Threading a plastic nut on inside of 55 gal barrel drum

Anonymous-0 · Dec 28, 2012

I bought a plastic 55 gal barrel. I am making a gutter rain barrel.
The barrel has a sealed top, other than two small holes with plugs at the top. I cut a 5" round hole where I will put a plastic atrium fitting to connect to the downspout.
I drilled a 3/4 inch hole about 5" from the bottom, and screwed in a brass faucet.

Now I want to get the plastic nut screwed on, from the inside of the drum, to the faucet stem.

I can reach in and get my fingers about 8" away, but I just cannot reach it to get the threads started. Once I get it started, I can take a yard stick and tighten it,, I just cannot get it started.

Any ideas?

Jim from Pa · Dec 28, 2012

Drill two holes in the nut to accept a coat hanger wire. Fashion your wire in the shape of a Y and manuvere the nut into place and then turn faucet to get it started.

mechanicfred · Dec 28, 2012

I did the same thing except I threaded the barrel. Then screwed the faucet into there!

rrlund · Dec 28, 2012

Get one of those cheap plastic "old fart grabbers",the one where you squeeze the handle and two prongs grip things. Put a little silicone on the nut then use the grabber to stick it in place.

RayP(MI) · Dec 28, 2012

Or fasten nut on stick with duct tape, insert, and start threads - pull duct tape off with stick, and tighten threads. You might cut tape in such a way that it will pull off cleanly with out leaving residue in barrel on the nut.

I once fashioned a tool to reach the top of a fuel tank on a pickup truck using a knotched stick and a rachet strap. Reached down between box and back of cab - attached a fuel line to the tank. Wasn't easy, but beat dropping the tank again!

jackinok · Dec 28, 2012

take a heavy wire and run it down from the top and out the bottom hole ,then slide your nut down it. when you go to tighten nut,tape a crescent on a piece of pipe. best way is to use a tank fitting.the nut on them fits on the outside and it has female threads inside it for your hose bib. you can slide the tank fitting down a wire as above then do all your work on the outside your barrel. plastic ones dont cost much and you can buy them at most good harware stores or places that sell sprayer parts.

Janicholson · Dec 28, 2012

Tape the nut into a 1/2" drive socket on a Flex Bar or ratchet handle to both put it on and hold it while tightening. Jim

Anonymous-0 · Dec 28, 2012

Ok, thanks I will try your suggestions.

Larry NEIL · Dec 28, 2012

Hire a real small midget?

DeltaRed · Dec 28, 2012

Thread the barrel.

DeltaRed · Dec 28, 2012

Those barrel sides are 1/4" thick.They take pipethreads pretty well.The bottom is even thicker.The one shown is threaded to 3/4 ntpt.

in-too-deep · Dec 28, 2012

Take your faucet back out. Silicone the threads and screw it back in. Hand tight is enough. Don't worry about nut inside. Order rain.

rrlund · Dec 28, 2012

Ya,you wouldn't want the worlds tallest midget from the circus sideshow for that job,that's for sure. lol

Anonymous-0 · Dec 28, 2012

Thanks alot again guys,, I got it on using a little tape and a stick. Your ideas helped, if that didn't work I would have skipped it and used Silicone like one of the recommendations.

retired farmer · Dec 28, 2012

Use a long handle pair of channel lock pliers, or a combination wrench taped to a pipe.

Threading a plastic nut on inside of 55 gal barrel drum

Anonymous-0

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Jim from Pa

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mechanicfred

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rrlund

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RayP(MI)

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jackinok

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Janicholson

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Anonymous-0

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Larry NEIL

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DeltaRed

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DeltaRed

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in-too-deep

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rrlund

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Anonymous-0

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retired farmer

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