How to protect a water barrel from rust and extend its service life

On almost every garden plot you can see a steel barrel or other capacious metal container. The main task of such an exterior item is to settle and store water for watering gardens and gardens. Often, metal barrels are used as a tank for collecting water in a summer shower. Many summer residents are switching to plastic analogues, but some still have old steel barrels.


Over time, they become covered with rust, undergo corrosion, becoming unsuitable for use, since rust spoils the water used in everyday life or for watering garden plants. Using simple, proven methods and inexpensive materials, you can protect a metal barrel from rust.

Large plastic bag

You can often see large and durable garbage bags with a capacity of 240 liters in hardware stores. It is these polyethylene products that can become the most reliable protection against rust formation. It is enough to shake the new bag thoroughly, place it inside the barrel and several problems are solved at once. Firstly, durable polyethylene is able to close the holes in the old container. Secondly, rust will not form, since water will not come into contact with the metal. Thirdly, there is no need to clean the barrel from plaque, green algae, or corrosion. It is enough to empty the container, pull out the bag and put a new plastic product in its place.

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Stencils for download

We believe that you can easily make stencils yourself by simply printing them on a printer in parts, cutting them out with scissors, and then gluing them together with regular tape.

You can save your favorite picture. We offer several to choose from. Left click on the image to enlarge it.

Automotive "Movil"

Many motorists claim that metal paints are unable to provide a long-lasting effect, so more effective means are used to treat metal car parts. First, the rust is cleaned off with a special metal brush; you can also use an electric drill equipped with the necessary attachment. After this, the surfaces of the product are treated with a rust converter, which allows the corrosion process to be stopped. Then the dried surface is covered with Movil. It is relatively inexpensive, but gives a long-lasting effect.

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Cement coating

An inexpensive option would be to cover the inside of the barrel with cement mortar, although you will have to put your hands and spend a lot of time on high-quality protection without gaps. To create a cement frame, it is best to use M-400 cement, which is diluted according to the instructions with water to a thick sour cream. After this, the water container is carefully coated from the inside with the prepared solution, special attention should be paid to various irregularities.

Having covered all surfaces, the barrel is turned over and placed on a basin with water previously collected in it, this will allow the cement to dry faster. A similar procedure with coating the container from the inside and turning it over is repeated 1-2 more times. All you have to do is wait for the cement mortar to dry completely, and you can start using the protected barrel.

Mr. Summer Resident: some useful decorating tips and coloring options

The word colorize can be interpreted in different ways, for example, decorate. The result is sometimes superior to using conventional paints. You can take beads, shells, pebbles.

The preparation is the same as for regular painting; you can apply a background layer if the barrel is not a very beautiful color, and then start decorating. You can glue leaves, branches, straw to the surface.

The barrel can be braided with willow twigs or vines. An excellent decorative option: shells, pebbles, broken ceramic tiles, mosaics, fragments of mirrors (preferably without children), lids from cans and bottles. You can decorate the container with textiles, giving it the appearance of some figure, for example, a fairy-tale character.


If the barrel is to be used for a flower garden, it is not buried completely in the ground, filled with soil and a beautiful flower bed is obtained. Small flowers are planted in front of it to decorate.

A wooden barrel is cut in half and slats are nailed to it at different heights to create a cascade of flower beds.

Twine or rope is glued onto the barrels in a circle, creating a three-dimensional pattern.

When decorating a barrel, the materials are selected correctly, depending on its further use. They also take into account the place where it will be placed. For example, a barrel for collecting rainwater can be painted with just one paint, without a pattern.

DIY PVC paint

There is no need to spend money on special paint or enamel if you can make the paint composition yourself.
To prepare it you will need polystyrene foam, acetone and gasoline. To achieve a shiny metallic effect, you can add silver and a little turpentine to the prepared composition. First you need to dissolve the foam until it becomes thick sour cream. After this, you need to mix gasoline and acetone in a 1:1 ratio. All that remains is to mix all the components and start painting. True, this method is only suitable for barrels in which process water is stored. How to make a barrel sauna with your own hands, detailed instructions and drawings

Using stencils

If a person knows how to draw, it doesn’t cost him anything to beautifully decorate a barrel, but if he doesn’t have such a skill, it’s okay, because stencils will always help. They are manufactured industrially or made independently.

Types of stencils

Stencils vary in different types and types

PropertiesTypes and methods of use
Amount of useDisposable and reusable.
RigidityHard and soft. The paint is applied first to a flat surface, the second to a convex or rounded surface.
Adhesive layerAn adhesive stencil is convenient for complex work; it is glued to the surface and your hands remain free.
Multi-layeringSingle-layer ones are used for simple one-color designs; multi-layer ones create multi-colored patterns.

Primer and enamel

An equally effective way to protect a metal barrel from rust is a special primer and metal enamel. Before using a purchased product, it is recommended to thoroughly clean the inside of the product from dirt and existing rust. The peculiarity of enamel products is the reliable protection of metal from corrosion. This type of painting can last for 9-10 years. The main thing is to buy quality material.

Method 2

To paint aluminum at home you will need:

- primer for aluminum, stainless steel and galvanized coatings - fine sandpaper - acrylic or epoxy zinc-aluminum paint for metal - white spirit, acetone or kerosene for degreasing the surface

Instructions for painting aluminum without anodizing

If you followed all the steps of the instructions exactly, the new paint on your aluminum product will last for many years and look like new!

Resinizing with bitumen

Resinizing a barrel with bitumen is an excellent way to protect the surface of the container from water, because unlike paint, resin does not become porous after some time of use. This product is not afraid of aggressive salts, acids and alkalis, so the barrel can be used for mixing fertilizers and fermenting organic fertilizers. When defects appear. They can be easily removed with a soldering iron.

Coating a barrel with red lead

This method was also used by our grandparents. Previously, red lead was used to coat ship elements. The barrel is first thoroughly cleaned of existing contaminants. The composition is applied to the cleaned surface. Red lead can be bought in special hardware stores. It is relatively inexpensive - about 100-150 rubles per jar. The advantages of this composition are its long-lasting effect and resistance to temperature changes, so the coating does not crack or peel like regular paint.

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