Tricks to separate buckets

[Trock03]

The thread about the Texas Lowe's buckets promoted me to start this one.

I have 6 old 5 gallon paint buckets that have been hanging around for a while. I guess technically I have 3 buckets since they're stuck together in pairs. I've tried everything I know to get them apart and they aren't moving. I use them as stools a lot and it seems like I'm always sitting just a little too high to work comfortably. All the dried paint was cleaned out. Have tried penetrating oil, compressed air, water, brute force...apparently it wasn't so brute. F-bombs haven't worked either.

So does anyone have any good tips or tricks to get these separated? Preferable in a way that both are usually once apart.

TC

 

[The Cobbler]

they can be tough as you've found out.
2 people with one person hitting them apart with a hammer sometimes works. once you get them started to move they usually come apart fairly easily after that

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Usually compressed air does the trick. There are some tricks to do it. Don't shove the nozzle in between the buckets, just point it at the joint between the two buckets and let the air find it's way in.

Another trick is to heat the outside bucket bottom air pocket evenly with a heat gun or run it under hot water for approximately 30 seconds. Turn the buckets upside down. Stand on the bottom bucket handle, grasp the top bucket rim and pull up.

Tommy

 

[oldcpecdr]

Hit the outside one with a heat gun, separate them, heat number two...works like a charm... DONT MELT THEM

Mike B

 

[Augus7us]

http://fivegallonideas.com/unstick-stuck-buckets/

Some decent comments. Trying air seemed like a good idea.

-Clint

Edit: Looks like I was late to the party!

 

[bczygan]

Hold the upper one by the handle and tap, tap, tap around the perimeter of the rim of the lower one until freed.

And quit sitting on them doubled up.

Bill

 

[flyingblind]

Lay them on there side and sit on them. Works for 15s and 30s too

 

[Git]

The compressed air trick usually does it for me

 

[Milton Shaw]

If you can find a "pumpkin chunker" that big. They will usually separate on the way down if not on impact for sure. LOL

 

[FANTM58]

Not a tip to separate them but put a few sheets of news paper
Between them when stacking helps prevent the problem !!

 

[PelicanPines]

Brake caliper spreader on the lips...

 

[jimreed2160]

Here is the lazy approach. An hour in the mid-day Houston sun should soften them up and make them easy to separate.

 

[connorm]

Heating the outside bucket is a dangerous game to play but if air isn't working I'd try that.

 

[doctordirt]

Air for the win. Just had several 7 gallon buckets I had to free.

 

[niget2002]

drill a small hole in the bottom of one of the buckets. use silicone to fill the hole after it's off. Don't let the son stack the buckets again.

 

[b-boy]

I usually just flip them over, place one foot on the handle of the bottom bucket, grab the lip of the top bucket, and pull the top bucket while wiggling it a little.

It's always worked.

 

[aka Larry]

Brake caliper spreader on the lips...

Wait, are we still talking about buckets?

 

[PelicanPines]

Wait, are we still talking about buckets?

As I wrote it, I realized i could use this idea for other things.

 

[PFSard]

Not a tip to separate them but put a few sheets of news paper
Between them when stacking helps prevent the problem !!

Big PITA sometimes to separate them. Another tip. I use pieces of insulated wire to keep mine from clinging together.

 

[EdT]

Got to a construction site and get six discarded buckets and leave yours that are stuck together in exchange.

 

[rlitman]

Got to a construction site and get six discarded buckets and leave yours that are stuck together in exchange.

Don’t take buckets from a construction site. You don’t know what you’ll find in them.

 

[Wolfman6]

While we are talking bucket, Firehouse Subs sells them for $2.00 each, cleaned out. They use them for pickles, but they are clean and come with a lid.

 

[Backwodsurvivor]

Air always works for me!

 

[Hilltopmasonry]

While we are talking bucket, Firehouse Subs sells them for $2.00 each, cleaned out. They use them for pickles, but they are clean and come with a lid.

Firehouse buckets for a $2 donation are Much better than the crappy Home Depot buckets that are $3


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[NUTTSGT]

Another compressed air user here.

 

[58Yeoman]

Now I'm going to have to go out and get two of mine stuck together so I can try the air trick...

 

[FTG-05]

Now I'm going to have to go out and get two of mine stuck together so I can try the air trick...

Just when I thought I was the only one thinking of doing that!

 

[NUTTSGT]

Now I'm going to have to go out and get two of mine stuck together so I can try the air trick...

Just when I thought I was the only one thinking of doing that!

Make sure to get the inside of the bottom one wet so it creates a suction.

 

[77Birdman]

Every once in a while I will end up with a couple of buckets stuck like that. They come pretty cheap to me so I just toss them in the dumpster. Not worth my trouble to try and get them apart.

 

[kbs2244]

I have had luck by laying on their side and sitting on them so they go egg shaped.
That opens up the air tight seal and a helper can pull them apart.

 

[Shawn S]

I have a couple washing machines hoses that I cut in half for short garden hoses when filling things. I slip one of those in between the two buckets and it separates them.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

While we are talking bucket, Firehouse Subs sells them for $2.00 each, cleaned out. They use them for pickles, but they are clean and come with a lid.

You can also go to any other fast food store/local restaurant/deli where you know someone and ask for the FREE pickle buckets they throw away...

Paying for used pickle buckets is like paying tire stores to "recycle" your old tires when they sell them to recyclers...

Tommy

 

[Lelandwelds]

Hang male bucket from the bail. Put some dirt in it to kill the bounce. Tap the bottom bucket with some 1/4" flat bar and walk it around the rim.

I am surprised shop air or a big pressure washer didn't budge it. You can always drill a hole in the worst bucket and apply air directly to separate. 175 psi across that many inches is probably the strongest force a plastic bucket can withstand.

Try a tire bead blaster. Ether or propane might be entertaining.

 

[RustyJunk]

Lay them down, sit on them and roll back and forth and they'll come loose.

 

[fasteddie]

If you're willing to sacrifice the bottom bucket, place buckets on ground bottom up,drill 1/4" hole in bottom, insert firecracker in hole with fuse protruding, light fuse, run.

 

[C lectric]

I've taken to dropping a piece of scrap 2x4 into the buckets before I stack another in. They don't stick anymore.

 

[brownbagg]

dumpster

 

[Wolfman6]

No it isn't. It's like getting a discount on something you need. Go to HD and get a Homer bucket for $3.00 or Firehouse Subs bucket for $2.00, with a lid and for a bonus, the $2.00 goes to First Responders. Seems like a win instead of calling me an ***.

 

[dshop]

a 2L soda pop bottle between buckets will keep them separated easily...too late now, but maybe next time. even a beer can will work to give it some space.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

No it isn't. It's like getting a discount on something you need. Go to HD and get a Homer bucket for $3.00 or Firehouse Subs bucket for $2.00, with a lid and for a bonus, the $2.00 goes to First Responders. Seems like a win instead of calling me an ***.

I'm sorry, Wolfman. I meant no insult, even though my simile does sound like I did. I also had no idea Firehouse Subs donates that money. I was merely relaying info that they are often available for free and a lot of companies try to make a profit from something that costs them nothing by making it sound like it's going to cost them if they don't charge you.



Tommy