Before you start, I will say this: It is far easier to purchase a pre-made barrel, but they cost between $50 - $150 each and most are open systems. If you prefer to purchase a complete rain barrel kit, there are a number of them available and many will come with full instructions for setup.

For my purposes, I wanted 3 barrels which would server two gardens and fill up a small pool. Given that I was not sold on whether they would even work, I was unprepared for this kind of monetary outlay. So for less money and a little bit of skill, you can make one pretty easily. Again with a closed system, you don't have to worry as much about debris and controlling mosquitoes.

Using the 3/4 inch spade drill bit, drill a hole near the bottom of the drum.
Tip: Practice on another piece of plastic so you can test the fit of the spigot. Keep a firm but gentle pressure, and take your time so that the bit doesn't rip the plastic, instead of cutting a nice uniform hole.

This is what the hole should look like when you are done.

Heat up the plastic so you can create the threads in the plastic. Using a hair dryer, heat up the plastic, but do not get too close. You are just trying to get it nice and flexible.

With the plastic heated up, now screw in the plastic or brass spigot (depending on which one you chose). Screw the spigot with straight and even pressure so that the threads form in the plastic. Once you do this, the plastic should cool and allow you to unscrew it without changing the threads.

Unscrew the spigot and then wrap plumber's tape on the threads. This will create a nice tight fit and eliminate leaks. Make sure to wrap it in a clockwise direction, so that the tape will not unwind when you screw the spigot in.

Screw the spigot in again slowly.

One of the two barrel bung caps has threads on the inside of the cap (in the center). These threads allow you to punch a hole through the cap and then connect a hose to it. The cap however doesn't have a hole to start with, so it must be drilled. Drilling a hole will not affect the threads, but will allow you to now create the closed system (less mosquito issues and creates the back-pressure overflow that will run excess water back up to the downspout).

Using the drill and the 7/8 inch spade drill bit, center and drill the hole to "punch it out" of the cap.

This is what the cap looks like after drilling the hole.

This is one of the WaterSavers diverter hooked up with its own hose, to the coupler, screwed directly to the cap to create the closed system. I will not provide details on the downspout installation, because each downspout diverter has its own installation instructions.

This picture is small, but you see the "Y" split from the Watersaver to the hoses and then the coupler connecting directly to two barrels to create the closed system. From the bottom spigot, I run another hose underground, and then connect it to a soaker hose for "drip irrigation". This saves a ton of water and the plants love it.

Complete Rain Collection Kits *

Hand Pumps for water *

* Note: This information and products described here are intended for informational purposes only and are not product endorsements for purchase. The BRWC/FOB is not associated with the manufacturers or online retailors listed and recommends that all consumers do their own research before purchasing a product.