There's a hole in the bucket...

[Straelbora]

So I scored a nice wood stave bucket from the Goodwill Store the other day, but it's not water tight.

I'd like to seal it so that I can not only carry water in it, but drink that water.

What do I use to seal it?

Thanks.

[Peter Remling]

Try brewers pitch. Fast easy to replace/repair and doesn't add any nasty toxins.

[Straelbora]

Try brewers pitch. Fast easy to replace/repair and doesn't add any nasty toxins.

Thanks. Now, I'll just run up to the corner brewer's pitch store and get some.... ; ) .

[Addreonynn]

the way they used to do it, was keep water in them. this would cause it to swell up and form a water tight seal! just submerge it and soak it in water for a day! great find! i love those buckets

[Manveruon]

Haha, I was going to reply, "WITH STRAW, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry."

but yeah, brewers pitch is a better idea.

[Straelbora]

Haha, I was going to reply, "WITH STRAW, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry."

but yeah, brewers pitch is a better idea.

My 4 year old son Henry yells at me every time I start to sing that song at him (yes, at him).

[Straelbora]

the way they used to do it, was keep water in them. this would cause it to swell up and form a water tight seal! just submerge it and soak it in water for a day! great find! i love those buckets

Hadn't thought of that. It looks like it was actually a novelty give away from maybe the '50s or '60s, so not sure if it will swell up properly. It was meant to contain shoe shine items, and has a small foot stand like you'd find on a shoe shine booth (I'm going to cut that off). I need to clean up and sand the interior, but maybe I'll start with soaking it in a tub.

[Manveruon]

There's also that food-safe urethane they sometimes use to line ren faire mugs, etc. It would be a bit more permanen, though not as period.

[turnip]

Kinda sorta along the same lines - Jen (oops - Turnip) and I have discussed carving some mugs, bowls, etc. So would we finish 'em off with some of this stuff to make them usable/ a little more liquid proof? Sindara

[Ringulf]

You can, The product is called "Pour-on" and you can get it at most large craft stores. I was told that it was food grade but have yet to confirm it through the company.

[Straelbora]

You can, The product is called "Pour-on" and you can get it at most large craft stores. I was told that it was food grade but have yet to confirm it through the company.

Thanks- I'm afraid if I got some brewer's pitch and tried melting it and applying it, you wouldn't hear from me for months until the burns on my hands healed well enough for me to type again.

[Peter Remling]

Thanks- I'm afraid if I got some brewer's pitch and tried melting it and applying it, you wouldn't hear from me for months until the burns on my hands healed well enough for me to type again.

Two words- Double Boiler

[Ringulf]

Yeah! get two other guys to do it for you so you don't have to!

[Addreonynn]

if it doesn't stop the leak after soaking it, then rub some beeswax all over it, then take a heatgun on low, or a blow dryer on high(it'll just take more time) and that'll seal it!

[BarrelMaker]

I do some woodworking myself and have sold several food safe items, mainly goblets. I use and would recommend Salad Bowl Finish. If you have a wood workers supply near you then you should be able to find it but Lowes and Home Depot do not carry it. I would also suggest Rockler, they're a good company and here is the link.
http://www.rockler.com/salad-bowl-finish
I hope that helps.