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After tangled chains, what about jammed plastic buckets??

8 years ago

I scored a bunch of big plastic plant pots that were going to be tossed by the grocery store. Yay! Once home, I discovered several are very tightly jammed together (even my DH can't budge them). Grrrrr! Any suggestions as to what I can do? I really need this size pot. =(

Featured Answer

raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio

8 years ago

Pour hot water over the outside, cold on the inside

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Comments (14)

Elizabeth
8 years ago
Yup
roxanna7 thanked Elizabeth
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What kind of links are they? Links could just be asquew. (Sp?) I have an s-link that happens to. Start at one end and carefully work through. You could tape it to cardboard as you work through it to keep the fixed bit separate from the tangle. If there are circular or oval links, I carefully work through it with a straight pin. Good luck. A photo could help. K
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roxanna7
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks to both of you! Why didn't I think of that?! Off to do the job. =)
lily316
8 years ago
Wish my chain situation would be so easy...lol
blfenton
8 years ago
Did it work?
roxanna7 thanked blfenton
moonie_57 (8 NC)
8 years ago
Try a soft touch, pulling apart and working around the pots. At work, (nursery) we always had problems getting pots apart.
roxanna7 thanked moonie_57 (8 NC)
roxanna7
Original Author
8 years ago
blfenton, I am the world's gold medal winner at procrastination, so I haven't yet tried it. Hope to get to it tomorrow! (no promises)
roxanna7
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks, moonie -- I did try that first. Problem seems to be that these pots do not have any drain holes, so stuck = stuck. I surmise if there had been holes it would allow air pressure to work to my advantage in fiddling with them. ah, well...
FlamingO in AR
8 years ago
Heat a long needle and push it thru one to let some air in.
roxanna7 thanked FlamingO in AR
Olychick
8 years ago
Try setting them in the sun and separating when hot. Even though that will expand the plastic, it also may soften it enough to allow some flexibility.
roxanna7 thanked Olychick
Michael
8 years ago
Make your own drain holes with a 1/4" drill bit. Then fill the tower of pots with warm, soapy water.
roxanna7 thanked Michael
breenthumb
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
I was thinking the same as Olychick, warm sunshine to soften & flex. Couple of extra hands to pull opposite end, if there are a lot, might help too.

On the other hand, that might be why they were throwing them away.
roxanna7 thanked breenthumb
joyfulguy
8 years ago
No wisdom over what's been offered, I fear.

Except ... put 'em on your head, if you're looking to get up in the world.

o j
roxanna7 thanked joyfulguy
roxanna7
Original Author
8 years ago
Happy update: I drilled a hole in the bottom of a stack of three and then fiddled with them. It worked! Kept drilling the other stacks and now am very happy. Made lots of drainage holes in all. Now to get planting.

Many thanks to all of you for good ideas!

Joyful -- at just under 5' tall, I'd do better to stand on them to "get up in the world". LOL. =)

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