Specification for Bin-Key. Credit: Harry Hill
As Delivered Bin-Key. Credit: Lucy Rogers

Harry Hill invented a Bin-Key – “It crushes rubbish meaning you can fit more in! plus comes with a tap so you can get rid of the bin juice.”

This was the prototype I was to make.  Prototypes show that something will work.  But I decided to make it look fun too – more of a working visual prop – even though it was for a radio show …

Parts used:

  • Wheely bin
  • Water butt Tap
  • 1m length M12 BZP threaded rod
  • M12 washers, nuts and nyloc nuts
  • 3 off 25mm curtain rod sockets
  • Wood screws
  • Hardboard
  • Plywood
  • 22mm Drainage Pipe
  • 2 off Clamps
  • Cable Tie
  • Gold Spray Paint
  • Grey Primer Spray Paint

The Key

A cross piece of wood provided the strength for the key.
Key shape cut out of hardboard
Holes cut
Spray all the key parts gold
Attach crosspiece and pipe to key shape using screws and cable ties (Back View)
Assembled Key (Front view)

Connect Key to Threaded Bar

Connecting the wooden key to the metal screw thread of the “corkscrew” was the hardest part to work out how to make. It would have been simple to weld something – however I didn’t have an available welder.

My idea was to force (hammer) a nut in to a curtain rod socket / curtain-pole flange, and screw that to the wood.

First effort = #Fail
The nut fits!
The secret was to file the edges off the nut, and twist it so the nut points are not near grub screw hole
Flange screwed on to a circle of wood, which was screwed on to the key crosspiece.

 

Plunger

Two crossed battens sandwiching a piece of hardboard.

The threaded rod went through with washers, allowing the plunger to rotate freely around the threaded bar. This means it can be any shape that fits inside the bin. However, the wheely bin is tapered, and the first hexagonal shaped plunger wedged itself against the edges of the bin. So I cut the edges off and made it square.

Connect to Bin

Clamp plywood across bin top
Flange on top as locator. Nut in flange on underside.

Tap to Release Bin-Juice

Using a Forstner bit, I drilled the hole for the tap. Then I screwed the tap  in.

This involved climbing inside the bin. (Note: I didn’t all fit).

 

Forstner Bit and Hole
Tap Attached
Bin Juice Tap

 

Test bin juice tap with water:

As delivered

As Delivered Bin-Key. Credit: Lucy Rogers