How many oil drums are made each year?
July 11, 2007 11:00 AM Subscribe
What are the best resources for estimating how many of a particular item are sold in the US each year?
For a short-story I'm writing, the protaganist is going to hide an object in one of those 55 gallon oil drums. But its new. I want to know approximately how many are manufactured each year for story-telling purposes.
For a short-story I'm writing, the protaganist is going to hide an object in one of those 55 gallon oil drums. But its new. I want to know approximately how many are manufactured each year for story-telling purposes.
156,000,000, world-wide, annually. In the US around 12.5 million*
Since you're writing fiction and it seems to be hard enough for you to find out, then none of your audience will blink if you make up a plausible number.
* These are made up, plausible numbers. However know that because the price of steel is increasing they're making a lot more out of plastic and can pretty much only hold liquids since they don't have a big lid that can be popped on and off. Not sure if this changes your plot or not.
posted by Ookseer at 1:36 PM on July 11, 2007
Since you're writing fiction and it seems to be hard enough for you to find out, then none of your audience will blink if you make up a plausible number.
* These are made up, plausible numbers. However know that because the price of steel is increasing they're making a lot more out of plastic and can pretty much only hold liquids since they don't have a big lid that can be popped on and off. Not sure if this changes your plot or not.
posted by Ookseer at 1:36 PM on July 11, 2007
Try the Census Bureau's manufacturing statistics. Total Shipments of Steel Pails and Steel Drums in 1998 is here, for example.
If you need more recent data, find the correct NAICS code for the product you are interested in, and there are lots of stats available in the Briefing Room
posted by gemmy at 5:34 PM on July 11, 2007
If you need more recent data, find the correct NAICS code for the product you are interested in, and there are lots of stats available in the Briefing Room
posted by gemmy at 5:34 PM on July 11, 2007
Apparently there are a range 55 gallon drums from the World Famous' link, you might want just open top steel drums.
"55 gallon drums may be made of steel or plastic. Steel is required for transporting radioactive, flammable, or otherwise hazardous material. For non-hazardous material, plastic drums are often used because they do not rust. Plastic drums may also be used instead of steel in transporting caustic or acidic liquids.
55 gallon drums may be open-top, closed, or welded top drums. Open-top drums have a top that can be removed and replaced and can be used to store either liquids or solids. Closed-top drums, in comparison, are welded shut and as such can only efficiently be used to store liquid, which is dispensed through bung holes. Closed-top drums may also be referred to as barrels. "
posted by BrotherCaine at 12:18 AM on July 12, 2007
"55 gallon drums may be made of steel or plastic. Steel is required for transporting radioactive, flammable, or otherwise hazardous material. For non-hazardous material, plastic drums are often used because they do not rust. Plastic drums may also be used instead of steel in transporting caustic or acidic liquids.
55 gallon drums may be open-top, closed, or welded top drums. Open-top drums have a top that can be removed and replaced and can be used to store either liquids or solids. Closed-top drums, in comparison, are welded shut and as such can only efficiently be used to store liquid, which is dispensed through bung holes. Closed-top drums may also be referred to as barrels. "
posted by BrotherCaine at 12:18 AM on July 12, 2007
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posted by JJ86 at 11:43 AM on July 11, 2007