My DIY Grit Guards (2 for < $7)

[c5rick]

Re: My DIY Grit Guards (2 for < $7)

I'm currently laid off so with the extra time I have and being low on funds, I decided to try and make some guards.
I used egg crate ceiling tile grid, bigger the the lighting grid.
Below, pic of the ceiling tile ($10.00), tube of super glue ($1.50), small file and side cutters & aSharpie



I placed the bucket on the grid and traced it Then snipped the grid just inside my marks. Test fit and snip a little at a time until it fits snug on the bottom. If it's snug on the bottom it will fit great when you elevate it.





I wanted to have the guard 3" off the bottom so I cut a peice of the grid at 3" wide and the entire length of the grid



I measured the width of piece I cut out and cut the 3" piece to that length. You can be less, but not longer. and super glued it in place. I used the file to smooth out the nubs sticking out where I trimmed the sections, I wanted good contact where I was gluing. You could use sandpaper or if you had a belt sander you cut cut the time in half, as this step took the most time.



Next I measure and made two more pieces from the 3" strip and filed them smooth and glued one on each side of the first one.







That's it and the finished product and the last pic, it's in the bucket.









If you're careful and lay everything out before cutting, you can get minimum of 5 and maybe 6 out of one grid panel.
It took less then 25 minutes for each and be careful. I have 4 five gallon buckets by two manufacturers and this does make a difference. Use the bucket it's for when marking your outline.
Thanks

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: My DIY Grit Guards (2 for < $7)

Rick, The grit guard looks great.

[RickyMartinZ28]

Re: My DIY Grit Guards (2 for < $7)

Wouldn't an open design like that enable the flow of water/turbulance and increase the re-polluting of the water with debris? I might dry some 3D design work and see if I can show a picture of what I'm trying to describe...

[RickyMartinZ28]

Re: My DIY Grit Guards (2 for < $7)



With the above design, water could be agitated (rubbing mitt across guard ) on top of the guard to release debris, and it could fall to the bottom, where water cannot be agitated... keeping the debris segregated...

[RickyMartinZ28]

Re: My DIY Grit Guards (2 for < $7)

Seems like the above would be easier to construct as well.... Cut an 8' section of 1/2" 3/4" 1" PVC into 4" sections and just stack in the bottom, or bundle them just as easily....

Not only are we keeping the mitt from contacting the bottom on the container, thus contaminating the mitt, but we're trying to keep the water from becoming recontaminated as well....

I'm probably thinking way too deep into this.

[RickyMartinZ28]

Re: My DIY Grit Guards (2 for < $7)

Could get crazy and use a marine pump and filter and try to conserve soap/recycle materials...

[Eddie6th]

Re: My DIY Grit Guards (2 for < $7)

One good point about the homemade gritguard. I checked out a site and the gritguard is something like 263mm diameter(If I remember well). The buckets I get here are either too big or too small.

I can get a hold of gritguards,but how can I apply them if there is no bucket supplied?

[Murr1525]

Re: My DIY Grit Guards (2 for < $7)

Well.. Here in the US, they are sized for a 5 gallon bucket. I guess someone could measure across one to give you the size, then you could browse stores to find one.

But using the egg crate lighting screen shown is pretty much the same thing if you cant find anything the right sze. I would just make the legs solid, either with a solid plastc, or covering the egg crate.

[Eddie6th]

Re: My DIY Grit Guards (2 for < $7)

That's what the difference is.

Over here,You buy a bucket of paint for the house and you're left with a really good bucket(about 5 gallons).Even if i wanted to go and buy a spare which is empty,they're still the same size.

I think this is down to difference in sizes between Europe and the US.

I believe there is a bucket made in association with the gritguards,but I havn't seen it here.Just the gritguards.

[Murr1525]

Re: My DIY Grit Guards (2 for < $7)

The Grit Guard people 'make' a bucket, but it is just a re-labeled US 5 gal bucket.

I would think it is a pretty standard size, even worldwide, but maybe not. Although even here you get the odd 5gal bucket every once in a while that is more narrow and tall.