Realcent.org

..... crack or break? In particular, I'm thinking about all the people using 5 gallon water jugs and 5 gallon buckets to store their pennies.

I was thinking about using some 5 gallon gas jugs because the plastic is thicker and looks less brittle. Opinions??

Thanks........Pachucko

Those over at misc.survivalism like to use the 2 liter pop bottles because they are so tough (reports of dropping them from 3rd story while doing carpenter work, and no damage). I prefer juice bottles because they are usually squared off and can't roll, and use 3 gallon juice jugs for hauling water, day by day. The store bought water jugs (opaque, sold next to the gas and diesel jerry jugs) should be plenty good, so long as you keep them out of the sun. "Glass jugs"? Like carboys? No idea. You might have to fight off the home brew crowd as they really love those things for secondary ferment for wine and beer.

I don't recall seeing any glass ones on the market, lately. The ones that look like glass are plastic. I don't recall handles on the real glass carboys, and don't like cleaning up broken glass. I'd just save them for brewing.

The above was for water. You mean for food? Buckets. Keep them out of the sun. Don't go dropping them because the bottom will sometimes split.

Edited to clarify intent: using the 5 gallon containers mentioned to store pennies.

I dont think gas jug plastic is thicker than 5 gal buckets.I use 5 gal buckets to store alot of things including coins and they work great.just dont leave them in the sun becouse they get brittle over time.I get them for free from my local pool supply store the ones clorine tablets come in have lids that screw on and lock Ive gotten them as big as 7.5 gal down to 1 gal just go in and ask if they have extra.

If I'm not mistaken, it's the chlorine in water that will cause verdigris--copper cancer. I wouldn't feel good about storing pennies in containers that had held chlorine.

as long as you wash them out good its not a problem.

its also not just clorine that the buckets come from its all pool chemicals so if you were conserned you could use buckets from algicide for example

I've started storing mine in 2 lb cashew containers. I can fit exactly $25 in each container.

A member here has mentioned they use one gallon paint cans for their storage. I really like that idea. Anybody have a clue how much $$ they are..?

I started out using one quart mason jars but I've got most of my cents transfered over to "safer" containers.

I use the usps tyvek mail bags,and bag up in $50 dollar bags. They stack nice and when I sell, two slip into a medium box just perfect and add a little more sucurity to the shipment.

Most 5gal buckets are very strong. I ran one over that was laying in the field last week with my truck smashed but it didn't break. Best option I've found is if you have a garage or shop 55gal barrels on pallets works well especially if you have accesss to a skid steer or forklift easy to move and nobody knows what you are moving I you ever need to.

I use steel M19 and M2A1 ammo cans. They are secure, have handles to carry them and stack nicely. Of course, I get them free from work all day long.

How much are you getting in those cans? How about .50 cal cans?

Thanks for the info..........Pachucko

i store them in $25 penny boxes. i count them and them tape them up sealed shut. its a bit of work but they stack somewhat square. i also use large coffee plastic buckets. i fit $35 in those.

5 gallons cannot be moved so whats the point? if you sell it you'll have to count from scratch.

I was carrying a 5 gallon bucket full of zincs the other day, and the handle broke on me on my way to the car. So then I had over 20000 pennies all over my driveway.... also it is a gravel driveway... It took me two hours to pick them all up haha

Plastic suffers from degradation, so steel is my choice.

For what it is worth... I use empty liter bottles of Jim Beam!

Looks cool, has a handle, fits 15 lbs of pennies.

flwtimc wrote:I was carrying a 5 gallon bucket full of zincs the other day, and the handle broke on me on my way to the car. So then I had over 20000 pennies all over my driveway.... also it is a gravel driveway... It took me two hours to pick them all up haha

Smaller buckets..

HoardCopperByTheTon wrote:

flwtimc wrote:I was carrying a 5 gallon bucket full of zincs the other day, and the handle broke on me on my way to the car. So then I had over 20000 pennies all over my driveway.... also it is a gravel driveway... It took me two hours to pick them all up haha

Smaller buckets..

This is why I use a hand truck. I never lift that much by the handle.

If you have a large amount to dump, and a 5 gallon bucket is too heavy you should try this.

Use the 2 1/2 gallon buckets to transfer the coins until you get to the bank. Pour 2 into a 5 gallon bucket that is on the ground. Then use a handtruck to roll them into the bank. This only works if you are using the lobby machines. I have several 64oz plastic cups that I got from gas station fountain drink stations. They are great to use to get the coins out of the 5 gallon bucket into the coin machines. They also hold $300 in halves nicely, which is the daily limit at the credit union.

cesariojpn wrote:Plastic suffers from degradation, so steel is my choice.

What kind of steel???

Lemon Thrower wrote:5 gallons cannot be moved so whats the point? if you sell it you'll have to count from scratch.

Small amount of floor-space, but still somewhat movable (You don't have to fill them to capacity). Counting for selling isn't an issue for me, or it won't be for a real long time.

[quote="slickeast"] This is why I use a hand truck. I never lift that much by the handle. [quote]

Note on hand trucks. Some of the local maintenance shops bolt a plate to the bill on the hand truck to extend it out about twice as far. Makes it a lot more useful for larger based loads and cardboard boxes.