Cheap, large buckets for cleaning solutions?

[AceofSpad3s]

I am tired of not having dedicated,large containers for soaking large parts in stuff like kerosene,degreaser or vinegar. I'd like something around 5 gallons and be made of metal with resealable lids like the old paint buckets before most went plastic, though obviously I have plastic for vinegar due to the acidity.
I don't want to use standard 5 gallon plastic buckets because they can get brittle in the winter and crack easy. The big industrial plastic barrels are tempting, but I don't want to have to put $50 of vinegar or kerosene just to soak something since even the smaller ones are quite large.
I remember looking at 1 gallon empty metal cans a while ago, I swear it'd be cheaper to just buy the cheapest Walmart paint, dump it down the drain and wash the can compared to what Home Depot wants for an empty one. No better for 5 gallon pails, some prices online are reasonable until getting fleeced for the bulky item shipping.
What are some good alternatives opposed to paying like $30/pc for them online?

 

[rd65]

have you checked pricing at paint stores? they carry metal cans in various sizes. or check with local house painter for empties.

 

[FredWanaker]

my next door neighbor has a son that is a pool guy. Most of his chemicals come in plastic 5 gallon containers. The paint and stain we got recently came in 5 gallon containers. See either a painter or a pool guy and I bet you can have as many containers and lids as you want for free. You can change them once every six months to a year if you are afraid of them being too brittle. The paint ones you have to soak and clean, the pools ones you have to wash out and neutralize the chlorine smell - which vinegar will do.

 

[Sumboodie]

Unless you are playing football with them, a 5 gallon pail will hold up just fine.

If you're like me, have a ****-ton of them from AW32 hydraulic oil.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

I find that square containers usually work better for fitting items in than round buckets. Rubbermade type totes and disposable food containers work well if sealing isn't too critical while the items are soaking. I've also cut the side off of square jugs.
If you are wanting to store the chemical for future use then either use the original container or something similar.

 

[vwpieces]

I wouldn't put even mild acids like vinegar in a metal container

 

[AceofSpad3s]

I've had several 5 gallon buckets crack on me from minor bumps in the winter, don't want risk dealing with that if there's liquid in them. Especially since they'd be along the wall of the garage since I have no other spot, and the lady of the house has a tendency to play bumper cars while pulling her car in.
The only local paint place only has 1 gallon metal or regular 5 gallon plastic so not much luck there.
If it was the more flexible material of the industrial barrels or rubbermaid roughnecks, it would work fine, but hard plastics like the cheap buckets or the sterile containers are junk in my experience.
I'd like something of a similar diameter to 5 gallon buckets since I could get away with using less liquid to completely immerse stuff like these 50cc moped engines I plan on rebuilding.

 

[cdeer001]

Have you thought about a 30 gallon metal grease drum at an auto repair shop?

 

[FredWanaker]

Choices are metal, glass, synthetics or combination of the those. That's it. Acid will eat thru metal. The cheap big box store plastic ones don't last. A person can also store fluids in a smaller container nested in a larger container. If the driver can hit them then they are stored in the wrong spot.

 

[engineer2]

Check out https://www.usplastic.com/
Their prices might be higher than what you want to pay, but at least it'll give you an idea of what's out there.
There are always lots of empty plastic containers on CL.

 

[Stuart in MN]

I looked at Amazon and there are any number of metal five gallon pails available, but like you found you have to pay $30 or more for them. This one looks pretty good, but it does cost $60. On the other hand if it does what you need and lasts a long time it may be worth it. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B6C2H9W/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[mike93lx]

$19 each

Steel Pail with Lid - 5 Gallon S-7344 - ULINE

Extra strong for safe shipping of hazardous materials. Empty pails nest for storage. Recessed lid for easy stacking. Leakproof rubber gasket to ensure a tight seal. Secure included lid with Steel Pail Crimping Tool, sold separately. ULINE offers over 45,000 boxes, plastic poly bags, mailing...

www.uline.com

I wonder if a gamma seal lid will fit, which would make it a lot easier to use

Gamma Seal Lid for 3.5, 5, 6, and 7 Gallon Plastic Pail - Black S-17945BL - ULINE

Turns a 3.5 to 7 gallon pail into a resealable, screw top container. High density polyethylene construction. FDA compliant. Use with 3.5 , 5 , 6 or 7 Gallon Plastic Pails. Free Offer FREE PAIL OPENER WITH $125+ ORDER OF PLASTIC PAILS AND/OR LIDS. Use sale code SP182 at checkout. ULINE offers...

www.uline.com

 

[Crabman]

OP, not sure where you are located but Tractor Supply here has galvinized buckets in a variety of sizes.

