The plastic pail or bucket is a very common tool found around the house, in industrial and manufacturing facilities, and as a part of cleaning equipment. Originally, pails were made of metal or wood and were a bit cumbersome. With the technological advancements and innovations of plastic molding and processing, a new form of pail arose made from plastic. Read More…
Leading Manufacturers
Rahway Steel Drum Company, Inc.
Cranbury, NJ | 800-260-3786For over 60 years, Rahway Steel Drum Company has been a reliable supplier of 55 gallon drums and drum services. We supply containers from 1 quart to 330 gallons in quantities from 1 to over 100,000.
Container Distributors, Inc.
Venice, IL | 800-366-5098Container Distributors, Inc. is your one source for 55 gallon drums. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable customer service staff, timely deliveries, and wide range of in-stock items.
Jakacki Bag & Barrel, Inc.
Chicago, IL | 800-760-3786Jakacki Bag & Barrel is the largest nationwide dealer for 55 gallon drums. Since 1942, we have sold 55 gallon drums of all assortments.
House of Cans, Inc.
Lincolnwood, IL | 847-677-2100House of Cans specializes in distributing plastic containers— bottles, drums, jars, jugs, and pails plus snap-lock and pry-off containers. We also offer plastic lids and shipping accessories. We offer our customers unrivaled customer service and high quality products. Our team is dedicated to advancing our company and creating innovative strategies and solutions.
Pipeline Packaging
Hudson, OH | 440-349-3200With over twenty years of experience, we are your premier source for 55 gallon drums and all corresponding products. Our talented teams of designers and engineers will work closely with you to come up with a product that will be just as unique as you need it and that will offer a long lasting value! We have made it our mission to put our customers first! To learn more about what we may be able to do for you visit us online today!
A typical bucket or pail is shaped like a cylinder with vertical rounded sides, a flat bottom, and no top. In many ways, it very much resembles a tiny barrel or drum. For convenience, pails have a half circle handle made of plastic or light metal.
What is a Plastic Pail?
A plastic pail is a small watertight container capable of holding between a gallon or 3 liters of material and as many as 13 gallons or 50 liters. Though their traditional shape is cylindrical, there are other configurations and types such as those with slightly slanted sides or others that have a closed head or sealed top.
The top of most pails is open to allow for easy access. Liquids, chemicals, and granular materials can be poured in or out to be carried for use or storage. When a pail is used for cleaning, solvents, cleaners, and water are poured in and mixed. Since pails made of plastic are light, it is easy to place them under a faucet to be filled with water.
Closed head plastic pails have a lid that has been permanently affixed to the top. They have one or two plugs for filling and dumping and are designed for storing and shipping of liquids. Closed head pails have a single purpose and are not as flexible or convenient as open head pails.
How Plastic Pails are Made
The process for making a plastic container such as a barrel, drum, or bucket is called blow molding and involves the use of a polymer resin. The most important characteristic of these types of pails is their tight seal that prevents liquids from escaping. To achieve this feature, plastic pails are shaped as a single piece of plastic using blow molding.
The production of plastic pails begins with the creation of a hollow plastic tube called a parison or preform; it is placed between two dies that have the shape of the pail. Air blown into the molten plastic forces it to the sides of the die. The plastic is allowed to cool and harden before the new pail is ejected.
The major benefits of blow molding plastic buckets is the uniform thickness of their walls and the exceptional seal. Thousands of pails can be produced per hour using the process.
Materials Used to Make Plastic Pails
Plastics chosen to make pails have to be durable, impact resistant, acid and chemical resistant, and rigid. The most common forms of plastics are thermoplastics; they are a pliable and ductile plastic that can be easily melted and shaped. Some of the most common types of thermoplastics are polypropylene, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polycarbonate.
Each of the various materials used to produce plastic pails are chosen due to their ability to be reused and recycled. This is one of the main reasons that buckets and pails are often produced using plastic resin.
