Elevator Buckets
Plastic, steel and ductile iron elevator buckets for grain, feed, fertilizer, food and industrial legs, from Tapco, Maxi-Lift, 4B and Nu-Hy. Popular Tapco polyethylene sizes ship from our online store; everything else is quoted to order.
This page helps you choose the material, style and size. Tell us your application requirements and we will spec it with you.
In stock online
Tapco CC-HD and low-profile polyethylene buckets in blue and white, by the carton.
Every material
Polyethylene, urethane, nylon, steel and ductile iron, matched to your material and temperature.
Drilled and vented
Standard drilling included; custom hole patterns and vent patterns to order.
The hardware too
Elevator bolts, lock nuts, fender washers and belt splices for the whole leg.
Start here: which bucket do you need?
Choose by the material you lift and how the leg runs.
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| If you are handling… | Look at | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Grain, feed, seed or fertilizer on a farm or commercial leg | Tapco CC-HD polyethylene | The standard, economical bucket for high speed centrifugal legs |
| More capacity from the same belt speed | Tapco CC-LP HD low profile (the CC-HD follow-on) | Shallower bucket that can be spaced closer together |
| Deeper buckets on an existing leg | Super Capacity 8" (CCLP and U-HD) | More material per bucket where the casing allows |
| Flour, sugar or other food products | White polyethylene | Tapco HDPE meets FDA 21 CFR 177.1520 |
| Abrasive feeds, severe soybean, rice or barley | Urethane | Best wear resistance of the plastics |
| Rough, severe service or hotter material (to 275 °F) | Nylon | The strongest plastic and the highest heat rating |
| Hot, sharp or heavy material: stone, gravel, coal, clinker | Steel or ductile iron | For heat and wear beyond plastic; ductile iron AA to 800 °F |
| Fragile, fluffy or friable material | Continuous-discharge styles | Buckets set close together pour gently rather than throw |
| A high-capacity steel bucket with straight sides | Nu-Hy | Wide bottom and high front lip for more carrying capacity |
| A Maxi-Lift or 4B bucket, or matching one you already run | Maxi-Lift or 4B | Quoted on each order |
Prefer to answer a few questions? Try our elevator bucket selection tool.
Choose the material
Material temperature and abrasiveness decide it. Figures are Tapco's published ratings.
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| Material | Color | Temperature | Best for | Usable capacity | Do not use for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polyethylene (HDPE) | Blue, or white for food products | -60 °F to 200 °F | Grain, feed, seed, fertilizer, salt, food products | WL + 10% | Material over 200 °F; sharp material such as crushed glass or oyster shell; large dense material over 3/8" |
| Urethane | Tan | -60 °F to 212 °F | Abrasive, high-throughput legs: pelletized and extruded feeds, severe soybean, rice and barley | WL + 10% | Material over 212 °F; large dense material over 3/8"; sharp sluggish material such as large glass cullet |
| Nylon | Gray | -40 °F to 275 °F | Rough or severe service: grain, soybeans, feed, fertilizer, sand | WL + 10% | Material over 275 °F; large dense material over 3/8"; glass cullet, oyster shell |
| Steel / ductile iron | — | Ductile iron (AA) to 800 °F | Hot, sharp or heavy industrial material: stone, gravel, foundry sand, coal, clinker, ores | 75% of gross (AA, CC-B) | — |
WL = water level. Maxi-Lift publishes its own ratings: see the Maxi-Lift section below.
Polyethylene
- Temperature -60 °F to 200 °F
- Colors Blue; white for food
- FDA 21 CFR 177.1520
Injection-molded, high density polyethylene. Light, corrosion-proof and the most economical choice for most grain, feed and fertilizer legs.
Urethane
- Temperature -60 °F to 212 °F
- Color Tan
- Hardness Shore D 60-70
For abrasive, high-throughput legs. When the material hardens or sets up with moisture, Tapco recommends a steel digger bucket in place of every 10th urethane bucket.
Nylon
- Temperature -40 °F to 275 °F
- Color Gray
- FDA Not FDA approved
Impact-modified nylon for rough and severe service, and the highest heat rating of the plastics.
Steel and ductile iron
- Ductile iron AA To 800 °F
- Steel 12 ga to 1/2" plate
- Capacity Use 75% of gross (AA, CC-B)
For material too hot, sharp or heavy for plastic. Fabricated in carbon or stainless steel, or cast in ductile iron. See the styles below.
How to size an elevator bucket
1. Capacity
Use water level (WL) plus 10% as the usable capacity of a plastic bucket. For Tapco steel and ductile iron AA and CC-B buckets, use 75% of gross capacity.
