Utility Cycling - Bucket Panniers

I am considering building a set of litter bucket panniers.
My questions goes out to those with experience with them.
Are they durable?
Is heel strike a problem? If it is would hiking them up a bit be the best solution?
Best way to remove the lettering?

Photos of my bucket panniers (http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=bucket&w=75698896%40N00).

Very durable.
Heel strike is not a problem. The buckets I have are only 10 inches wide (square). You will be able to specify where you install the hooks.
I tried sandpaper and paint thinner to remove the lettering. Neither worked very well. I did not have a machine sander, so that might be the trick.

I bought my buckets from U.S. Plastic Corp. (http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.aspx?itemid=23471&catid=818)

Thanks Steve. Did you use "S"-hooks or did you bolt on rope cleats to hang them?

I don't know if these would be of interest to you or not, but I'm thinking of buying a couple of marine battery boxes, size #27, and trying them.

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I am considering building a set of litter bucket panniers.
My questions goes out to those with experience with them.
Are they durable?
Is heel strike a problem? If it is would hiking them up a bit be the best solution?
Best way to remove the lettering?

I re-use kitty litter pails in my greenhouses to grow tomatoes and other large plants that I want to grow hanging so they don't take up valuable space on the ground. I found the best way to hide all the lettering is to spray paint the buckets. For hanging them to your rear rack, how about using rope hooks that you can get at most hardware stores. I have several unused litter buckets that I might must mod as panniers (I would paint black and then add reflective tape). They would be a nice size for trips to the grocery store.

Thanks Steve. Did you use "S"-hooks or did you bolt on rope cleats to hang them?

Out of these two choices, I think they're rope cleats. I think what I used is also called a J-hook.

Notice in my photos that I spray painted a two inch tall blue band around the bottom of the bucket. I did this so my bike and the bucket would match. I agree that you can use this to cover the bucket's markings.

Also, to nwmtnbkr, the buttons I linked to above are essentially identical to kitty litter buckets - I checked the ones at the store. A lot of these, though, now come in yellow plastic, or are shorter than the ones I purchased.

I have one bucket so far. It is very durable. I bought hooks for it but they caused it to flare out too far from the bike so my father made hooks from pvc. The pvc is much cheaper and easier to use because he heated it to a curve that works best for my rack. I have received positive remarks and compliments on it.

Out of these two choices, I think they're rope cleats. I think what I used is also called a J-hook.

Notice in my photos that I spray painted a two inch tall blue band around the bottom of the bucket. I did this so my bike and the bucket would match. I agree that you can use this to cover the bucket's markings.

Also, to nwmtnbkr, the buttons I linked to above are essentially identical to kitty litter buckets - I checked the ones at the store. A lot of these, though, now come in yellow plastic, or are shorter than the ones I purchased.

There are brands of cat litter that still have white buckets. Fresh Step is what I use and it still comes in a white bucket (the lid's aren't white, though). I think they're probably the size of the buckets you got, too.

I made these August of last year, and they're still going strong. Hope there's something here you can use.
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?457884-New-Hard-Sided-Panniers&highlight=

CommuterRun, I am really considering doing something like that. Those look very official.

A good alternative I have found to rope cleats are butterknives from Goodwill, drilled for bolting and bent into hooks. Some are even stainless!

I used 00 steel wool, water and a little bit of elbow grease to remove the silk screened print of my buckets. I think it took about 15-30 min per bucket.