I can only think of a few things that might make metal barrels objectionable. Even when empty, heavy to move, and if you are cutting into it for a pipe or spigot, would be hard.
It could rust. Could it be a lightening hazard?
Would it be noisy when filling with rain?

They will rust out in short order, and no longer hold water. Might get a year or two if you're lucky. I made a rotating compost bin with one once, it was almost comical how fast it disintegrated.

For about 8-10 bucks you can cover the deposit on plastic ones, and they'll last for years.

WOW. Good to know. I'll look for plastic barrels instead.

Thanks,
Mean

You can use metal tanks, but you have to keep them painted to keep from them from rusting.

The current (March 2010) issue of The Family Handyman magazine has a nice piece on making a water storage system from trash cans and common PVC fitings.

Good stuff that you may be able to adapt.

Look for it on the newsstands or at the library.

Craigslist is a great resource but sometimes you need to be patient to find just what you are looking for.

The holy grail for rain barrels are known as pickle or olive barrels.

The entire top screws off so there basicly like 55 gallon mason jars.

Being able to remove the top makes plumbing them up very easy.

As far as using metal, many drums are epoxy lined and will resist rusting very well.

Good point about the linings, I may have overstated as I have not tried to just keep water in them.

You could also coat the inside with something, such as an asphalt based sealer, but it's a whole can of worms as far as leaching contaminants out into your water.

For 5 bucks, metal might be worth a try.

* Posted by cowgirl2 Tue, Feb 16, 10 at 23:02 Â When I was young we used metal rain barrels since there were no plastic one at that time and they lasted quite well.

This was my experience too.

I ended up finding plastic barrels for $10 each. The covers don't come off, but I think these will work. I put an add on Craigslist for barrels wanted and got two replies. The cost was the same, but one guy will deliver if I buy three. I was only planning on buying two, but I could probably use three. I already have a rubbermaid tub and two 5 gallon buckets full of food scraps waiting for the compost pile to defrost sitting in my backyard. I also have about 20 bags of leaves scavenged from the neighborhood that are lining my foundation. Now, I'll have three additional barrels in my snow covered yard. I'm sure my wife will be impressed!

" I'm sure my wife will be impressed!"

Tell her it's a surprise, women LOVE surprises! ;-)

Lloyd

Lloyd says tell her it's a surprise???

Hmm, let's see...

"Surprise Honey, I have filled the yard up with other people's refuse! Doesn't that make you feel downright organic? Now gimme some sugar..."

That should work! LOL :-0

Yoiks, Paully, no, no, no....whatever you do, don't tell her specifically what you are doing!!

Tell her, and you may use this exact phrase; "I'm starting a project, but I'd like the end result to be a surprise for you."

Like I said before, women love surprises so this ought to give you a couple months head start. Every time she trys to figure it out, just say "It won't be a surprise if you figure it out".

Most of my biggest mistakes was asking for permission to do something. Learn from my mistakes, you'll never live long enough to make them all yourself.

Lloyd