I like using them for storage. I have my "Paint" bucket that holds new paintbrushes, paint rollers etc. I have my "Furniture Refinishing Bucket" that holds tack cloths, small cans of stains, old but still usable clean stain brushes, tubes of wood putty, etc. I have my 'Sandpaper Bucket" that holds all the sandpaper stuff i used to have hanging around; sanding blocks, steel wool, and the like. I also use one of them for hanging recently cleaned (wet) paintbrushes. I drill two side holes near the top edge and either use the handle turned up and secured or a coat hanger wire in the holes  and use as a hanging 'rod' for paintbrushes that I've cleaned and need to drip dry. Other ones hold lawn sprinkler spare parts or electrical parts/switches etc. You know. . . all that ‘hardware’ that’s too big to put in the hardware drawer organizer, but you want to hold onto for projects, etc. These buckets are great, cheap storage containers.  Now . . . if I could find a use for all that cat litter! [smile]

Hey bbittner, I found a how-to on You Tube earlier this spring that might be of interest. They turned 5 gallon pails into self watering containers. These might work as substitutes. Plus, as the project requires 2 buckets to make one container, you'd be using up 2 containers at a time. Anyway, here's a link to the post that includes the how-to!

Yup, we have them in bulk as well.  They serve as havens for lonely socks...blocks...anything mommy might step on in bare feet and say bad words about, which is a pretty vast field.  We use them to hold kid shoes...It's easier to find uses when you have kids, I guess.  I also keep cleaning products (small bottles, spray bottles, etc. in one under the sink b/c it's space efficient.  Since we're in a D4 drought down here, I use them to hold and haul rain water and grey water.   I would love to see someone do something lovely with them, tho.  The possibilities seem endless and I get tired just thinking about it. 

Oooh, I'll bet they'd make good concrete molds for someone who knew how to do such things...

regards,

leslie