+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: 5 gallon plastic bucket residual smell

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2018
    Location
    West Branch mi
    Posts
    73

    Default 5 gallon plastic bucket residual smell

    I’m just getting started this year and I want to use 5 gallon bucket’s and have tubing run into them. My concern is a lot of the buckets I’m finding have been used for various processes that have a strong smell. I.e. pickles barbecue sauce etc. if I clean the buckets well do I need to worry about this or not?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Location
    Princeton, MA
    Posts
    495

    Default

    You are better off getting some new food grade 5 gallon buckets from Home Depot, Lowes, etc. They can be ordered online too.
    Mountain Maple farm
    2022 NAMSC award winning dark amber syrup
    2023: 320 taps, 70% red maples. Mountain Maple S4 diaphragm pump controller with automated sap transfer and text messaging
    Website:
    https://www.mountainmaplefarm.com
    https://www.facebook.com/MountainMapleFarm/

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2015
    Location
    Lenawee county, Michigan
    Posts
    55

    Default

    Take the bucket out to your garden. Fill it with dirt and leave it for 2 weeks. Then empty and clean the bucket, the smell will be gone.
    2013 25 taps 2.5 gallons
    2014 60 taps 9.5 gallons
    2015 12 x 16 sugar shack 200 taps 1500' 5/16 lines gravity. Home made arch, 2 x 3 pan and 18" x 24" steam pan.
    2016 2 x 5 Smokey Lake hybrid pan. Custom steam hood and float box. Number of taps yet to be determined.
    2017 Made 27 gallons. Added 60 taps on 3/16 lines.
    2018 Adding more 3/16 lines. Made 55 gallons
    2019 Added 4 totes for sap storage. Big shack upgrades.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Southern Ohio
    Posts
    1,349

    Default

    I agree get new food grade buckets from Lowes or home depot. They are not that expensive, link below

    https://www.lowes.com/pd/Encore-Plas...Bucket/3694238

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Lake County Ohio
    Posts
    1,628

    Default

    Do you have a donut shop nearby?
    That’s a great source for food grade buckets.
    John Allin

    14x18 Hemlock Timber Frame Sugar House 2009
    Leader 2x6 w/Patriot Raised Flue Pan 2009
    Leader Steam Hood 2014 - Clear Filter Press 2015
    Leader Revolution Pan and SS Pre-Heater 2016
    CDL Hobby RO & Air Tech L25 Hi Vac Pump 2019
    06' Gator HPX to collect wood & sap
    14' Ski-Doo Tundra for winter work in the woods
    Great Family 3 grown kids+spouses and 7 grand kids who like the woods
    7th Gen Born in Canada - Raised in Chardon Ohio - Maple Capital of the World..<grin>.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    south central,NH
    Posts
    174

    Default

    Or a bakery like Sam's club. Their icing buckets wash very easily
    Brian Eldredge
    Mooncusser Maple
    16x24 post and beam sugar shack
    2x8 CDL maple pro Wes fab filter press
    Lots of shiny stuff now I need some more trees

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Covington Twp. Pa.
    Posts
    580

    Default

    I agree bakery icing buckets work great and around here they are free.
    2x3 Patrick Phaneuf Divided Pan
    Homemade arch
    RB20 RO Bucket
    121 taps total
    Sugar Shack in future
    Wife into it as much as me
    Also do homebrew

    http://s928.photobucket.com/albums/ad121/ZMANSYRUP/

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Bellville Ohio
    Posts
    95

    Default

    We order our food grade buckets from US Plastics in Lima Ohio.
    www.usplastics.com

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Hopkinton, MA
    Posts
    1,778

    Default

    I also hit up bakeries for buckets when I need them. Sometimes they are rinsed out, sometimes not. Curiously, no matter how sweet or fruity the original contents, there is no residual flavor or odor in the sap. I might think twice about pickles or bbq sauce, but who knows? You could try one test bucket and see what happens.
    Woodville Maples
    www.woodvillemaples.com
    www.facebook.com/woodvillemaples
    Around 300 taps on tubing, 25+ on buckets if I put them out
    Mix of natural and mechanical vac, S3 Controller from Mountain Maple
    2x6 W.F. Mason with Phaneuf pans
    Deer Run 250 RO
    Ford F350
    6+ hives of bees (if they make it through the winters)
    Keeping the day job until I can start living the dream.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Lake County Ohio
    Posts
    1,628

    Default

    The local donut shop I get mine from has always had them cleaned out. Little, if any, odor in them at all. I rinse a few times and we're good to go. They're happy to get rid of them, and charge $1 ea with lids...or take syrup in trade.
    John Allin

    14x18 Hemlock Timber Frame Sugar House 2009
    Leader 2x6 w/Patriot Raised Flue Pan 2009
    Leader Steam Hood 2014 - Clear Filter Press 2015
    Leader Revolution Pan and SS Pre-Heater 2016
    CDL Hobby RO & Air Tech L25 Hi Vac Pump 2019
    06' Gator HPX to collect wood & sap
    14' Ski-Doo Tundra for winter work in the woods
    Great Family 3 grown kids+spouses and 7 grand kids who like the woods
    7th Gen Born in Canada - Raised in Chardon Ohio - Maple Capital of the World..<grin>.

+ Reply to Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts