Walking past my water butt today, I noticed a wet patch on the ground,
and a jet of water coming from the bottom of the water butt. Closer
investigation shows that there is a crack close to, but separate from
the drain valve. Is this likely to be fixable (it is made of an unknown
type of plastic), or is it RIP water butt ?


Adrian
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On 08/06/14 20:34, Adrian wrote:
Walking past my water butt today, I noticed a wet patch on the ground,
and a jet of water coming from the bottom of the water butt. Closer
investigation shows that there is a crack close to, but separate from
the drain valve. Is this likely to be fixable (it is made of an unknown
type of plastic), or is it RIP water butt ?


Adrian

If it's polythene, forget it - nothing glues that.

If you had some ABS/PVC pipe jointing solvent cement, see if a drop of
that eats into the plastic. If so, you might be able to cement a piece
over the crack.

"Adrian" wrote in message ...
Walking past my water butt today, I noticed a wet patch on the ground, and a jet of
water coming from the bottom of the water butt. Closer investigation shows that there
is a crack close to, but separate from the drain valve. Is this likely to be fixable
(it is made of an unknown type of plastic), or is it RIP water butt ?


You could try lining the butt with something. Thick plastic
sheet or similar. If you can force fit an appropriate
sized piece of pipe into the drain valve from inside
- probably the most critical aspect of the whole thing
should be possible to cut a round hole and tie the plastic
securely around that, binding it with polypropylene string.
It may look a bit of a mess at the top where the plastic is
gathered around the sides, but that can probably be solved
if the lid wasn't too tight a fit to begin with. And its not as
though it will be open that often.


michael adams

....

On 08/06/2014 20:34, Adrian wrote:
Walking past my water butt today, I noticed a wet patch on the ground,
and a jet of water coming from the bottom of the water butt. Closer
investigation shows that there is a crack close to, but separate from
the drain valve. Is this likely to be fixable (it is made of an unknown
type of plastic), or is it RIP water butt ?

IMHO RIP.

It's probably got brittle with UV damage as it ages.

Andy

On Sun, 8 Jun 2014 20:34:34 +0100, Adrian wrote:

Walking past my water butt today, I noticed a wet patch on the ground,
and a jet of water coming from the bottom of the water butt. Closer
investigation shows that there is a crack close to, but separate from
the drain valve. Is this likely to be fixable (it is made of an unknown
type of plastic), or is it RIP water butt ?

Sometimes cyanoacrylate in a plastic crack works - to my surprise. I cant see it coping here but might help support the repair patch a bit more.

I just repaired a smaller cracked plastic water container with generous internal application of silicone. Its flexibility is a big plus, the crack's bound to move in use.


NT

Depends how much one would cost I'd imagine. maybe you need to get one
before the drought hits.
I did successfully use Urethane bond on one some years back, but I had to
empty it clean around the crack, and make an ugly looking blob all around
it. If its the plastic which has gone brittle with age, then its probably
not going to be worth it

Brian

--
From the Bed of Brian Gaff.
The email is valid as
Blind user.
"Adrian" wrote in message
...
Walking past my water butt today, I noticed a wet patch on the ground, and
a jet of water coming from the bottom of the water butt. Closer
investigation shows that there is a crack close to, but separate from the
drain valve. Is this likely to be fixable (it is made of an unknown type
of plastic), or is it RIP water butt ?


Adrian
--
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"Adrian" wrote in message
...
Walking past my water butt today, I noticed a wet patch on the ground, and
a jet of water coming from the bottom of the water butt. Closer
investigation shows that there is a crack close to, but separate from the
drain valve. Is this likely to be fixable (it is made of an unknown type
of plastic), or is it RIP water butt ?

then mend it dear henry dear henry dear henry

In article ,
says...


It's a common failure point, on the corner of the recess where the
drain-tap bolts on. I guess it's a stress point when opening and
closing the tap. I have made semi-permanent repairs by emptying the
butt and allowing it to dry out thoroughly, laying it on its side with
the tap at the lowest point. Crawl into the butt armed with a torch,
coarse sandpaper, a small pot of black bitumastic roof sealer,
disposable brush and a small patch-piece of Flashband. Wearing your
best suit is not advisable.

Sand the area around the leak to roughen and clean the surface, paint
with the bitumastic, apply the Flashband patch, then generously paint
on more bitumastic and allow to dry. Lasts a couple of years.


Don't forget to avoid using any water from this water butt for several
weeks, since the various materials used in the repair are probably
injurious to plants, especially seedlings.

It's not really worth it in the long run.


--
Sam

On Monday, June 9, 2014 1:55:44 AM UTC+1, Sam Plusnet wrote:

Don't forget to avoid using any water from this water butt for several
weeks, since the various materials used in the repair are probably
injurious to plants, especially seedlings.
It's not really worth it in the long run.

Silicone releases acetic acid, which lots of plants love. There wont be enough to make any difference though.


NT

In article ,
writes:
On Monday, June 9, 2014 1:55:44 AM UTC+1, Sam Plusnet wrote:

Don't forget to avoid using any water from this water butt for several
weeks, since the various materials used in the repair are probably
injurious to plants, especially seedlings.
It's not really worth it in the long run.

Silicone releases acetic acid, which lots of plants love. There wont be enough to make any difference though.

Many silicones have anti-fungals, which the plants will hate as most rely
on fungi to work with their root systems.

