Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why do Tuff Bucket products costs more than traditional canvas and leather utility buckets?

Three words describe it best– Safety, Quality, & Performance.

Tuff Bucket products are built to protect professional tradesmen from the hazards of overhead lifting, while providing an effective solution for hoisting tools, equipment, and supplies to work locations at height. Tuff Bucket products are manufactured right here in the USA. Our commitment to quality guarantees you will not find a higher quality or better built load-rated lifting bucket anywhere.

2. What makes a Tuff Bucket a better load-rated lift bucket?

Safety.
Tuff Bucket has certified that its products are load-rated both right-side-up, and upside down. No other manufacturer certifies their products to match these standards.

Upright load ratings: All Tuff Bucket products have an upright load rating design safety factor of 5:1. Each design we engineer, produce, and manufacture is tested at 500% of its rated capacity.

Upside down load ratings: To further our commitment to safety, the same products also have upside down load rating design safety factor of 2:1. When properly applied, the Tuff Bucket closure will withstand 200% of the buckets rated capacity while upside down.

Serialized All Weather Rigging Tag: Each Tuff Bucket product bears an all-weather, serialized rigging tag that lists the product model, working load limits, material type of sling web used for rigging point / carry handle, with product use instruction and warnings.

Quality.
It is very difficult to convey quality in pictures and print. A picture may be worth a thousand words, but physically holding a Tuff Bucket instills the feel of quality that cannot be forgotten. Our commitment to quality guarantees you will not find a higher quality or better built load-rated lifting bucket anywhere.

Performance.
Tuff Bucket products are second to none in safety and quality, setting it up to be a solid performer out of the gate. Tuff Buckets have proven to save customers money in the long run, and are trusted around the world by the most demanding tradesmen that demand only the finest equipment, because they depend on it.

3. If I buy a Tuff Bucket, am I compliant with ANSI / OSHA rigging standards?

OSHA & ANSI do not currently publish specific standards for lifting or rigging buckets used for overhead lifting and crane use. Tuff Bucket recognizes that traditional utility buckets are commonly used as rigging for overhead lifting, so we manufacture our products to meet or exceed the closest applicable sling and rigging standards

4. Which OSHA or ANSI standards are the most applicable to traditional utility or load-rated lift buckets to be used for overhead lifting?

1. OSHA 1910.184 – Slings
2. OSHA 1926.251 – Rigging Equipment for Material Handling
3. ASME B30.9-2010 – Safety Standard for Cableways, Cranes, Derricks, Hoists, Hooks, Jacks, and Slings

5. Can I get copies of load testing certifications?

Yes. Tuff Bucket performs two types of tests – Design Verification, and Quality Control.

Design Verification Tests are performed when we are testing the limits of a potential product offering, or when our shop crew wants to have a little fun with buckets that are culled from production due to flaws. We sell only the best of our production, and we test the worst. Design Verification Tests are performed with test weight that is 500% of the product’s rated capacity.

Quality Control Tests are performed on two percent of our production as a measure to ensure that our customers are shipped a product that is safe for reliable, long term use. Quality Control Tests are performed with test weight that is 200% of the product’s capacity.

To request copies of load testing certifications, please use the form on the Contact Us page.

6. What is the expected life span of a Tuff Bucket product?

Tuff Bucket, Inc. recommends that purchasers of Tuff Bucket products use a five-year life expectancy from the date of Initial Inspection / first use of buckets manufactured by Tuff Bucket. This recommendation is a general guideline for products used within the Normal Service classification. This guideline presumes that products will not excessively be exposed to chemicals, excessive heat or cold, or excessive amounts of ultraviolet (UV) light. The actual service life of each Tuff Bucket product is directly determined by the condition of the product and adherence to the product use, care, and inspection guidelines. Product life may be significantly shorter than five years if subjected to Heavy or Severe Service, extreme conditions, abuse, or neglect. It is possible that the equipment will last longer depending on the care and use of the equipment.

7. What is the Warranty on Tuff Bucket products?

Tuff Bucket warrants all of its products against defects of manufacturing or materials for a period of 12 months after the purchase of the product. This warranty is limited to manufacturing defects found within the product. Tuff Bucket will not warrant products that exhibit signs of misuse, abuse, or neglect.