2. Spacing
Space Tapco CC-HD buckets at least the nominal projection plus 2 inches apart. For CC-LP HD low-profile buckets, Tapco recommends the nominal projection minus 1 inch; the low-profile chart lists the figure for each size.
3. Fit
Check the bucket's length against your belt width and its projection against the casing and head pulley clearances. Projection differs between makers and materials, so a bucket of the same nominal size may not fit the same way.
4. Throughput
Capacity per bucket, times buckets per foot, times belt speed, gives the leg's throughput. Tell us your belt width and speed and the rate you need, and we will size it.
CC-HD size chart
19 sizes, 3x2 to 20x7, with capacity, spacing and drilling.
CC-LP HD low-profile chart
26 sizes, 3x2 to 16x7: Tapco's low-profile follow-on to the CC-HD.
Super Capacity 8" sizes
CCLP 10x8 to 20x8 and U-HD 12x8, 14x8: 8" projection for more material per bucket.
Replacing elevator buckets? Send the style, size and mounting pattern and we match your cups — or cross-reference a current equivalent when the original bucket is discontinued.
Elevator bucket replacement →Tapco plastic buckets
Jealco is an authorized Tapco distributor. Each Tapco plastic bucket comes in polyethylene, urethane and nylon.
CC-HD Heavy Duty
- Sizes 3x2 to 20x7
- Online Blue and white poly
Tapco's standard-depth bucket and the workhorse of grain, feed and industrial legs. Tapco now builds the 8x6, 13x6 and 10x7 to 16x7 as the CC-LP low profile.
CC-LP HD Low Profile
- Sizes 3x2 to 16x7
- Online Blue and white poly
Tapco's molded follow-on to the CC-HD. It is shallower, so buckets space closer together for more throughput at the same belt speed. Order the same nominal size as the CC-HD you run.
CC-XD Xtreme Duty
- Sizes 6x5 to 24x10
- Build Thicker walls, reinforced lip
For severe service. It projects further from the belt than the CC-HD, so check elevator clearances. A low-profile XD is also made. The 16x9 is in our store in blue and white; other sizes are quoted.
U-HD, Super EuroBucket and AA
- U-HD 4x3 to 14x8, all sizes online
- Super EuroBucket Fits European-style legs
- AA Industrial, 4x2-3/4 to 18x10
The Super EuroBucket® is made to fit elevators built for Starco, Jet and other European buckets. The AA plastic bucket suits high-throughput legs handling industrial material.
Tapco steel and ductile iron buckets
Tapco recommends steel when the heat is too high for plastic or the material is extremely sharp. All are quoted to order.
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| Style | Use | How it is built | Thickness | Sizes (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CC-B | Farm / high speed centrifugal | One-piece pressed body with two end plates, spot welded; straight sides | 18, 16 or 14 ga; carbon or stainless | 4x3 to 24x8 |
| Nu-Hy | High speed centrifugal | 3-piece pressed, spot welded; see Nu-Hy below | 18, 16 or 14 ga | 5x4 to 20x7 |
| Sweetheart | High speed centrifugal | 3-piece pressed, spot welded; vented ends | 16 or 14 ga | 6x4 to 16x9 |
| CC Digger | High speed centrifugal | 4-piece, ends continuously welded | Carbon 12 or 10 ga; stainless 12 or 14 ga | 3x2 to 20x7 |
| AA | Slow speed centrifugal, industrial | 4-piece, continuously welded; also ductile iron | 12 ga to 1/2" | 4x2-3/4 to 18x10 |
| AC | Slow speed centrifugal, industrial | 3-piece welded | 7 ga to 1/2" | 12x8 to 27x12 |
| MF (medium front) | Industrial | 3-piece welded | 12 ga to 1/2" | 8x5x7 to 24x12x17 |
| SC (super capacity) | Industrial | 3-piece welded; carbon, stainless or aluminum | 10 ga to 1/2" | 12x8x11 to 36x12x17 |
Tapco also makes LF (low front), HF (high front), HFO (high front overlapping) and ACS steel buckets, and the AA in cast ductile iron (to 800 °F). AA and CC Digger buckets can be ordered with AR plate or hard-bead weld for wear.
Centrifugal or continuous discharge
Centrifugal legs run faster with the buckets spaced apart, and material is thrown out as each bucket rounds the head pulley: the usual setup for grain and free-flowing material. Continuous-discharge legs run slower with the buckets close together, so each bucket pours onto the back of the one ahead. That is gentler, for fragile, fluffy or friable material. The bucket style has to match the leg.
