Fixing plastic water butt / home brew bucket

[Baldy]

I spent £3 on a water butt tap yesterday - 3/4inch or whatever the standard is - then spent an hour looking for a drill bit that matched in my shed...
Anyhow - went to drill out a hole in the brewers bucket I was gonig to use for boshaki composting but its been outside for a couple of years and the plastic shattered to the diameter of the pre-formed 'dimple' which is a bit too big for the tap fitting.
Now - I've got no idea what type of plastic it is - probably "pppfffee" ( ) that has no known solvent - so I'm going to try a variety of outdoor window sealants, car sunroof seals and possibly a soldering iron to see if I can seal it up somewhat. Probably will be able to wangle something as it won't be under much pressure (if any)
Made me wonder if a person could reliably repair a water butt though - I've had a few cracked bottoms (so to speak) and have never managed to make them leak proof...
No doubt there's a thread about it - I might have to go and have a search after dinner - or hope that some Vine-Search-Ninja is around to point me at the thread...

[Scarlet]

I fixed my worm bin with sealant....not sure it it will help?

https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...eak_79835.html

[mothhawk]

There have been a few threads on the vine. here's three to be going on with. No idea if they will be of help though.

https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...utt_78067.html


https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...utt_83479.html

https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...air_33901.html

[veggiechicken]

My head's saying Grommet - you need a Grommet - but apart from being Wallace's friend I don't know what it is.

[Baldy]

thanks mothhawk - I had found the first one you linked but not the other two.. I probably used a comma or something to upset the search engine

Link 3 looks particulalry interesting...

[Lardman]

I made 2 oversized plastic washers from standard guttering with inside diameter of the washer tap size, put one inside and one outside, applied some silicone and tightened the tap up. Mines been water tight for 12 months.

[Baldy]

perhaps "interesting" isn't the right word...

"applicable" may be more...

... appropriate

[Baldy]

thanks Lardman - I was vaguely contemplating something similar - sounds like it could work so I may well try a combination of home made plastic washers and sealant of some sort - as there isn't going to be water pressure its got a chance.
I still haven't worked out just how an-aerobic bokashi composting needs to be - but as you have to open the lid to put the food waste in I guess its just a matter of limiting "new air". So a slightly bodged tap will likely be ok.

Oh to be a scientist of a practical bent...

[Cadalot]

Balders - I've seen a radiator repaired with Fernox and a penny before, Fernox is awesome

[Baldy]

Most kind Cadders...
probably smells good too. stuff that works often does.
its now on my list of things!!

whether you should inhale is a different matter of course

[Cadalot]

Balders - Nope you will not get high if you sniff Fernox its like a translucent cream you squeeze out of a tube

[Snoop Puss]

Cadalot, is this the stuff?
https://www.amazon.es/Fluidmaster-PR...60837786&psc=1
Also interested because Mr Snoop is looking to connect some 250 litre barrels together, and I envisage leaks...

[Cadalot]

Yes Snoops that the stuff, I always use on screw joints in plumbing never have a leak ideal on water butts as you know the tap is never going to be at 6 o'clock when done right up when the thread is in the barrel

[Snoop Puss]

^Brilliant, thanks.