Stacking streength of LTS food buckets

[All Talk]

I just recieved my first batch of staples in 5-gallon buckets from Emergency Essentials. I am now officially prepping (and officially crazy according to my wife), but only enough for a short period -- i.e. I have 6 5-gallon buckets of things like Rice, powdered milk, lentils, split peas.

I don't have any storage space problems with such a small set, but I naturally intend to do much more.

Does anybody have any experience on the stacking strength of such buckets? Is it safe to stack two high? three high? (safe in the sense of no breakage or loss of seal integrety of the buckets).

Should one stack directly on top of each other (so base of upper bucket pressing in on "drum head" of lower bucket) or offset (so each bucket rests on the rim edges of two or probably three lower buckets.

[Gordon]

The lid is the weak part. I prefer to lay plywood between the buckets so the weight of the bucket above is bearing on the rim of the bucket below rather than the lid. I have some stacked 4 high.

[Lowdown3]

Basically what Gordon said.

I've never purchased Superpails from them, but I know where they get them from and I have more than a few from the same manufacturer. They are quality buckets and lids. You can safely go two high, then put a piece of plywood down, then two high again, with some space for #10 cans or something else on top of that. You can fit quite a few this way in a 3' wide by 8' long section.

[Lowdown3]

Basically what Gordon said.

I've never purchased Superpails from them, but I know where they get them from and I have more than a few from the same manufacturer. They are quality buckets and lids. You can safely go two high, then put a piece of plywood down, then two high again, with some space for #10 cans or something else on top of that. You can fit quite a few this way in a 3' wide by 8' long section.

[All Talk]

thanks, should have thought of the plywood!

[K9barco]

I get all of my food grade buckets for free from the grocery stores in my area. Just visit the bakery and ask for some icing buckets with lids; they are happy to get rid of them. They are about 3 1/2 gallon size and have great rubber seals on the lids. i have about 40 of them right now and will be packing some food next week in 11 x 13 mylar bags.