Maxi-Lift elevator buckets
We supply Maxi-Lift buckets as an independent distributor. Maxi-Lift buckets are quoted on each order: send the line, size, material and quantity, or the bucket you are replacing.
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| Line | Type | What sets it apart | Sizes (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tiger-Tuff | Farm and industrial | Open sides for filling; reduced back height option for closer spacing | 6x5 to 20x10 |
| Tiger-CC | Maximum duty | Thicker wear points; for ship and barge loaders, crushing plants, unit-train facilities | 10x7 to 24x12 |
| HD-Max | Heavy duty | Thicker walls, reinforced front corners and lip; low-profile version | 3x2 to 18x8 |
| CC-Max | Farm | Lowered ears for easier filling; reinforced corners and lip; low-profile version | 5x4 to 20x8 |
| HD-Stax | Farm | Stackable: nests for shipping; 2" wear lip | 4x3 to 18x8 |
| Dura-Buket | Farm | Tapered, 45° discharge angle | 4x3 to 18x8 |
| Peanut Bucket | Gentle handling | For nuts and food products; drilled for double chain strands | 6x4 to 24x10 |
| Maxi-Tuff AA | Industrial | Plastic industrial bucket with reinforced lip and corners; much lighter than steel | 4x3 to 18x10 |
| Maxi-Tuff MF | Industrial, continuous discharge | Medium front, for fluffy, free-flowing or delicate material | 8x5x7 to 18x8x11 |
| DI-Max AA / AC | Industrial | Ductile iron, rated to 600 °F | Ask |
| CC-Steel and welded steel | Farm and industrial | CC-Steel for farm legs; welded AA, AA Digger, AC, ACS, HF, LF, MF and SC styles | Ask |
Maxi-Lift plastics
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| Material | Temperature | FDA compliant |
|---|---|---|
| Poly | -60 °F to 180 °F (210 °F intermittent) | Yes |
| Urethane | -60 °F to 180 °F (210 °F intermittent) | Yes |
| Nylon | -60 °F to 300 °F (350 °F intermittent) | No |
| FDA Nylon | -60 °F to 300 °F | Yes |
Maxi-Lift's published ratings. Available materials vary by line; we confirm them when we quote.
4B elevator buckets
We supply 4B elevator buckets as an independent distributor. Like Maxi-Lift, 4B buckets are quoted on each order: send the line, size, material and quantity, or the bucket you are replacing.
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| Line | Materials | What sets it apart | Sizes (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| CC-S® | HDPE, nylon, urethane | Wingless profile for closer spacing; reinforced lip, walls and corners; stackable. Low-profile version too. | 3x2 to 20x8 |
| JUMBO CC-S® | HDPE, nylon, urethane | 4B's thickest lip, walls and corners; tapered bottom for closer spacing. Low-profile version too. | 14x8 to 24x8, and 20x10 |
| Starco™ Low Profile | HDPE, nylon, urethane; also steel and stainless | Super low profile, wingless, rated for belt speeds up to 895 ft/min | 4x3-1/2 to 15x8-1/2 (plastic) |
| Super Starco™ Low Profile | HDPE, nylon, urethane; also steel | 4B's high-capacity low-profile design | 3x3 to 20x8 |
| Steel farm buckets | Steel, stainless, AR plate | BIG J (CC style), Type G (DIN 15232), GB Spidex™ and digger buckets | Ask |
| Industrial buckets | Ductile iron, Nylathane™, Nyrim®, steel | AA and AC in ductile iron; AA, AC and MF in Nylathane™; A, B, C and D types and fabricated buckets in steel | Ask |
4B rates its plastics at -120 °F to 180 °F for HDPE, -60 °F to 300 °F for nylon and -60 °F to 180 °F for urethane. We confirm materials, sizes and food-contact suitability when we quote.
Nu-Hy steel elevator buckets
The Nu-Hy bucket was designed in 1962 to carry more than a standard CC-style bucket of the same size. It is available through Tapco and from Nu-Hy Inc., and we quote it on each order.
Nu-Hy
- Build 3-piece pressed, spot welded
- Gauge 18, 16 or 14 ga; carbon or stainless
- Sizes 36 sizes, 5x4 to 20x7
- Fill Tapco recommends 90% of gross capacity
A wide bottom, a high front lip and high, straight sides (no side taper) hold more material and discharge cleanly without side spillage. Larger sizes have steel center braces. For grain, feed, fertilizer, seed, sugar, chemicals and food products, and it can be mixed with existing fabricated buckets.
