5-gallon bucket condos.

I've never built them before. I just harvested enough nice bamboo for 2, maybe 3 good-sized 5 gallon bucket structures. It's legal to place them in this lake and the DNR encourages it, but I'm curious about the buckets. After the concrete sets, is it possible to just pull the concrete out of the bucket so you can re-use the bucket and not have to "litter" the lake bottom with them? I suspect it would be a net positive for the lake even if you must sink the whole kit and kaboodle, but I'd really prefer to remove the concrete and save the bucket. Not a financial issue, just an environmental conscience thing.

They make a concrete release agent that I think might be what you're looking for. Can be purchased online and at Lowes, Home Depot, etc...

Paste wax works pretty well

Cooking spray, WD-40 will work.

I have used some plastic in the past and that works but have also been able to get 95% of buckets off without doing anything beforehand. Just pick up on the structure and tap down on bucket rim. Did six like that last week


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I've heard of guys cutting their buckets down the sides a few times and putting a couple rachet straps to hold until concrete sets up.

half buckets are best , skill saw the top half off the 5 gallon before you use it , lots easier to carry around at half the weight and much easier to get off too .....
set one last week myself ....
better and easier are cinder blocks though and you can find used ones at tear down locations for free

Could just cut to lengths for proper depth and use a driver . No concrete needed

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Originally Posted by Brag

I've never built them before. I just harvested enough nice bamboo for 2, maybe 3 good-sized 5 gallon bucket structures. It's legal to place them in this lake and the DNR encourages it, but I'm curious about the buckets. After the concrete sets, is it possible to just pull the concrete out of the bucket so you can re-use the bucket and not have to "litter" the lake bottom with them? I suspect it would be a net positive for the lake even if you must sink the whole kit and kaboodle, but I'd really prefer to remove the concrete and save the bucket. Not a financial issue, just an



environmental conscience thing.

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we sink 25 -30 of these every year and yes if you pick it up after the concrete hardened. You can hold it up about 1 inch from the ground, and hit the side of the bucket with a hammer and the bucket will fall. No release agent needed. Just pick up by the bamboo that you concreted in place and hit it, make sure you put a 20 oz bottle in the top of the reed to keep them upright.

Residential construction is crazy in my area. I go to new subdivisions and get buckets among other materials from the dumpsters. They throw away many buckets that I don’t have a need to remove them.

Old post but no-one thought of putting a heavy plastic bag or visqueen in the bucket for easy release. Then pull off concrete.