I think this stand should hold up. I plan on attaching another section with the same dimensions next to this one. The only difference will be that the second barrel will sit about 2 inches below the first for gravity to work. The stand that is currently there is 30 inches up and the platform is 21x21. Here is a picture of it close up:

From Stuff I Made

And here is what the lid looks like before the gravel goes in to slow the water flow and filter out large debris:

From Stuff I Made

You will notice that I am using black fiberglass screen to filter small debris and to keep insects out. When finished, the lid will be covered with stone and the top of the barrel will be just under the fenceline.

The blue garden barrel is the next one on the list. I need to install new gutter and downspout for that one so it will take a bit longer since I can't do that kind of thing myself easily.

The garden is getting crazy. I need to get in and intervene. The cucumber plants are beginning to shadow the peppers and kill them. The bean plants went out of control and are ruining the brussel sprouts. The one tomato plant that I bought has taken over the corner of the garden. I really need to take the power back! Here are a couple pictures:

From Food I Made

From Food I Made

From Food I Made

Pictures of rain barrel #1

Here are a couple of pictures of the first of 3 rain barrels I will install soon. This one is very unlike the others since my father gave me his old water softener tank to convert. After scrubbing it out, drilling some holes and assembling the accessories, it makes a pretty handsome conversion. I think I may buy a can of brown spray paint for it, but for now, it will do just fine as it is.

From Stuff I Made

I used a simple brass hose bib for the bottom and a 1/2-3/4 threaded coupler for the overflow on the top. This part took me about 15 minutes to assemble.

From Stuff I Made

Now I have to build the 2x4 stand it will sit on and install the gutter to fill it. My other 2 barrels are cleaned out and ready to be assembled but the shape of the barrel is causing me trouble. The bottom of the barrel is angled in such a way that the hose bib would point downward when I finish. If I try to put the spout higher on the barrel I won't be able to effectively empty it. I'm thinking about a few options and I will definitely update with the finished product when I decide what to do.