Shop sink no plumbing, need ideas

[UncleJoe]

I have an external shop with no plumping. I want a small cleanup sink to wash my hands and clean paint brushes and such.

Some time ago I bought the 6.5 gallon parts washer on sale at Harbor Freight for somewhere around $30

After using it once I realized that I really need the bigger version which I picked up once it went on sale. So I had this thing sitting around and was thinking about how to utilize it. I have mineral spirits in the big parts washer so I thought about just using water in the small one for paint brush cleanup after painting with water soluble paints. That is when it hit me that maybe this could serve as a mini cleanup sink I have been wanting.

So now I am thinking of how to modify and improve this as a sink. It has the pump and the water does not get too dirty too fast yet for general hand cleaning and rinse.

I figured I would post this here and you guys can help me think through some modifications to make this better. I will probably build a stand for it so I can leave it against the wall permanently setup for hand cleaning. I can bring fresh water in via jugs easy enough and I need to devise a way to install a drain plug in the plastic bottom. I guess I could attach a drain hose to outside and drain the dirty soapy water outside if I use a biodegradable soap.

I am open to ideas fellas.

 

[Shadowdog500]

eventually I plan to build something like the sink shown below but will probably use 5 gallon plastic water cooler bottles.

 

[graffix000]

eventually I plan to build something like the sink shown below but will probably use 5 gallon plastic water cooler bottles.

That looks interesting. I will have to check that out.

 

[tcianci]

yeah just google self contained sinks

 

[rsanter]

if you have water but no drain and you are only going to do hand washing, you could just drain into a leaching basin buried in the ground.
as long as you dont wash or pour any contamining material down the drain you are fine.
this would basically be a small septic system

bob

 

[dittle fart around]

If your just washing your hands Kimberly Clark makes disposable wipes that do a great job. Once you have a sink you'll want to use it all the time.

 

[ptschram]

That looks interesting. I will have to check that out.

My dad did something similar years ago at our farm where we had no water nor power, imagine a five-gallon pail on a shelf above the sink with another pail beneath.

If you have water, a cheapie sump pump would be great to pump the grey-water outside. Grey water is pretty innocuous if you don't use aggressive soaps/detergents.

 

[SgtRauksauff]

55-gallon drum up in the rafters? How about an on-demand water heater, with the whole system fed by a garden hose? If insulated right, you might even be able to make something work in winter...

I'm looking for something pretty soon too, I'd like to be able to wash my hands BEFORE leaving the garage. Currently, we just use Orange Goop with pumice in the garage, and wipe down real good. Then, into the house and use (Dawn) soap in the stainless kitchen sink.