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butch361
02-17-2009, 01:54 PM
I found around 100 buckets at my dad's old sugarshack. What can I do to make them useable? Some have rust in the bottom. Others have small leaks. Is there a paint or sealer I can use.
parsissn
02-17-2009, 02:04 PM
Use kitchen and bath silicon caulking to seal up leaky seams and small holes. As for rust, we just scrub very hard to get all the loose rust out and then wash with bleach solution - rinse very very well.
Fred Henderson
02-17-2009, 05:55 PM
Put a plastic bag in them.
KenWP
02-17-2009, 06:39 PM
JB Weld would work well also. Or duct tape.
Haynes Forest Products
02-17-2009, 06:42 PM
Sell them to tourists. I dont think you should scrub rust out of a bucket. If its rusted over and you have a build up of "OLD" rust you are better off leaving it than scrubbing shiny than having "NEW" rust. Rust will not hurt you or your sap rust is a solid and will filter out and if boiled it wont become suspended in the syrup. Srubbing out old rust will only speed up the rust to hole prosses.
davey
02-17-2009, 07:00 PM
we gave a bunch of them a quick sandblast and then powder coated them, worked good.
Buckeye mapler
02-17-2009, 08:00 PM
a buddy of mine used food grade paint and painted buckets that had rust in them and it looked like it would work great.
newman_maple
02-17-2009, 10:13 PM
The food grade paint Buckeye referred to is Camcote Epoxy Paint. It is primarily used to paint bee equipment. It is not cheap, but it really works great. Leaves the buckets shiny, but I didn't care. I am sure I used too much as it took quite awhile to dry. I got the old buckets from a buddy who found them at an auction. The link to the product is below. You migth find it or an equivalent cheaper.

http://www.betterbee.com/products.asp?dept=1278
KenWP
02-17-2009, 10:37 PM
What are these buckets made of. Ours up here are all aluminuim and they might dent and such but can't rust.
butch361
02-18-2009, 03:01 PM
These buckets are maybe galvanized. They are 50 to 60 years old or older.
butch361
02-18-2009, 03:04 PM
How would suggest I repair a 1" long hole in a flat pan? I think it made out of steel.Thanks
Jeff E
02-18-2009, 03:33 PM
Can it be welded? if it is far away from any soldered seams, I would think you could isolate the area with wet rags, and weld in a repair. Grind it flat when done to eliminate hot spots.
butch361
02-18-2009, 04:59 PM
Yes it is in the middle on the side. I think I can weld it. Thanks