[Gargoyle_Steve (Steve)]

I've previously washed the 12" mirror from my GSO dob in the kitchen sink but have never felt good about this arrangement. With things like the sink being too narrow for the mirror assembly to sit flat, the risk of oil/grease/food particles remaining, etc, and especially the fact that the sink is NOT portable, I've been looking for a better, and preferably inexpensive, solution.

Last week I found it, courtesy once again of Bunnings Hardware.

Let me say first that if you want to wash one of these 12" mirrors the cage assembly has an outside diameter of 350-355 mm's, and while that doesn't sound like a lot I can assure you that finding something large enough to accomodate that laying flat, let alone the extra inch or so needed to get your fingers in to pick the mirror up again safely, IS quite a task!

I've even measured typical outdoors "plastic" rubbish bins, but like most objects I tested the internal taper means that by the time you reach bottom they simply aren't wide enough. I looked at several plastic solution, up to and including $30-40, none were big enough


This is a Bunnings "Multi Purpose tub", a solid, sturdy plastic tub that has an excellent design, strong rim, and well designed rope handles. I found these on display at the end of an isle. They come in 4 colours (red, blue, white and black) and 2 different sizes.

This is the larger one: 58 litre capacity, 350 mm high, it's interior base diameter is 440mm with a raised "ring" at around the 350mm size that supports the GSO mirror frame perfectly, even letting you get your fingers in under the edge to get a good grip!

Best thing of all - it only cost me $11.48, the smaller size was under $9 and is probably suitable for 10" or smaller mirrors.

The only problem is that it is very deep, I plan to cut the lower section off at approx 1/3 height, and hope I can cut out the handle sections and attach them onto the remaining base section. I'll let you know how it goes.