Go to the Tuff Bucket Warranty for more details, and to access the Warranty Registration Form.

8. Is there a storage recommendation for Tuff Bucket products?

Yes - All Tuff Bucket products should be stored at room temperature away from excessive heat or cold, in a dry location, free of exposure to chemical and ultraviolet light when not in use. Prolonged exposure to UV light should be avoided to minimize degradation and loss of strength.

9. How do I clean a Tuff Bucket product?

Tuff Bucket products should be hand washed with a mild detergent, and set out to dry. The use of high pressure water or soap is not recommended. The application of high temperature heat to dry a Tuff Bucket product is strongly discouraged.

10. Why does Tuff Bucket recommend that lift buckets be inspected on a regular basis?

Load-rated lift buckets are typically used for overhead lifting, with lifts often taking place over the top of personnel and equipment. A critical element to maintaining a safe workplace environment is ensuring that your rigging is fit for continued use.

Download all Tuff Bucket Inspection Forms as one PDF document, or go to Downloads to access individual inspection forms.

11. Does the Tuff Bucket inspection criteria meet the standard inspection criteria of OSHA & ANSI sling and rigging standards?

Yes. When compared to the closest applicable OSHA / ANSI standards, the Tuff Bucket inspection forms meet and exceed the criteria within these standards.

12. What should I do to inspect a Tuff Bucket to ensure it is safe for continued use?

Each Tuff Bucket product requires a documented Initial Inspection prior to first use, a visual Frequent Inspection prior to each use, and a documented Periodic Inspection to ensure the bucket is fit for continued use. The frequency of the Periodic Inspection is determined by the service level classification for each bucket. The Tuff Bucket service classifications are Normal Service, Heavy Service, or Severe Service. Go to Downloads to access individual inspection forms.

Go to Downloads to access individual inspection forms.

13. Can a Tuff Bucket be repaired if it is damaged or fails an inspection?

To a very limited degree. If the Rigging Point / Carry Handle has become damaged, Tuff Bucket can replace the Rigging Point / Carry Handle (provided the bucket passes the balance of its Periodic Inspection), load test the bucket, and provide a manufacturer certification for continued use. 

If the All-Weather Rigging Tag on a Tuff Bucket becomes illegible or has been defaced, Tuff Bucket can re-certify the load rating of the product, and affix a replacement rigging tag to allow for continued use.

All other damage is not repairable.

14.  I cannot find a lifting bucket to meet the demands of my task at hand.  Can you build what I need?

We will make every effort to engineer a solution for your challenge. When we opened shop in 2007, Tuff Bucket offered two products. Today we stock 25 products, with countless custom lifting solutions engineered along the way. Our product line grew as a result to listening to what our customers needed to resolve his or her challenges. Please see the Services page for further details.

15. Will you manufacture products without Tuff Bucket’s signature roll down closure?

In most cases – No.

In certain cases – Yes.

The unique closure of a Tuff Bucket is load rated to contain the buckets payload, in the event that the bucket is tipped, or is turned upside down. When properly applied, the Tuff Bucket closure will withstand 200% of the buckets rated capacity while upside down. In instances that present unique challenges, we will consider building a load rated lift bucket without its signature closure. These decisions are made on a case-by-case basis.

16. Can I buy a Tuff Bucket in colors other than natural or red canvas?

Tuff Bucket can manufacture load-rated lift buckets in any color imaginable, however the cost to do so is increased (due to the dye process), and there are minimum order quantities required.

17. Can you print my company’s logo or crew information on your products?

Yes. The added cost for the logo or lettering is minimal. Please see the Services page for further details.

18. What happened to Tuff Bucket product names?

Naming the individual products within the Tuff Bucket product line was simple when we offered two products. Now that we offer 25 products, the new item numbering system is easier to understand. See Understanding Item Numbers to learn more.

Former Product Names and the Current Item Numbers:
Tuff Bucket Jr. = TB-1018CL
Tuff Bucket Original = TB-1322CL
Tuff Bucket Rescue = TB-1322CVR
Tuff Bucket Torquer = TB-1030CL
Tuff Bucket Torquer 2 = TB-1050CL
Tuff Bucket Nitro = TB-1060CL
Tuff Bucket XL = TB-1620CL
Tuff Bucket ¼ Ton = TB-2028CL