 

[jrevans]

Rubbermaid totes with lid for Vinegar/Dawn dish soap to clean rusted tools/parts.

Mixture then gets used to kill weeds, totes get rinsed out and saved for next time.

 

[rayra]

Unless you leave the buckets sitting in the sun/UV for years, and/or are in sub-zero conditions, your cold concerns are misplaced. An HDPE plastic bucket will do what you want just fine. A $5gal bucket is <$5. You could buy a fresh one every year if you were really concerned about brittleness.

 

[DGersic]

I am tired of not having dedicated,large containers for soaking large parts in stuff like kerosene,degreaser or vinegar. I'd like something around 5 gallons and be made of metal with resealable lids like the old paint buckets before most went plastic, though obviously I have plastic for vinegar due to the acidity.
I don't want to use standard 5 gallon plastic buckets because they can get brittle in the winter and crack easy. The big industrial plastic barrels are tempting, but I don't want to have to put $50 of vinegar or kerosene just to soak something since even the smaller ones are quite large.
I remember looking at 1 gallon empty metal cans a while ago, I swear it'd be cheaper to just buy the cheapest Walmart paint, dump it down the drain and wash the can compared to what Home Depot wants for an empty one. No better for 5 gallon pails, some prices online are reasonable until getting fleeced for the bulky item shipping.
What are some good alternatives opposed to paying like $30/pc for them online?

Steel barrels? I know when I bought my 55 gallon barrels to make ugly drum smokers that smaller sizes were available.

 

[fteufert]

Search on Craigslist

 

[larry_g]

If you stop buy I'll fix you up with some molasses tubs. https://www.google.com/shopping/pro...MSFNrkutLdhuzi_gSMKzGXVquogywHqhoCj94QAvD_BwE

These tubs are perty much indestructible and if your not close check at the feed store and see if they will connect you with a farmer who uses them. We buy molasses or other supplements in them and once the feed is gone the tub is waste. I use them in the shop for drain pans, cleaning, storage and around the place for other stuff.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[LOW1]

Have you thought about getting one of the big industrial barrels which may be too big for some of your jobs but then, when you need to, reducing the capacity of the barrel by putting in empty milk jugs filled with water or some other "filler?"

 

[flippin]

If you're worried about plastic pails leaking/cracking, double them up to serve as secondary containment. I am also a huge fan of the leakproof gamma lids, I use them for everything. And once a pail gets nasty, trash the pail and transfer the gamma lid to a new pail.

 

[rburke65]

I find it hard to believe that a standard 5 gal. bucket won’t be ok

 

[mike93lx]

I find it hard to believe that a standard 5 gal. bucket won’t be ok

If the guy doesn't want plastic should he have to buy them anyway?

 

[FredWanaker]

If the guy doesn't want plastic should he have to buy them anyway?

no - he can buy metal and let the acid eat thru it. He can buy glass or ceramic and accidentally break it. There are lots of options. Or rubbermaid works too until it cracks, which it does. I have thrown out more rubbermaid products the last couple years then I wish to discuss. He has lots of options, both cheap and expensive.

 

[danfromsyr]

man I'm curious as to what and how much buckets of 'solutions' he's tripping over..

actually I probably don't want to know..

 

[83VillageRepair]

Fire house Subs sells their pickle buckets for a dollar or two which is donated. They are very nice buckets and have some the best lids (easily removable) i have seen on a five gallon bucket. Downside is they smell like dill pickles for a while.

 

[CN Spots]

Fire house Subs sells their pickle buckets for a dollar or two which is donated. They are very nice buckets and have some the best lids (easily removable) i have seen on a five gallon bucket. Downside is they smell like dill pickles for a while.

Downside? That's a bonus!