Can anyone recommend a decent but inexpensive ash container. I was just going to pick on up from Lowe's for $20, but I thought I'd ask around first. Money is very tight right now.
recommendations for inexpensive ash bucket
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LLigetfa
Minister of Fire
I use a coal hod. The angled pour spout lets me lower in the ash shovel versus just dumping it from a height and raising dust. Only thing is I wish it had a hinged lid.
mellow
Resident Stove Connoisseur
Look in the clearance section at Lowes, that is where I found my steel bucket with lid for $8. I dump that into a larger steel trash can, I got that at lowes to.
DBoon
Minister of Fire
I got a used 2 gallon steel bucket with top for $3. It doesn't sit inside, so I don't really care how it looks (though it looks just fine).
savageactor7
Minister of Fire
$20 isn't jack anymore...to assure yourself of a quality product check out the local hearth shop. For a few dollars more you might get one that will last a life time.
We picked up a nice galvanized pail w/ lid. I would have to check, but between 2-3 gallons. Lid comes off a tad hard, but less than $20. Found at Home Depot in the cleaning section.
I bought two used 15 gallon galvanized trash cans with lids at a yard sale this past summer for $7 apiece. One of them will sit outside the front door as an ash receptacle one day.
littlesmokey
Minister of Fire
Try a feed store. You can get a tough metal can used for feed in barns. Last one I bought for a "gift" had a lid lock and was about $10.
Bigg_Redd
Minister of Fire
madrone
Minister of Fire
waynek
Member
Free works best for me. There are two log home builders in my area and they get their log preservative/stains in 5 gallon steel buckets. The buckets have a steel lid and I have taken several off their hands in the last twenty years or so. There are many uses for them besides hauling out the stove ashes.
The old coal hod has been retired and sits next to the fireplace. Its current function is to store kindling. Fireplace and wood stove ashes are hauled out with a steel bucket.
jackpine
The old coal hod has been retired and sits next to the fireplace. Its current function is to store kindling. Fireplace and wood stove ashes are hauled out with a steel bucket.
jackpine
LLigetfa
Minister of Fire
I used a small galvanized pail for years before the wife bought the coal hod. I didn't realize at the time that dumping the ashes into the pail sent a lot of it airborne. With the wider opening on the hod I can lower the shovel into it and then gently slide it out with a lot less ashes getting in the air.
This ash holder is too pricey for me but I do like the low profile design and lid.
This ash holder is too pricey for me but I do like the low profile design and lid.
A few years ago I looked at ash pails in the wood stove section of the HW store for $20-25.
A few aisles over general Merch. I found a 5 gal galvanized pail. for $6.
Fill it with ashes, and wearing my stove gloves , set it outside to cool. Dump later.
A few aisles over general Merch. I found a 5 gal galvanized pail. for $6.
Fill it with ashes, and wearing my stove gloves , set it outside to cool. Dump later.
oconnor
Minister of Fire
Whatever you get, look for one with a raised bottom so that any heat that may dwell in the coals doesn't get accidently transfered to whatever you set it on. I got a stainless raised bottom can with a lid at a Princess Auto in Canada for 10 buck - feed stores should have something similar.
firefighterjake
Minister of Fire
Galvanized metal pail with lid from the local True Value Hardware Store . . . I do not keep this inside and it took a bit before the smell of the galvanized metal burned off.
SteveKG
Minister of Fire
I use a five-gal. bucket [steel] with lid. Free. I used to have a couple dozen around here but am down to one. They were originally full of wood stain. Mine has so far lasted for over 20 yr.
LLigetfa
Minister of Fire
Ja, I still have my old bucket but now it's all rusty because the coating burned off. I wondered what the health effects were smelling it but I'm still alive.firefighterjake said:
Like Rodney Dangerfield used to say... "if I knew I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself".
LLigetfa said:
I will agree, I use the same thing. For a lid, I just put on a piece of heavy duty aluminum foil so I can carry it through the house to the garden where I dump the ashes. The hod stays outside.
Thanks for all the responses. I do like the idea of something really well built that will last, but it seems any time you get something that claims to be designed for a special use, you get gauged bigtime. Like tools for luthery—they figure since you can't just buy them from the hardware store, they can charge you 8 times what you'd pay for a similar tool that's not for luthery. I think I'll check the local seed store & maybe wal mart.
Also, I was thinking if I got one of the plain buckets I could put some leftover 1.5 inch ceramic-fiber insulation in the bottom & maybe cover that with a disc of sheet metal. Or just pour a layer of mortar mix in the bottom. Probably a moot point anyway, since I plan to put it on my concrete porch.
Also, I was thinking if I got one of the plain buckets I could put some leftover 1.5 inch ceramic-fiber insulation in the bottom & maybe cover that with a disc of sheet metal. Or just pour a layer of mortar mix in the bottom. Probably a moot point anyway, since I plan to put it on my concrete porch.
I went to Wal Mart and picked up a cheap porcelain coated stock pot. One of the black/bluish with the white specs on it. It comes with a lid and works great. I have had it for 4 years now and used it when I had just my fireplace. Did i mention that Im a lazy ass and left ashes in it for weeks and it hasn't rusted out yet.
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LLigetfa
Minister of Fire
I've heard of some people using a shallow oval or rectangular roasting pot and sticking it right inside the stove so that dust raised whilst shoveling, stays in the stove. I also heard of a Victorian bedpan being used that way but in one case the heat melted the solder and the handle fell off.
The way to rust out an Ash Pail is to let the ashes get wet an dsit in the pail.
Avoid that and thye'll last a long time.
Avoid that and thye'll last a long time.
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