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

On Sun, 8 Jun 2014 15:28:40 -0700 (PDT), wrote:

Sometimes cyanoacrylate in a plastic crack works - to my surprise. I
cant see it coping here but might help support the repair patch a bit
more.

Guess it depends on the size of the crack/hole. If it's a really tiny
pinhole, emptying letting dry, warming the area, and appling liquid
cyanoacrylate might work as it'll get drawn in by capillary action.
Might be enough to bung up the hole but I doubt it will take much
movement, cured cyanoacrylate is fairly brittle.

Wonder if Captain Tolly's Creeping Crack Cure would be better than
cyanacrylate? http://www.captaintolley.com/

Other possible methods:

Drill small hole at point of leak. Fit nut and bolt through hole with
and penny washers each side liberally smeared with a sealant.
Stainless or brass nut & bolt and washers though if well covered in
sealant ordinary plated steel parts might last reasonably well.

Use hot air gun and some extra plastic the same as the butt and try
to thermo-weld over the crack.

--
Cheers
Dave.

Adrian wrote:
Walking past my water butt today, I noticed a wet patch on the ground,
and a jet of water coming from the bottom of the water butt. Closer
investigation shows that there is a crack close to, but separate from
the drain valve. Is this likely to be fixable (it is made of an unknown
type of plastic), or is it RIP water butt ?


Adrian


It can be welded using a heat gun and filler rod, You can also weld with
a soldering iron with the correct tip.

On 08/06/2014 20:34, Adrian wrote:
Walking past my water butt today, I noticed a wet patch on the ground,
and a jet of water coming from the bottom of the water butt. Closer
investigation shows that there is a crack close to, but separate from
the drain valve. Is this likely to be fixable (it is made of an unknown
type of plastic), or is it RIP water butt ?


Adrian


Everyone has a hole in their butt.........

On 09/06/2014 09:19, Chris Hogg wrote:
On Mon, 09 Jun 2014 18:05:43 +1000, F Murtz
wrote:

Adrian wrote:
Walking past my water butt today, I noticed a wet patch on the ground,
and a jet of water coming from the bottom of the water butt. Closer
investigation shows that there is a crack close to, but separate from
the drain valve. Is this likely to be fixable (it is made of an unknown
type of plastic), or is it RIP water butt ?


Adrian


It can be welded using a heat gun and filler rod, You can also weld with
a soldering iron with the correct tip.

BTDT. I cut a few shavings from around the top of the butt to provide
a bit of 'welding rod'. But I would recommend extreme caution with any
heat-based process, as the plastic melts very easily and it's easy to
make things a hole (sic) lot worse!

I had this problem. In the end I bit the bullet and bought a
replacement. I found Wicke's best.

On Monday, June 9, 2014 9:45:22 AM UTC+1, Stephen wrote:
On 08/06/2014 20:34, Adrian wrote:
Walking past my water butt today, I noticed a wet patch on the ground,
and a jet of water coming from the bottom of the water butt. Closer
investigation shows that there is a crack close to, but separate from
the drain valve. Is this likely to be fixable (it is made of an unknown
type of plastic), or is it RIP water butt ?

Everyone has a hole in their butt.........

Trouble is the OP's butt now has a 2nd hole. Some people pay good money for that.

In message ,
writes
On Monday, June 9, 2014 9:45:22 AM UTC+1, Stephen wrote:
On 08/06/2014 20:34, Adrian wrote:
Walking past my water butt today, I noticed a wet patch on the ground,
and a jet of water coming from the bottom of the water butt. Closer
investigation shows that there is a crack close to, but separate from
the drain valve. Is this likely to be fixable (it is made of an unknown
type of plastic), or is it RIP water butt ?

Everyone has a hole in their butt.........

Trouble is the OP's butt now has a 2nd hole. Some people pay good money
for that.

It has 4 holes (big one in the top, small one in the side - water inlet,
small one at the bottom - water outlet, plus crack).


Adrian
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In message , Adrian
writes
Walking past my water butt today, I noticed a wet patch on the ground,
and a jet of water coming from the bottom of the water butt. Closer
investigation shows that there is a crack close to, but separate from
the drain valve. Is this likely to be fixable (it is made of an
unknown type of plastic), or is it RIP water butt ?


Adrian

Thanks for the replies and suggestions.

Whilst I prefer to fix things if I can, I suspect that this might be one
of those things that isn't going to be easily fixable. I've just had
another look at it, the crack is the best part of an inch long, and is
right at the bottom, so hard to get at from the inside.


Adrian
--
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Adrian wrote:
In message , Adrian
writes
Walking past my water butt today, I noticed a wet patch on the ground,
and a jet of water coming from the bottom of the water butt. Closer
investigation shows that there is a crack close to, but separate from
the drain valve. Is this likely to be fixable (it is made of an
unknown type of plastic), or is it RIP water butt ?


Adrian

Thanks for the replies and suggestions.

Whilst I prefer to fix things if I can, I suspect that this might be one
of those things that isn't going to be easily fixable. I've just had
another look at it, the crack is the best part of an inch long, and is
right at the bottom, so hard to get at from the inside.


Adrian
Easy to weld as long as it is empty.
I just welded a crack about 500 mm in the bottom of a kayak.
http://www.ehow.com/how_8001797_weld...ring-iron.html
Although I used a heat gun similar to this.
http://www.ebay.com.au/bhp/plastic-welding-gun