Bucket panniers - not cat litter...
04-03-16, 07:18 AM
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Bucket panniers - not cat litter...
Hi All,
Because there is no "make your own gear" subforum (mods: hint hint), I'm posting this here. I've made cargo box panniers in the past from square plastic cat litter buckets, and have given them all away to various cycling buddies. Grocery shopping is their primary use, but for touring they of course work as panniers as well as seat, food prep & cooking surface, hauling water, and dish/self/clothes wash tub. Now I'm going to be making more, so I'm posting this to consult the collective knowledge here. What other products are sold in square plastic buckets? I don't have a cat, nor do I have any friends who use cat litter in a bucket. I could buy new buckets online for about $5 to $7 each, but then I'm no longer re-using/recycling. If there was a household product that I use anyway that is sold in a square plastic bucket, that would be ideal. So if you use or know of any household products sold in a square plastic bucket with tight fitting lid, please reply to this thread. Mods, feel free to move this to an appropriate subforum if there is one.
Thanks very much,
~scroungetech
Because there is no "make your own gear" subforum (mods: hint hint), I'm posting this here. I've made cargo box panniers in the past from square plastic cat litter buckets, and have given them all away to various cycling buddies. Grocery shopping is their primary use, but for touring they of course work as panniers as well as seat, food prep & cooking surface, hauling water, and dish/self/clothes wash tub. Now I'm going to be making more, so I'm posting this to consult the collective knowledge here. What other products are sold in square plastic buckets? I don't have a cat, nor do I have any friends who use cat litter in a bucket. I could buy new buckets online for about $5 to $7 each, but then I'm no longer re-using/recycling. If there was a household product that I use anyway that is sold in a square plastic bucket, that would be ideal. So if you use or know of any household products sold in a square plastic bucket with tight fitting lid, please reply to this thread. Mods, feel free to move this to an appropriate subforum if there is one.
Thanks very much,
~scroungetech
Last edited by scroungetech; 04-03-16 at 07:20 AM. Reason: Flow edit
04-03-16, 08:06 AM
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I'm not a big fan of the square box panniers, so I can't help with your exact question. But I have seen semi-round plastic trash cans at Walmart that looked perfect if you cut them down, with a flat side for the inside and a half-oval shape. It would be light and attractive but you'd have to brace the flat side with some kind of bracket (they are thin plastic).
Or two of these oval trash cans are already the right size and shape though maybe a bit pricy at $9 each.
Or two of these oval trash cans are already the right size and shape though maybe a bit pricy at $9 each.
04-03-16, 02:49 PM
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There are a number of dry goods that come in similar square or oblong HDPE buckets. You need to visit the bulk goods merchants like Costco, Sam's Club, etc. and you'll find pet foods, laundry detergent and other stuff that comes in this type of box.
You'll might also find different shapes, and might find some that are larger, or nicer looking or both.
You'll might also find different shapes, and might find some that are larger, or nicer looking or both.
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04-03-16, 04:46 PM
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A long time ago, we bought powder laundry soap in a rectangular bucket. Don't remember where it came from.
04-03-16, 04:55 PM
#6
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Bike buckets company buys plain white ones .. The Bike Bucket - Bike Buckets
you can always paint or bumper sticker over what You find ..
and adopt any plastic bin you think adequate.
Commercial Janitorial companies use big volumes of soaps ..
garages use Kitty Litter to absorb Oil Leaks ..
you can always paint or bumper sticker over what You find ..
and adopt any plastic bin you think adequate.
Commercial Janitorial companies use big volumes of soaps ..
garages use Kitty Litter to absorb Oil Leaks ..
Last edited by fietsbob; 04-03-16 at 04:59 PM.
04-03-16, 06:52 PM
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So I'm thinking some strap metal hooks for the top. Do you fix some kind of spring hook for the bottom? I've got my daughter-in-law saving cat litter tubs for me.
