Do they actually help the feeder barrel last longer or keep the bottom from rusting out? I usually just paint the bottom and sides to give some added rust protection on the inside and out. $15 / each at Academy...buy or not buy? I just made (3) feeders and was considering. And do you just thrown them in the barrel or screw them in.

As long as the funnel will not tilt or in any manner cover the hole in the bottom of the barrel I would say go for it. They will help the feeder empty without having a build up.

I, personally would minimize any holes in the body of the barrel, that just becomes a means for water/moisture to get into the feed/corn. If you do have to screw it in, to keep the cone from tilting, silicone seal the daylights out of the holes.

Plastic usually works 100 times better than those silly aluminum or galvanized half circle pieces of junk that will end up 9 X out of 10 eventually tilting over the feed hole. jmo

What they do is 'funnel' the corn to the hole above the spinner motor. Without it the corn will settle on the sides of the barrel never to be used. I have some funnels that need to be screwed in and some that snap in. Well worth the money. Kix

Be sure to measure inside of your barrel to make sure it will fit. Some barrels have different inner diameters. Bought one of the Academy plastic funnels and got it about halfway down forcefully and could not get it in any further - would not fit. Had heck of a time removing it.....

I know it forces the corn to the middle but I don't think I have had any problems except one time. I didn't check a feeder for over a year and corn started to corode inside.

I will measure my feeder barrel before I buy anything..thanks.

I use HCR's new funnel for my customers they are 6" across at the bottom and are very rigid I have been very happy with them. Check with your local feed store they may be able to get them for you. Back to your question YES they work and are worth it, and you will never regret it.

We use these in ours just because it has better flow and no waste.
http://acesaneights.com/LidsNFunnels.htm

I prefer the galvanized, the plastic ones I used would get hot and the lip would pull away from the inside of the barrel, trapping corn between the funnel and the barrel. Learned the hard way you NEVER want anything that will leave old corn in your feeder.

Yep, we learned last year. One of the guys went down and filled the feeders and found halfway through the pallet that the corn was wet. He left it in there and by opening morning we had solid 400 pounds of black corn that the hogs would not even eat when we dumped it.

I've never used them, never had a need. Been feeding for years without issue. waste of money imo

I like the metal ones better, I do have a plastic one and it is fine. They help the feed clear better. You should not get mold. They are worth it. Especially if you live where you dont check your feeders on a regular basis. You will lose a little capacity on the feeder but you will use 100% of what goes in it.

X2

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BIL did not put one in his feeder. As mentioned above, hogs wouldn't even eat it after a year in there. Get one, it's cheap insurance.

metal funnel only, the plastic ones warp in this heat and you get corn down under it

Same here, with the replies I'm seeing they same to be more of a pain than a help.

To me funnels are the only way to go if you install them right. I drill thru the top ring off the plastic funnel & attach the top part of my leg brackets with the bolts. After I have attached my leg brackets I run caulk aroung the top ring of the plastic funnel to keep any feed from getting under the feeder. I also cut the hole in the drum a little larger than the funnel so the lower part of the funnel actually sticks out the the barrell. Here are some pics of what I am talking about... Have never had any problems off feed getting wet or hung up in the feeder. If you use automatic feeder motors, just put the down spout that goes on top of the spinner over the part of the funnell that comes out the bottom just a little. I hope this is helpfull...

Picture of what the inside looks like.


Picture of what the leg brackets look like on the outside of the drum.


Picture of how much of the funnel hangs out the bottom of the drum.

Will rust inside a feeder barrel harm the deer and if so, is there a coating that would be OK to apply?

No rust will not harm them.

Thanks for the pics kp143631.

I like my feeders to have a funnel & put the motor on the inside upside down with a rod going to the spinner through the funnel. This is the way feeders used to all were built before the external motor/ battery combos emerged. Call me old school, but I have had better luck with this set up to keep coons from ripping wires, cages, & solar panels off. I swear coons run around the woods with a pair of pliers & wire cutters on a destruction mission!

Sweeney feeders are by far the best I have ever owned

That is great until you need to change out the motor and the feeder is full to the top. I have emptied a couple of old junky Sweeneys to do that to in my life. I used to put my solar directly to the side of the control box with the wires behind it into the battery. Now I buy the ones with wiring in conduit.

stxranchman that is true, but i have had the coons rip motor combos off too & corn went all over the place. However the corn inside the feeder fits well back in those same bags that they came out of, if you have to empty a feeder for any maintenance. Both set ups have their pros & cons, I just prefer the ones I mentioned.

I've had them rip off the spinner plates draining the feeder on Sweeny style feeders also. When you got to many hungry coons you just can't win.