Wash buckets stuck together - how to separate?
Discussion
Aarrgghh!
My two wash buckets, which are different makes, have been stacked together in the garage for several weeks, and I cannot get them apart. I've always stored them like this, so not sure why they've stuck solid - perhaps I've always stacked them the other way round before. YouTube suggests a vaccum forms iand to use an air compressor (which I don't have) to force air into the lower bucket, but they are of a different design to mine, and the bottom rim of the top bucket (which is the bit that is stuck), is about 8" below the gap I have to work with!
It's pretty much impossible to grip the bottom bucket firmly enough with my feet to allow me to give the top bucket a really good yank. I've tried levering the top one out with two screwdrivers, but they are just going to pierce the inner bucket's sides. I've tried drifting the top one out, but ended up taking a chunk out of the rim. I've sprayed PlusGas into the gap, but it hasn't helped!
If I was to drill a hole in the lower bucket to either release the vacuum or to push the top bucket out, is there a way of repairing it? I'm in danger of breaking both buckets if I'm not careful.
It's not the world's biggest problem, and I may just have to admit defeat and cut the bottom off the lower bucket, but does anyone have any ideas?
My two wash buckets, which are different makes, have been stacked together in the garage for several weeks, and I cannot get them apart. I've always stored them like this, so not sure why they've stuck solid - perhaps I've always stacked them the other way round before. YouTube suggests a vaccum forms iand to use an air compressor (which I don't have) to force air into the lower bucket, but they are of a different design to mine, and the bottom rim of the top bucket (which is the bit that is stuck), is about 8" below the gap I have to work with!
It's pretty much impossible to grip the bottom bucket firmly enough with my feet to allow me to give the top bucket a really good yank. I've tried levering the top one out with two screwdrivers, but they are just going to pierce the inner bucket's sides. I've tried drifting the top one out, but ended up taking a chunk out of the rim. I've sprayed PlusGas into the gap, but it hasn't helped!
If I was to drill a hole in the lower bucket to either release the vacuum or to push the top bucket out, is there a way of repairing it? I'm in danger of breaking both buckets if I'm not careful.
It's not the world's biggest problem, and I may just have to admit defeat and cut the bottom off the lower bucket, but does anyone have any ideas?
This could turn into a legendary thread, with the world's greatest engineering minds devoting hours to solving this problem, for the price of a plastic bucket.
I would leave it exactly as it is and know that you've got a super strong double walled wash bucket, that will keep your hot water hot for longer and won't shatter the inner bucket when you drop it. And just buy a new bucket when you're next at the shops.
If you really need two buckets right now, have you tried immersing both in hot water? You just need the air trapped between them to increase in pressure.
I would leave it exactly as it is and know that you've got a super strong double walled wash bucket, that will keep your hot water hot for longer and won't shatter the inner bucket when you drop it. And just buy a new bucket when you're next at the shops.
If you really need two buckets right now, have you tried immersing both in hot water? You just need the air trapped between them to increase in pressure.
Try drilling a hole through the bottom of the outer bucket and then poke a screwdriver though the hole to push the inner bucket out. Don't use a bradawl or you might make a hole in the inner bucket.
Refer to the link for instruction around any outer bucket issues:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yD-ffhvefsw
Refer to the link for instruction around any outer bucket issues:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yD-ffhvefsw
595Heaven said:
Aarrgghh!
My two wash buckets, which are different makes, have been stacked together in the garage for several weeks, and I cannot get them apart. I've always stored them like this, so not sure why they've stuck solid - perhaps I've always stacked them the other way round before. YouTube suggests a vaccum forms iand to use an air compressor (which I don't have) to force air into the lower bucket, but they are of a different design to mine, and the bottom rim of the top bucket (which is the bit that is stuck), is about 8" below the gap I have to work with!
It's pretty much impossible to grip the bottom bucket firmly enough with my feet to allow me to give the top bucket a really good yank. I've tried levering the top one out with two screwdrivers, but they are just going to pierce the inner bucket's sides. I've tried drifting the top one out, but ended up taking a chunk out of the rim. I've sprayed PlusGas into the gap, but it hasn't helped!
