Okay, so I had this watering can, right? Good sturdy can, but the spout just gave up the ghost the other day. Cracked right near the base. Annoying, because the rest of it was perfectly fine and I hate throwing things away if I can help it.
First thing I did was poke around the garage. Thought maybe I could patch it up, but the plastic was pretty brittle where it broke. No dice. So, replacement time. But buying a whole new can felt wasteful. I started thinking about what I could use instead.
Finding a Fix
I rummaged through my bits-and-bobs box. Found some old bits of plastic tubing, the kind you might use for plumbing or something. One piece looked about the right diameter. It was straight, though, and the original spout had a nice curve.
Here’s what I tried:
- First, I measured the old spout’s length roughly and cut the tubing to size using a simple handsaw. Just needed a basic length to start.
- Then came the tricky part: the bend. I carefully used my heat gun – kept it moving, didn’t want to melt the thing. Gently, gently heated the middle section until it got a bit soft.
- I slowly bent it to roughly the angle I wanted. Had an old can nearby to compare. Held it in place for a minute or two until it cooled down and kept its shape. Took a couple of tries, honestly. First time wasn’t bendy enough.
Next, attaching it. The base of the old spout left a hole in the can. The tubing was almost the right size. A bit loose. I wrapped some waterproof tape around the end of my new spout to make it thicker. Kind of wedged it in there. It wasn’t pretty, but I wanted to see if it’d work.
Testing and Tweaking
Filled the can with a bit of water. Lifted it up… success! Mostly. There was a small dribble from where the new spout met the can. Not a major leak, but enough to be irritating.
So, I emptied it out, dried it off properly. This time I applied some strong, waterproof sealant all around the join where the tube went into the can body. Really worked it into the gap. Let that cure properly overnight – patience is key with sealant, I’ve learned that the hard way before.
Next morning, filled it up again. Tipped it over. Perfect! Water came out the end, nice steady stream, no leaks at the base. The bend was just right to reach into pots without spilling everywhere.
It might not look factory-new, the grey tube doesn’t quite match the green can, but who cares? It works perfectly, saved me buying a new one, and I got the satisfaction of fixing it myself. Pretty pleased with that little afternoon project.
