Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Something new for the pond...

Finally talked the plant out of more of that steel I built the bridge with...amazing what you can do with a bit of welding rod and about $75...

[img]http://images1.snapfish.com/34753%3C4%3B2%7Ffp342%3Enu%3D323%3B%3E756%3E465%3EWSNRCG%3D32338%3A%3A%3B956%3B8nu0mrj[/img]

Still have to shove it in the pond, and then add the actual decking (5/4x6 treated).

Stuff starts out looking like this...

[img]http://images1.snapfish.com/34753%3C4%3B2%7Ffp342%3Enu%3D323%3B%3E756%3E465%3EWSNRCG%3D32338%3A%3A%3B95723nu0mrj[/img]

Cut it up (pretty easy with a sawzall), use the "legs" from the uprights as stringers, spaced to hold barrels. Use the diagonal braces to make a handrail...add 26 feet of 1/8" flat stock for the top and mid rails. Weld on the horizontal "shelves" as joists. Half a gallon of Rustoleum, then (get help to) lift it up and shove the 12 barrels underneath. 1/8" SS cable and 16 clamps later...add 2x2 treated to screw the deck boards to and VOILA...a 12'x13' dock to sunbathe on and avoid snakes...if the geese don't cover it with compost.

[img]http://images1.snapfish.com/34753%3C4%3B2%7Ffp345%3Enu%3D323%3B%3E756%3E465%3EWSNRCG%3D32338%3A%3A%3B956%3B9nu0mrj[/img]

Oh yeah...if at all possible use white barrels, as those dark blue ones simply expand and contract too much...ones all sucked in this AM, as it was about 90 F when we sealed them up and it's only 60 F now...oh well...those 12 barrels will float about 5,280 lbs. Even my family's not that fat. Whaddaya think? (BTW...the pile of steel in that picture is the LEFTOVERS...got lots of other projects in mind.)

Matt,
Nice job on the floating dock. It's great to see what a pile of what some call scrap steel can become with some welding skills and a vision. How do you plan on keeping the drums from filling with water? I had a dock using drums as floats and although I epoxied the bungs into the holes 2 of the 6 drums filled with water. Try hauling a floating dock with water filled drums out of the pond, not fun. I ended up having the drums filled with foam. How high above the water level do you expect the top to be? 55 gallon drums tend to make high floating platforms.

Well...I'm just hoping they float above the bungs. I've done my best to ensure the bungs are horizontal (@ 3 and 9 o'clock). I used butyl gutter lap as a "pipe dope" because it remains flexible forever, just about.

I sort of weighed each different piece of steel and know that each piece of decking weighs roughly 25 lbs. All told, it should weigh about 1300 lbs, although, currently, I can lift a corner pretty easily, so that seems a pretty high estimate. Since I know the drums would float 5280 lbs if just submerged, the drums (if no one's on the dock) should only be about 25% submerged...so the bungs should be above water level...but I've been off on calc's before.

If I'm right, the only means for water to intrude would be from condensation, which shouldnt be an issue if the drums are properly sealed. Time will tell.

How much did it cost you to have the drums foam filled? Just curious...

I'm thinking about adding a self-tapping screw to the top of each drum prior to adding the decking, once the dock's in the water. I can then let some more air in, after the water cools the air inside, and replace the screw, with the rubber gasket. At least I can let the "sucked-in" drums refill and reseal...we'll see.

I used Handi Foam which is an expanding foam that doesn't require air to cure. A 2 component foam kit which has a capacity of approx. 50 cubic feet was about $700. That was anough for 7 55 gallon drums, but at $100 a drum it would have been cheaper to buy billets which are poly coated and float lower in the water. But the dock was already built but I was divirced at the time and didn't have to justify the expense. The foam filled drums also eliminated the need for winter removal as the drums now stand up to the icing.

$100 per drum??? Ouch...Think I'll see how they work as is, for now...I doubt I'll pull them for the winter. The 560 Farmall won't care if they're full of water. It'll pull the dock either way, if they fail.

You must be a farm boy, there's nothing good 'ol horsepower can't cure! I have to haul mine with my back so I have to think a little differently.

Yeah, grew up around this stuff...but I ain't no farmer, unless you wanna count the 4-5 acres of crops I put out for the anjimals. 8^)

I hate using my back for anything...too much abuse earlier in life. I always tell the wife that if God meant me to walk someplace, he wouldn't have made internal combustion possible!

Matt and PaPond,

I'm planning to build a ~8x16 floating wharf, probably all constructed from treated lumber.

What are your thoughts on the UV from constant sun causing the drums to deteriorate? Should I paint the drums along the unshaded sides, or do you think they're pretty UV stable?

I'm not sure about the drums, but the plastic bungs do get kind of brittle. I've faced all to the inside away from the sun. I'll probably paint the drums before I float them....