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04-03-16, 07:08 PM
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I use L brackets, bent to fit the rack rails they're intended to go on. Pliers & vice for bending. I also use 1.5" diameter fender washers to spread the weight. Some folks use a sheet of plywood through which all fasteners must pass. Also, and I've never heard of anyone else doing this: silicon caulk around all holes to preserve the bucket's ability to hold water without leaking. There are other resources online that explain the process more thoroughly.
04-03-16, 08:04 PM
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I had some laundry powder (maybe it was Oxy-Clean?) that came in a squarish bucket.
04-03-16, 08:19 PM
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Restaurants get various items in square buckets--you may be able to pick up a couple free/cheap.
04-03-16, 10:56 PM
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Hi All,
Because there is no "make your own gear" subforum (mods: hint hint), I'm posting this here. I've made cargo box panniers in the past from square plastic cat litter buckets, and have given them all away to various cycling buddies. Grocery shopping is their primary use, but for touring they of course work as panniers as well as seat, food prep & cooking surface, hauling water, and dish/self/clothes wash tub. Now I'm going to be making more, so I'm posting this to consult the collective knowledge here. What other products are sold in square plastic buckets? I don't have a cat, nor do I have any friends who use cat litter in a bucket. I could buy new buckets online for about $5 to $7 each, but then I'm no longer re-using/recycling. If there was a household product that I use anyway that is sold in a square plastic bucket, that would be ideal. So if you use or know of any household products sold in a square plastic bucket with tight fitting lid, please reply to this thread. Mods, feel free to move this to an appropriate subforum if there is one.
Thanks very much,
~scroungetech
Because there is no "make your own gear" subforum (mods: hint hint), I'm posting this here. I've made cargo box panniers in the past from square plastic cat litter buckets, and have given them all away to various cycling buddies. Grocery shopping is their primary use, but for touring they of course work as panniers as well as seat, food prep & cooking surface, hauling water, and dish/self/clothes wash tub. Now I'm going to be making more, so I'm posting this to consult the collective knowledge here. What other products are sold in square plastic buckets? I don't have a cat, nor do I have any friends who use cat litter in a bucket. I could buy new buckets online for about $5 to $7 each, but then I'm no longer re-using/recycling. If there was a household product that I use anyway that is sold in a square plastic bucket, that would be ideal. So if you use or know of any household products sold in a square plastic bucket with tight fitting lid, please reply to this thread. Mods, feel free to move this to an appropriate subforum if there is one.
Thanks very much,
~scroungetech
04-04-16, 06:37 AM
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04-04-16, 06:57 AM
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I've noticed some of the 5-6 gallon buckets used for cat litter, restaurant industry, etc. degrade very quickly and become brittle. I used plastic garbage cans. Pic below was in 1976. I mounted mine with a spring hook and clasp system for quick on and off. Watch out for heel strike. That's my bike lower left.
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04-04-16, 07:08 AM
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I like the way you think.
I was always one for the Wald folding baskets for groceries and other missions, but that doesn't fit your recycling/upcycling mission.
I was always one for the Wald folding baskets for groceries and other missions, but that doesn't fit your recycling/upcycling mission.
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04-04-16, 07:33 AM
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Also exactly what I was thinking about, except maybe smaller for everyday use:
...
Or two of these oval trash cans are already the right size and shape though maybe a bit pricy at $9 each.
Or two of these oval trash cans are already the right size and shape though maybe a bit pricy at $9 each.
04-04-16, 11:55 AM
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Restaurants throw away 5-gal buckets by the dozen. Not sure how many are square, but a little legwork ... smae with commercial laundries, construction firms, garages ... either call around or ride around on your bike with the bucket panniers attached and make a personal pitch for hauling away their excess ....
04-04-16, 12:10 PM
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A lot of winter driveway salt I have seen come in square plastic buckets. Probably useful to everyone in PA, too!
04-04-16, 04:47 PM
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I know that olives get shipped here in square buckets that are about 2 gallon in size and they have a watertight gasket replaceable lid. There was a guy at the recent quietwater symposium that had a bunch of them that he refurbished with a new gasket and was selling them as waterproof containers for kayaks, canoes, and other watercraft.
Regards,
Cranky
Regards,
Cranky