If I was to drill a hole in the lower bucket to either release the vacuum or to push the top bucket out, is there a way of repairing it? I'm in danger of breaking both buckets if I'm not careful.
It's not the world's biggest problem, and I may just have to admit defeat and cut the bottom off the lower bucket, but does anyone have any ideas?
1. Lay them on their side and kneel on them so that the plastic flexes. Hopefully they will have different degrees of flexion and they'll separate.My two wash buckets, which are different makes, have been stacked together in the garage for several weeks, and I cannot get them apart. I've always stored them like this, so not sure why they've stuck solid - perhaps I've always stacked them the other way round before. YouTube suggests a vaccum forms iand to use an air compressor (which I don't have) to force air into the lower bucket, but they are of a different design to mine, and the bottom rim of the top bucket (which is the bit that is stuck), is about 8" below the gap I have to work with!
It's pretty much impossible to grip the bottom bucket firmly enough with my feet to allow me to give the top bucket a really good yank. I've tried levering the top one out with two screwdrivers, but they are just going to pierce the inner bucket's sides. I've tried drifting the top one out, but ended up taking a chunk out of the rim. I've sprayed PlusGas into the gap, but it hasn't helped!
If I was to drill a hole in the lower bucket to either release the vacuum or to push the top bucket out, is there a way of repairing it? I'm in danger of breaking both buckets if I'm not careful.
It's not the world's biggest problem, and I may just have to admit defeat and cut the bottom off the lower bucket, but does anyone have any ideas?
2. Put on some big boots and give them a kick. It's a less refined version of 1. but it has the added benefit of allowing you to vent your anger.
Maybe a picture will help...
Imagine it turned 90 degrees clockwise and that’s how it actually looks (why can’t this be fixed?!)
You can see how far down the inner bucket is, and the lack of anywhere to easily lever the two apart...
The red mark is to show any movement between the two buckets.
Going to try cold water in the bucket, then pour hot water around the outer one
Imagine it turned 90 degrees clockwise and that’s how it actually looks (why can’t this be fixed?!)
You can see how far down the inner bucket is, and the lack of anywhere to easily lever the two apart...
The red mark is to show any movement between the two buckets.
Going to try cold water in the bucket, then pour hot water around the outer one
MiseryStreak said:
This could turn into a legendary thread, with the world's greatest engineering minds devoting hours to solving this problem, for the price of a plastic bucket.
I would leave it exactly as it is and know that you've got a super strong double walled wash bucket, that will keep your hot water hot for longer and won't shatter the inner bucket when you drop it. And just buy a new bucket when you're next at the shops.
If you really need two buckets right now, have you tried immersing both in hot water? You just need the air trapped between them to increase in pressure.
Where's the fun in that I would leave it exactly as it is and know that you've got a super strong double walled wash bucket, that will keep your hot water hot for longer and won't shatter the inner bucket when you drop it. And just buy a new bucket when you're next at the shops.
If you really need two buckets right now, have you tried immersing both in hot water? You just need the air trapped between them to increase in pressure.
This problem must be solved! The other issue is that in the bottom bucket is my grit guard and a couple of cleaning brushes I was wanting to use today...
So said:
1. Lay them on their side and kneel on them so that the plastic flexes. Hopefully they will have different degrees of flexion and they'll separate.
2. Put on some big boots and give them a kick. It's a less refined version of 1. but it has the added benefit of allowing you to vent your anger.
Tried #1 without success and trying to avoid #22. Put on some big boots and give them a kick. It's a less refined version of 1. but it has the added benefit of allowing you to vent your anger.
loskie said:
pour a kettle of boiling water around the join and the base hoping the air inside will heat up
And they're free! Loskie - I owe you a 
One issue is that the kitchen now stinks of PlusGas as I'd sprayed that in the gap earlier and the water rinsed it out into the sink and beyond. Mrs 595 is due back imminently...
Hold the bottom one tight with your feet. Grasp the upper one Tight, , and rotate it one way. Keep rotating it and try to screw it out With some upwards pressure.
Guaranteed to work.
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Bugger just saw that you already done it.
Well, force them back together again. Make sure they are really tight. And try my method.
Guaranteed to work.
——————————-
Bugger just saw that you already done it.
Well, force them back together again. Make sure they are really tight. And try my method.
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