How To Cut Off The Handles on Brutes or Trash Cans Like A Pro
Todde Philips
🇺🇸 Retired veteran, father, rock-climbing expert & rosin connoisseur.
Brute trash cans have long been used as washing vessels in ice water extraction labs. Large bubble wash bags fit around the edges of the Brute, stacking inside the trash cans one on top of the other. But, the handles on either side of the trash can prevent the bags from fitting perfectly over the edge of the trash can.
All Brute cans with a product serial number starting with FG are food grade. Several years ago, Rubbermaid Brute released a statement saying they would be making all colors certified food grade, a standard that’s best to uphold in your hash lab.
The main benefit to cutting off the handles is that it keeps the top edge of the washing vessel completely rounded. The jutting-out handles that come standard on the Brute trash cans obstruct a tight and even fit of your wash bags. For a clean, even fit it’s best to remove the handles.
However, simply cutting off the handles with whatever knife or scissors you have laying around the shop could result in a hack job that sets you up for injury. Rough and sharp edges exposed around the outside of the washing vessel can tear your wash bags and/or cause injury.
Cutting the handles off allows the bags to fit perfectly along the circumference of the washing vessel aka Brute or other trash can.
Supplies:
1. A Milwaukee m12 multi tool for clean cuts and ability to be used as a sander as well (comes with both cutting tool and sander). You can use Milwaukee or other brands of oscillating saw, such as a standard razor knife blade in the Osci saw. It cuts like butter and doesn’t create plastic dust.
2. A mask when you sand the rough edges.
3. Brute trash can
Process:
Step 1. Place the Brute upside down on a solid and stable counter or table top.
Step 2. Securely fasten the m12 multi tool into the saw.
Step 3. Turn on the saw and zip straight down the line where the handle connects to the outside of the Brute. Be sure to avoid cutting into the surface of the Brute too deeply. The goal is to cleanly shave the handles off of the trash can.
Step 4. Repeat the same process on the other handle.
Step 5. Remove the blade and replace it with a coarse sandpaper (which comes with the m12 multi tool). Sand away the rough edges and burrs of jagged plastic.
Pro Tip: If you prefer not to sand the edges, you can use a blazer torch afterwards to try to smooth up all those rough edges also.
And there you have it. Without handles, the bubble wash bags fit snugly over the top of the Brute. No more obstruction from handles jutting out from the sides and preventing the bags from tightening down along the perimeter of the trash can.
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