How to Build a Salt Spreader

Managing snow and ice can be a major winter chore, especially if harsh winter weather is a fact of life where you live. One conventional tool for keeping driveways and sidewalks safe and clear is coarse rock salt, which reduces the melting temperature of ice, forcing it to melt and run off even on a cold day. The process of spreading salt is easier with a homemade salt spreader, which is easier to move than a heavy bag of salt, but can still hold enough salt to cover a large area.

Plastic pail with locking lid
Electric drill with 1/4-inch bit
Scrap lumber
Screwdriver
Metal drawer handle
2 galvanized steel screws

Instructions

- 1
  Select a plastic pail with a snap-on or screw-on lid, such as an old paint or food container. Remove the lid and clean out the pail with a rag.
- 2
  Place the lid upside-down on top of a flat piece of scrap lumber. Drill about 12 holes through the lid, spaced evenly apart, using an electric drill with a 1/4-inch bit.
- 3
  Hold a metal drawer handle against one side of the pail, as close to the center as possible. Drive in two galvanized metal screws, through the holes in the handle and the plastic wall of the pail, to hold the handle to the pail firmly.
- 4
  Fill the pail with rock salt by scooping the salt out of a larger pail or plastic bag just before using it. Attach the lid firmly before use to avoid spills.
- 5
  Rinse out the spreader after every few uses to prevent residue that can damage the plastic and metal components.

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