US Plastics recommends painting plastic pipe with white latex paint to make it stand up to oxidation from the sunlight, the paint should work well on the bungs coupled with Matt's suggestion of facing them inward out of direct sunlight. The drums are made of all different kinds of plastic depending on what their original usage was. I used black drums which were used for Muriatic Acid storage so they are made to be UV resistant as they are resistant to the acid so they have UV inhibitors in the plastic formulation as well. I'm not sure about the blue drums although I have seen alot of acid shipped in blue drums so I would guess they are UV stable but the white (also called translucent) are usually used for soaps and wetting agents which do not necessitate UV resistance as they do not try to agressively attack their container. It may be a moot point if the drums are shaded under decking anyway so I wouldn't loose much sleep over it.

yer probably right, Pa...

thats looks great, pack up the rest of that metal
and come over and build me one.

Got the decking on her this weekend...hot sonofa out there, no shade. She floats a bit lower now, maybe 2 inches or so. Need to build the access ramp (but that means welding in the evening, facing west...93 F again today) but that may not get done for a few days...

I'll load some final pic's when she's complete...

Matt, what kind of decking? 2x6 maybe? How did you attach the decking to the metal channels? Drilled and bolted, or self-tapping screws? Either way, it sounds like it was a monumental job!

Bobad:

Not too bad. The horizontal members have a channel in them, that normally hold 2x lumber as the actual shelf. Instead, I installed 2x2 ACQ in that channel, predrilling approximately each 16", using PAX double dip galvanized #14 screws.

I then used stainless, square drive 2" deck screws to attach 5/4 x 6" standard ACQ decking to the 2x2's. Not a bad job, took maybe 3 hrs to install all decking, plus another half hour or so to do the "gangplank".

Had 14 people swimming from and hanging out on the 13'x13' dock this past Saturday from 7 PM til dark (it was 97 F that afternoon). IT WAS A BLAST!

Here's what it looked like this morning...
[img]http://images1.snapfish.com/347638%3A75%7Ffp345%3Enu%3D323%3B%3E756%3E465%3EWSNRCG%3D32339575%3A2%3A96nu0mrj[/img]

Another view...
[img]http://images1.snapfish.com/347638%3A75%7Ffp339%3Enu%3D323%3B%3E756%3E465%3EWSNRCG%3D32339575%3A2%3A8%3Cnu0mrj[/img]

A final one... [img]http://images1.snapfish.com/347638%3A75%7Ffp345%3Enu%3D323%3B%3E756%3E465%3EWSNRCG%3D32339575%3A2%3A95nu0mrj[/img]

Really floats well and stable.

The ladder is from 2.5" exhaust pipe, a buddy bent for me. Rungs are 1.5" exhaust, hole sawn in and welded. Have to redo the attachment detail to the deck itself. It's removable for storage, but attaching to the deck board with no support from beneath puts too much stress on it. Pulled a deckboard loose...need steel plate and bolts from beneath, when it cools a bit.

Connecting hinge was super simple (3/8 rod and some hairpins) to allow dock to float separate from plank. 2" pipe driven into bottom, just to keep from swinging in the wind too much. Steel anchors in the bank, and I'll pour a concrete pad at the approach. Outta float just about level, when pond's full...if it ever gets that way.

Thought I'd have more water there, but it's actually about 5.5' right off the dock, but will eventually be about 9 feet, tapering to maybe 12' to the east. Got maybe $300 in all, including the decking...

Now thats a good looking dock!

Thanks, Wicked. Appreciate the complement...good's good, but good 'n cheap's great!

Wife's really happy with it...seems she always gets scared that my "projects" will end up resembling some of my "structure". I can usually prove her wrong.

Yeah i like cheap also lol. I have been on the look out for those blue barrels i havent found any locally yet. I will probably start building my dock this winter hopefully.

Beautiful Matt! Now I'm inspired to get busy on mine!

nice job Matt, does your water level fluctuate much? is the gang plank fixed or hinged to the platform? (sorry if you already said that somewhere).

wicked, we use metal and poly drums in my line of work, and there should be a supplier somewhere near you that would have used ones....you might call a local engineering or environmental consultant to get a tip on local suppliers. out here used polys go for anywheres from $10-40/ea (so nine of em?) if that's not too pricey for you. new ones are as much as $100. if getting used ones, make sure supplier triple rinsed.....they may have had some nastys inside.

Dave i have priced them online and there around 65.00 plus shipping i am gonna keep looking and see what i can come up with.

Wicked,

Ask someone who works at a dialysis clinic. They use a lot of acetic acid that comes in the blue drums. They don't reuse them, and just give them away or toss them.

wicked, I get blue barrels from a friend of mine who is in the oilfield chemical business. He gives me some of his old ones that have had just soap in them and no other chemicals. Maybe a resource around where you are.

Also try (for barrels):
Food processing plants
Larger cleaning (janitorial) services
Sewage treatment plants

The plank is hinged to the dock. Hopefully, over time, I'll see little fluctuation. However, I still need over 3 feet of water to fill it up. Dock/plank should be nearly level when pond's full, with plenty of water all around.

Found out Rustoleum doesn't really like water all that much. Left the ladder in since Saturday, and when I pulled it out last night, the paint had peeled from the steps under water. Not sure if I somehow ended up with water-based paint or if it simply wasn't thoroughly cured. Might have to bring it to one of our facilities to see if they'll shot-blast, paint and bake the thing...otherwise, it looks good.