What we build out of totes (most weeks)

• Rain barrels: Single 275-gal unit with top inlet, overflow outlet, spigot, and a bug screen. Can be linked in series for 800+ gallons of catchment.
• Hydroponic reservoirs: Top-cut NFT or DWC rigs with inlet/outlet fittings, sight glass, and — optionally — a chiller jacket.
• Aquaponic sumps: 275-gal sumps with bulkhead fittings, overflow standpipes, and a gravel filter chamber.
• Hot-sauce and kraut fermenters: Food-grade stock, airlock-capped, sized for home-industrial batches.
• Livestock waterers: Short-cut 330s with float valves and a shade lid.
• Composting toilets & off-grid water: Various configurations — we've done a lot of these during hurricane season.
• Beehive platforms: Cut-down cages used as level, ant-proof hive stands.
• Stage props & art: Theater and public-art fabrication — yes, this happens more than you'd think.

How a custom project runs

1. Email us a sketch or a description — even a phone photo of the thing you saw on Instagram.
2. We quote materials (usually one or two totes) and labor.
3. You pay 50% to start; we build it.
4. You pick it up at the yard (or we deliver locally) and pay the balance.

What we charge

• Standard rain barrel (single): $185 – $245
• Linked rain barrel array (3 units): $595 – $780
• Hydroponic reservoir: $295 – $520 depending on fittings
• Aquaponic sump: $375 – $680
• Fermenter (food-grade stock): $265 – $420
• Livestock waterer: $195 – $310
• Other / custom: Quoted per project — shop rate is $72/hr + materials

Why we love the fab shop

Fabrication extends the life of a tote that would otherwise be borderline for reconditioning. A bottle with a shallow fracture near the top is useless as an IBC but perfect as a rain barrel once you cut the damaged section off. A cage with a bent top bar is perfect as a beehive stand. The fab shop is how we turn "almost recyclable" into "years of use ahead."

Full project catalog (20+ build types)

Beyond the common builds listed above, here is our complete catalog of projects we've built and can build again. Each links to a general build approach:

Detailed build specs: rain barrel (our most popular build)

Here's exactly what goes into a standard single-unit rain barrel conversion:

• Donor tote: B-grade or X-grade 275-gal composite HDPE (non-food-grade is fine for non-potable rainwater)
• Top inlet: 6" hole cut with a hole saw, fitted with a removable aluminum mesh screen (0.5mm openings) to keep out mosquitoes and debris. Screen is seated in a 3D-printed PVC frame that snaps into the cut.
• Overflow outlet: 2" bulkhead fitting installed 2" below the top rim. Connected to a short section of 2" PVC that can be directed to a garden bed, storm drain, or the next barrel in a linked array.
• Bottom spigot: The original 2" ball valve is retained (or replaced with new) and fitted with a 2" × 3/4" GHT reducer so a standard garden hose can be attached.
• Cage: The original cage is retained for structural support and stackability. If the customer wants it painted, we use rust-preventing spray paint in customer's choice of color (black, white, green, and brown are stocked).
• Optional bottom stand: For customers who need gravity pressure, we build a 12" or 24" welded steel stand from scrap cage material. Adds $35–$65 to the price.
• Downspout adapter: We can include a PVC downspout diverter kit ($18 add-on) that connects your existing gutter to the barrel inlet with a first-flush bypass.

Material options for fabrication projects

• HDPE (standard tote bottle): Best for water, food (food-grade stock only), and non-aggressive chemistry. Easy to cut, drill, and fit. Resistant to most acids and bases. Cannot be glued — must use mechanical fittings (bulkheads, threaded inserts) or fusion welding.
• Carbon steel (caged-steel tote bottle): Best for structural projects, solvent containment, and high-temperature applications. Can be welded, threaded, and painted. Requires corrosion protection (paint, galvanizing, or liner) for water contact.
• Galvanized steel (cage frame): Best for structural frames, platforms, stands, and racks. Already corrosion-protected. Can be cut, welded, and bolted. We use scrap cage material for custom stands and brackets — zero additional material cost.
• Wood (pallets): Used for raised bed frames, compost bin walls, and decorative cladding on barrel arrays. We use untreated pallet wood only — no CCA, no creosote. Available free with any fab project.
• PVC pipe and fittings: Used for plumbing connections between barrels, overflow systems, and NFT hydroponic channels. We stock Schedule 40 PVC in 1/2", 3/4", 1", 1.5", and 2" sizes.
• Stainless hardware: For food-grade fabrication projects, all fittings are stainless steel (304 or 316L). We stock bulkheads, hose barbs, and tri-clamp fittings in common sizes.

Custom project lead times

• Rain barrel (single): 1–2 business days
• Rain barrel array (3+ units): 3–5 business days
• Hydroponic / aquaponic: 3–7 business days (depends on fitting complexity)
• Fermenters (food-grade): 5–7 business days (includes food-grade stock selection and cleaning)
• Structural projects (stands, platforms): 3–5 business days
• Complex / one-off builds: 5–14 business days (we'll estimate during the quoting process)

Lead times assume the donor tote and materials are in stock. For unusual builds (stainless, oversized, multi-tote), add 3–5 days for material sourcing.