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Removing lids from Kleen Rite buckets

MEP001 said:
There's a special tool for it.
Click to expand...

Bought the advertised "Pail removal tool" Either it doesn't work for their pails Or I don't know how to use it.


What I do is use a hack saw to cut about 6 slots evenly spaced around the edge of the lid and then with a vise grip pry up each section using a screw driver to keep it from folding back down as I do the next. If I want to do a bunch I am thinking of putting a cutting whell on my angle grinder to make the slots.
 
I use an LS Starrett utility knife to cut about 5-6 vertical notches in the side of the cover. Then I start with the first 'tab' I made and pull it up with my hands. Kind of hard and requires strength but can be done. By the third notch the lid comes off. This kind of mangles the lid, though.

I have the lid removal tool, but favor the 'waxman method'.
 
They are a big paine. I let them stack up for awhile then use my angle grinder with a cutting wheel to cut 4 or 5 slots in them then use a screwdriver to pry out the lip then the lid tool to take them off. Once I get the lip out I usually can slide the tool all the way around the lid.
 
Wayne J said:
Ropak U5 lids
Click to expand...
The Ropak is a different style lid than most 5 gal lid. It has a 1.5" lip that goes down on the inside of the pail. KR chemical is the only bucket I have ever seen this lid used on. It is extremely difficult to get off. I double that the lid removal tool will work on this without mangling the lid.
 
Why do you want to take the lids off? When there empty we toss them into the dumpster. Why save them?
 
If you were savvy like me, you'd put them to use or re-sell them and make a couple extra bucks!
 
I don't like to just throw them away, but I don't have need for as many as I empty, nor do I feel like selling them. I rinse them two at a time and leave them on a couple of vac islands for customers to "steal." Sometimes they're gone within five minutes, sometimes they're there after three or four days. I have picked them back up and thrown them away after someone used one for bucket washing and put it back.

If you stack them by the dumpster with the lids on them, people will take them.
 
Everybody I know wants free buckets - customers, family, neighbors, etc. I never have enough.

I cut 6 or 8 notches with a pair of wire snippers, fairly heavy ones. Then use the pail removal tool on each remaining "tab".
 
Lid Problems

Has anyone contacted KR with the problem? I would think they would want to give their customers a user friendly product.
 
Very opportune timing for this thread. I called KR Friday with this very question and they thought I was a moron that couldn't get bucket lids off. After much discussion, their final answer was there was no easy way.

I purchased a dozen buckets of product from them and have been testing it in consideration of using KR next year. I like to get every last drop out of the bucket and the best way is to remove the lid. If I can't figure out a better way I might reconsider changing.
 
I would assume they use the tight-fitting lids because they ship better.

You can always rinse the pail with water and pour that into your diluted product to minimize waste.
 
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