Bolts, drilling and venting
Elevator bolts and hardware
- Pulleys 6" and over Fanged bolts + nylon lock nuts
- Pulleys under 6" No. 3 Eclipse slotted-head bolts
- Always Flat steel (fender) washer inside the bucket
Bolts, nuts and washers in zinc plated, carbon and stainless steel are in our online store. Joining the belt too? See our elevator belt splices.
Drilling and venting
- Standard drilling Included
- Vent patterns 5 Tapco standards
- Custom Any hole pattern and size
Vent holes help light, free-flowing material fill and empty the bucket. Send the hole pattern or an old bucket and we will match it.
Further reading
Bucket elevator maintenance and safety
Keeping a leg running safely.
Food-grade bucket materials
Choosing a bucket for food products.
Elevator and conveyor belting
Belts cut to your width and length.
Elevator bucket FAQ
Is Jealco an authorized Tapco distributor?
Yes. Jealco International is an authorized Tapco distributor. Tapco polyethylene buckets in the popular sizes are in our online store; other Tapco sizes, materials and steel buckets are quoted to order. We have exported US-made material handling equipment since 1950, so buckets ship worldwide with the export paperwork handled in-house.
Do you sell Maxi-Lift, 4B and Nu-Hy buckets?
Yes. We supply Maxi-Lift and 4B elevator buckets as an independent distributor, and Nu-Hy steel buckets through Tapco. They are quoted on each order: send the line, size, material and quantity (or the bucket you are replacing) and we will come back with price and lead time.
Polyethylene, urethane or nylon: which do I need?
Polyethylene is the economical, general-purpose choice for grain, feed, seed and fertilizer, and white poly suits food products such as flour and sugar. Urethane is for abrasive, high-throughput legs such as pelletized and extruded feeds and severe soybean, rice and barley. Nylon is the strongest of the three and takes the most heat (Tapco rates it to 275 °F), for rough or severe service. Material temperature and abrasiveness decide it.
When do I need a steel or ductile iron bucket?
When the material is too hot or too sharp for plastic, or in industrial legs handling stone, gravel, sand, coal, clinker or ores. Tapco recommends steel when heat becomes excessive or the product is extremely sharp, and rates its AA ductile iron bucket to 800 °F.
Are the buckets FDA compliant?
Tapco's high density polyethylene meets FDA regulation 21 CFR 177.1520, and white poly is offered for food products such as flour and sugar. Tapco nylon is not FDA approved. Maxi-Lift offers FDA-compliant poly, urethane and an FDA nylon. Tell us the product you handle and we will confirm the right material.
How do I size an elevator bucket?
Match the material first, then size for capacity: for plastic buckets use water level plus 10% as the usable capacity; for Tapco steel and ductile iron AA and CC-B buckets use 75% of gross capacity. Space Tapco CC-HD buckets at least the nominal projection plus 2 inches apart, and CC-LP HD low-profile buckets at the nominal projection minus 1 inch. Then check that the bucket's projection clears your casing. Our size charts list every CC-HD and low-profile size with its capacity, spacing and drilling.
What bolts do I use to fasten the buckets?
Tapco recommends fanged elevator bolts with nylon insert lock nuts on pulleys 6 inches and over, and No. 3 Eclipse slotted-head elevator bolts on pulleys under 6 inches, with flat steel (fender) washers inside the bucket under the nuts. Bolts, nuts and washers are in our online store.
Can new buckets be mixed with the ones already on my leg?
Yes, new buckets can be intermixed with existing steel or plastic buckets. Projection varies by manufacturer and material, so check the elevator's clearances and balance first, or send us your current bucket and we will match it.
Centrifugal or continuous discharge: what is the difference?
Centrifugal-discharge legs run faster with the buckets spaced apart, and material is thrown out as each bucket rounds the head pulley: the usual setup for grain and free-flowing material. Continuous-discharge legs run slower with the buckets close together, so each bucket pours onto the back of the one ahead: gentler, for fragile, fluffy or friable material. Bucket style has to match the discharge type.
Can you drill or vent buckets to my pattern?
Yes. Standard drilling is included, and Tapco offers five standard vent patterns plus custom hole patterns and vent holes. Venting helps buckets fill and empty with light, free-flowing material. Send the pattern or an old bucket and we will quote it.
Tapco, Super EuroBucket, Maxi-Lift, 4B, CC-S, JUMBO CC-S, Starco, Super Starco, Nylathane, Nu-Hy and the other line names are trademarks of their owners. Specifications are from the manufacturers' published data and are confirmed when we quote.
Not sure which bucket fits your leg?
Send the material, belt width and speed, head pulley size and the bucket you run now. We will come back with a recommendation, not just a price.