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lined drums

Posted: September 10th, 2016, 9:33 am
by garry
I was told, by someone that I thought should know, that you were always better off to put liners in your drums because occasionally they have tiny pinholes and can leak. Lately i'm told that nobody wants liners and packers will actually ask for a discount for honey in lined drums. If anyone knows the whole story? How common is the use of liners, are there specific areas where they're needed etc. Any marketing advice for lined drums?
These are good food grade drums.
thx

Re: lined drums

Posted: September 10th, 2016, 11:26 am
by Allen Dick
Good drums do not need liners. Once honey granulates, even if punctured in transit, there is no leakage.

Liners are horrible if water gets between the liner and drum and rusts or ferments a little spillage, and whatever is between the liner and drum is hard to keep from getting into the contents when inverting for melting in packing plants. Even if pumping out is chosen instead, about three to five pounds of honey is typically lost when discarding the liner.

In inspection for crossing borders or at plants, liners may give an over-vigilant inspector cause to condemn the drum -- or entire shipment.

Liners are not a wise choice. Good honey demands good drums and drums are cheap compared to losing the contents or giving a discount to reluctant buyers.

In Canada, and in export, new or certified used drums are mandatory for trade.

Talk to your buyer. If you don't have a buyer who wants liners, don't take a chance on not being able to sell your product or having a limited market.

Re: lined drums

Posted: September 10th, 2016, 8:37 pm
by garry
Thanks so much Allen. I'm obviously listening to the wrong people for advice. Not to ignore my own responsibility, I should have checked into it more. I'm a hobby level beekeeper (70 hives) who just ran over ten thousand pounds through a twenty frame extractor, which is as close to Chinese water torture as I ever want to get, and now it's all in lined drums. Yikes. Maybe I'll get a long knife, cut the bottom of the liner and just pull the damned thing out. Ha. The high price of honey should probably compensate for the extra work. Thanks again, really appreciate what you do.

Re: lined drums

Posted: September 10th, 2016, 8:43 pm
by Allen Dick
Before you do that, check around and see what buyers think. Some Hutterite colonies are always looking for a little honey, but usually want a deal.

Where do you plan to sell it? Or do you plan to melt and package it later?

Re: lined drums

Posted: September 11th, 2016, 9:29 am
by BadBeeKeeper
garry wrote:I'm a hobby level beekeeper (70 hives) who just ran over ten thousand pounds through a twenty frame extractor...
You're getting 140+- lbs. surplus from each hive? I must be doing something wrong.

Oh, wait, I'm a bad beekeeper, there is no question that I am doing something wrong. Nevermind. :|

Re: lined drums

Posted: September 11th, 2016, 9:32 am
by Allen Dick
Beekeeping is like real estate. It's location, location, location.

Re: lined drums

Posted: September 11th, 2016, 9:33 am
by BadBeeKeeper
Yes, weather too. Been a strange year here.

Re: lined drums

Posted: September 11th, 2016, 2:25 pm
by garry
hmm I thought I replied, but i don't see it. I'll retry:

I would sell it to anyone who wanted it. The co-op has been great in talking a few drums over the last couple of years even though I'm not a member, but this year they say they can't commit to any outside honey, large crop and all that, though they may take some in the end. We do retail but we're not CFIA so opportunities are somewhat limited there as well and we don't like to carry more that four thousand pounds or so. I've just been phoning buyers who are advertising in the Bee News, but ten drums is pretty low volume for them, and i'm hearing that nobody is buying without forward contracts in the event that prices go further south. I'll phone around a bit more on Monday before I start pumping honey to lose the liners but my contacts are limited. Thanks for the advice.
Yes we did get around 140lbs and yes it's probably the location, it's certainly not a exceptional level of management or competence I can assure you of that. It's a good location if you can put up with the black bears and don't mind lots of gravel that is.

Re: lined drums

Posted: September 15th, 2016, 5:41 pm
by Jiminycric
Where is a good place to get drums here in Alberta? Is there a recommended place?


Thanks,

Jiminycric

Re: lined drums

Posted: September 15th, 2016, 5:45 pm
by Allen Dick
Vesper transport in BC s good source. Easiest though is to ask a commercial Beekeeper if he can spare a few. Most are agreeable.

Re: lined drums

Posted: September 22nd, 2016, 9:36 pm
by garry
FWIW I got mine in Edmonton at Great Western Container, around eighty bucks though, cheaper in Loyd where they build them, around fifty dollars I heard.