I have a plastic 55 gallon drum. I was going to use it for storage but I also need another feeder on the ranch. will the parts for a metal 55 gallon drum fit the plastic ones? also how do the plastic ones hold up?

Plastic ones will bend with weight if not in a very sturdy and supportive base! You would need a ring type base for it to sit in unless you plan on making it a hanging feeder in which you will need to run a rod through the top with 2 loops for attaching a cable! I would say metal is better simply because you will have less problems! Squirells, ratcoons, etc will chew through the plastic as well!!! Stick with metal man!!!

I have seen it done, they look good. I dont think you will have a problem with squirls and racoons chewing. We have stored corn in plastic drums outside before and never had an issue.

I have been using one for about a year now. I built it myself using a regular flat ring type clamp but I did put bolts in 3 places aroung the ring so it is supported not just by the ring pressure but the bolts also. Squirrels and coons have not been a problem chewing thru it so far.

The only thing bad about plastic is that if you do not feed a lot of feed and it is tightly sealed you can get some condensation build up due to the moisture in the feed your are storing in it. You will notice moisture droplets on the inside of the lid. Which will mold and rot the feed over time. The more humid the climate the more problems you will have. Seen it happen a few times.

i had one made of a plastic barrel it wasnt any count. as someone said the condensation made the corn mold.

I have a plastic barrel and wanted to make a feeder out of it. Does anyone have an picture?

HCR has been using Plastic drums for years and yes they stand up very well. I suggest you go to their website for pictures. If you build one and do not use a ring type system I suggest you use backer plates on the inside. As for condensation that Affect any feeder whose lid seals Too tighly under humid conditions.

Had one for years that I got from a local hospital. It was good until it got "cowed" and one of the leg supports got caved into the barrel. From then on, I had to make sure that barrel was perfectly level whenever I filled it with 300 lbs of corn! Otherwise that same leg would collapse into the barrel.

Yes,the parts for a metal drum will work for plastic but don't even think plastic because I know.In my early years I got three plastic barrels and the hassle was on!As Dickey says they will collapse under weight.Get metal drums from the get-go.

If you do decide to use the plastic do like bholt said and use the backing plates and it wouldn't hurt to put a welded cross a 1/3 of the way up for a little support

I useed on for a while and did have squirls eat right through the top.

Deerslayer is spot on here with everyword.

My hard head arse did not want to spend the $15 bucks for a metal barrel because i had a plastic one & with heart ache, sweat equity, reinforcement steel, & beer i have a $200 dollar plastic feeder barrel that the squirrels & ratcoons( i like that one!) used to chew through at will.

Plastic Barrel Lessons Learned:
1. A steel plate is required on the inside bottom of the barrel. If not used the barrel will bend towards the center and make it's own natural funnel. The problem here is that most feeder box's DO NOT have enough adjustment to lower them enough to allow for corn to come out of the funnel.
2. Plastic barrel's must be vented to prevent internal consensation from happening. Easy enough though... I drilled a hole close to the top of the barrel & used a 3/4 inch PVC 90% fitting that was slip joint on one end and male pipe on the other. Insert the male end into the barrel and I used a 3/4" elctrical conduit jam nut to tighten & keep secure to the barrel. LEarned this one the hard way & had to pour our 200 lbs. of corn that had soured inside the barrel.
3. The squirrel's & ratcoon's will in time chew thru the damn plastic lid!!! In turn lets water in and thus more soured corn!! To remedy this i patched up the now holy lid & covered the lid with a catch base for a water heater about the same diameter & baling wired it to the top face down so it does not hold or trap water.
4. This i have not done yet, but plan to in the near future. Since it is a plastic barrel i am going to drill a small hole in the side & bottom of the barrel & route the solar panel wires though the barrel & into the varmit cage to deter the ratcoons from practicing there gymnastic's on my solar panel wires. And of course pooky the hole to keep the water out.

Here is a picture of mine, hope it's not to long & it helps you from having the head aches that we did.

We had a commercial plastic barrel that was eaten up by squirrels. I guess if you are in west Texas the squirrels wouldn't bother it.