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The New 5-Gallon Bucket Book: Ingenious DIY Projects, Hacks, and Upcycles

July 17, 2023 by Shellie Wilson

Why just reuse a bucket when you can reinvent it? The New 5-Gallon Bucket Book updates a quirky classic with 30+ new ways to take those old buckets and put them to use.

Five-gallon buckets are ubiquitous and cheap (or even free). They are right up there with some of man’s best inventions, like the wheel and sliced bread. Sure, they can be useful on their own, holding stuff or transporting stuff from place to place. But that’s no fun. Put them to use around the house, garden, or farm instead! With common tools and the instructions in this book, you’ll find 60+ ideas and projects to make today. Connect with your inner engineer as you:

Make something for around the home, like a shoe rack, trash compactor, water filter, or mousetrap.
Become more self-sufficient, with a chicken waterer, egg incubator, nesting box, or bee feeder.
Have some fun with an air cannon, beanbag toss, drum set, or washtub bass.
Get creative by dressing your kid up in a bucket costume for Halloween, making a boat anchor, or a set of music speakers.
Grow more in the garden with a sweet potato starter, rolling composter, Japanese beetle trap, vermiculture bin, or walking watering can.

As you can see, there’s no shortage of ways to put these humble and hard-working mainstays to work past their prime and keep them out of landfills. Simple step-by-step instructions, as well as parts lists and images of the completed projects, make sure you will have fun and love the results of your work.

 

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Have you read?

DIY Review: Giving a Vintage Milk Can New Life as a Charming Outdoor Side Table

Ever stumbled upon a piece of decor that instantly transports you back in time? That’s exactly how I felt when I came across Cindy’s tutorial on transforming a vintage milk can into the most delightful outdoor side table. It’s one of those projects that blends nostalgia and functionality in a way that just makes your heart smile.

Cindy starts the tutorial with a bit of backstory on old milk cans—those heavy-duty relics of rural life that once carried fresh milk from farm to table. It’s kind of poetic, turning something that was once a workhorse on the farm into a centerpiece on your patio.

The steps she outlines are clear and totally approachable. You’ll need a vintage milk can, a wooden round (for the tabletop), a few basic tools like a drill and wood glue, and your favorite paint. What I appreciated most was how she kept the instructions flexible. Her husband welded a steel bar to the can to hold the tabletop in place (which is super sturdy), but she also offers a no-welding alternative that uses a snug-fitting piece of wood inside the opening. Perfect for folks like me who aren’t exactly on a first-name basis with a welder.

The painting part is where things get extra fun. Cindy uses mineral paint for the base and a whitewash technique on the wood top, finishing it off with some gentle distressing. It gives the table this lovely worn-in look—like it’s been part of your porch for years. I could practically see it next to a rocking chair with a pitcher of lemonade and a good book.

One little thing I personally loved? The fact that she didn’t over-polish the final look. It’s clean, yes—but still has that imperfect, charming farmhouse appeal. Like something your grandmother might have owned, but cooler.

If you’re into DIY with a heart and a healthy respect for vintage charm, this project is 100% worth trying. It’s simple, budget-friendly, and lets you bring a little slice of the past into your modern-day life. Now if only I could get my hands on a milk can…

 

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