From the page: This bucket still has more chapters ahead
Idea 7
Work-site mortar bowl
The mortar and pestle is the oldest tool of the kitchen and the workshop: a heavy container where things get crushed with a pestle. On job sites, the bucket version serves for mixing small portions of plaster, grout or caulk — the thick plastic takes the pounding of the socket without cracking.
What you need
- Small paint bucket (2 to 5 liters, thick plastic)
- Iron socket, short steel rod or firm smooth stone (the "pestle")
- Medium sandpaper
- Damp cloth
- Used cooking oil (optional, to coat the bottom)
How to make it
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1
Clean the bucket inside and out with a damp cloth, without excess water — any moisture ruins mortar and grout at mixing time.
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2
Sand the inner bottom to leave the surface rough — that roughness is what helps crush and mix, like the grooves of a stone mortar.
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3
Dry it well and, if you want easier cleanup later, coat the bottom with a thin layer of used cooking oil, which creates a release film.
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4
Weigh the empty bucket: if it's too light, place a flat stone at the bottom for stability so it doesn't "dance" while you pound the mix.
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5
To use, place the material (grout, caulk) at the bottom and strike with pounding motions, turning the pestle with each strike to mix evenly.
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6
When finished, soak it with water before the mix dries — dried grout inside plastic only comes off by breaking the bucket.
Finishing touches
Make a pair: one bucket for construction mixes and another clean one for crushing herbs or homemade fertilizer in the garden. Keep the socket tied to the handle so you never lose sight of the pestle.
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