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Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: fat larry on July 11, 2005, 17:19:42

Title: there's a crack in my water butt
Post by: fat larry on July 11, 2005, 17:19:42: dear liza. But seriously, does anyone have any great ideas about how to fix it. The split is a couple of inches long and is near the botttom, so does a great job of draining the butt. Any easy way to fix it that folk use?
Title: Re: there's a crack in my water butt
Post by: terrace max on July 11, 2005, 17:37:50: No idea. But well done for getting crack, butt and bottom into just one post...!
Title: Re: there's a crack in my water butt
Post by: lilylover on July 11, 2005, 17:56:39: ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

...butt seriously, how about some of that stuff they use to seal ponds. Comes in a tin, you paint it on and blow me if I can remember the full name ??? Got a 4 in it somewhere.
Title: Re: there's a crack in my water butt
Post by: flowerlady on July 11, 2005, 18:02:45: Perfect TM, I've had a crappy day and your answer made 'crack up'

Lilylover, you beat me to it, but I too was going to suggest some kind of a waterproof membrane. How bis is the water butt? Maybe a swimming pool company might have a solution.

Or you could line the whole thing with a GIANT poly bag ;D - sorry being silly again
Title: Re: there's a crack in my water butt
Post by: lorna on July 11, 2005, 19:08:04: Just an idea from an old lady : :))Wouldn't fibreglass be suitable. I am assuming it is still available. Years ago when we had a haulage business late husband mended a lighted box on top of one of our lorries.It must have been waterproof as it was a light box. Just a thought. Lorna.
Title: Re: there's a crack in my water butt
Post by: Doris_Pinks on July 11, 2005, 19:46:12: Silicone sealant?
Title: Re: there's a crack in my water butt
Post by: Roy Bham UK on July 11, 2005, 21:48:38: Fibre glass?
Title: Re: there's a crack in my water butt
Post by: Kepouros on July 11, 2005, 22:02:40: Fibreglass doesn`t usually work on plastic butts - either because the butt can flex slightly (which the fibreglass resin can`t), or because of the differences in the respective coefficients of linear expansion of the two substances. At any rate, I`ve tried it on 3 different kinds of butts, and it always cracks away from the plastic. Try Duck Tape, or waterproof glazing tape applied to the inside of the butt, or use a heavy grade wheelie bin liner.
Title: Re: there's a crack in my water butt
Post by: Merry Tiller on July 11, 2005, 22:07:02: Smear the inside with mastic and put a patch of butyl pond liner or similar over it, the pressure of the water inside will help the seal
Title: Re: there's a crack in my water butt
Post by: derbex on July 11, 2005, 22:19:50: If you're feeling brave a hot glue gun will probably work -they use them for fixing poly windsurfers- but practice first ;D
Title: Re: there's a crack in my water butt
Post by: Roy Bham UK on July 11, 2005, 22:28:52: Quote from: Kepouros on July 11, 2005, 22:02:40
Fibreglass doesn`t usually work on plastic butts - either because the butt can flex slightly (which the fibreglass resin can`t), or because of the differences in the respective coefficients of linear expansion of the two substances. At any rate, I`ve tried it on 3 different kinds of butts, and it always cracks away from the plastic. Try Duck Tape, or waterproof glazing tape applied to the inside of the butt, or use a heavy grade wheelie bin liner.

Should you not use metal drums for water butts then? ??? as I have found an oil drum in mint condition and filled it with water and been using it on the lottie, :o that's what made me think fat larry's was metal, as he never mention the material. ;D
Title: Re: there's a crack in my water butt
Post by: Kepouros on July 11, 2005, 22:54:41: Nothing wrong with metal drums - I use a 600gal steel oil tank sawn in halves. Eventually, of course, they go rusty inside, but it doesn`t seem to harm the plants, though definitely not organic.

I simply assumed plastic, since metal ones don`t usually get small cracks in - they either get rusty holes or the welds fall apart.
Title: Re: there's a crack in my water butt
Post by: lorna on July 11, 2005, 22:57:37: Yep I stand corrected. Have just spoken to my son on IM and he said the lorry lightbox was fibreglass so of course it worked. He made the same comment that he didn't think it would work with plastic. Oh well worth a try to suggest!! Hope you get sorted. Lorna.
Title: Re: there's a crack in my water butt
Post by: Roy Bham UK on July 11, 2005, 23:01:37: ;D Oops! sorry Lorna ;D Didn't notice your previous post on fibre glass, what a silly sausage I am ;D ::)
Title: Re: there's a crack in my water butt
Post by: lorna on July 11, 2005, 23:07:05: Roy I will have chips with my sausage please.... if you are cooking. ;D Lorna
Title: Re: there's a crack in my water butt
Post by: fat larry on July 12, 2005, 09:37:14: it;s plastic, and has been repaired once inside, with fibreglass I think! Like the ideas, will try them this weekend
Title: Re: there's a crack in my water butt
Post by: Melbourne12 on July 12, 2005, 12:56:41: I can't remember the brand name, but you can get special tape to repair plastic guttering, which I've used successfully. It's like a heavy fabric which has been impregnated with a waterproof sticky gunk. You'd need to make sure that the area around the crack was dry, then apply this stuff and leave it to cure for a few hours before refilling.
Title: Re: there's a crack in my water butt
Post by: piers on July 13, 2005, 16:45:13: The stuff you need is called Plumbers Mait - it's instant expoxy resin, easy to use, sets hard as stone. I just used it to fix my water butt and it's magic. Get it from any hardware store - about 3 quid!
Title: Re: there's a crack in my water butt
Post by: Marianne on July 13, 2005, 20:57:26: Maybe some blue tack would do the trick ??? It's a little like plasticine but comes only in the blue ;D