Water level basics - How to make and use one
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- Опубліковано 27 вер 2024
- Water level Basics - How to make and use one
I’ve used a water level for many years on all types of projects. I consider it to be a necessary tool and would immediately replace it if it were to be damaged or stolen.
Water levels are easy to make and very useful to have in your collection of tools. They can be used to survey small jobsites for landscaping, foundations, deck piers, fences, shelving, leveling old floors, to list a few.
Water levels have some advantages over other leveling technology.
Pros:
• No batteries needed
• Line of sight is not necessary (works around corners as opposed to a laser)
• Works in tight spaces
• Easy to use and understand
• One man operation over large areas
Water levels have a few disadvantages, but not many.
Cons:
• Water will freeze without antifreeze
• Limited to length of hose
• Water can spill causing the level to change
• Others may think you’re weird
I hope that you find this video inspirational, informative and instructive.
Thanks for watching!
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MATERIALS:
1/4" ID 50 Ft 15 Meter PVC Clear Vinyl Tubing
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2-Gallon White Plastic Pail
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2-Gallon Plastic Pail Lid
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Valve Stem with 60 Degree Bend
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Solid Rubber Stoppers
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DRILLS AND BITS:
Stepped drill bits
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PENS/PENCILS AND MARKING:
Sharpie Marker
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RULERS AND SQUARES:
Tap measure
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SHEARS, SCISSORS & CUTTERS:
PVC pipe cutter
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Scissor Full Metal Coated 10”
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WARNING:
This video is only for entertainment purposes. If you rely on the information portrayed in this video, you assume the responsibility for the results. Always think ahead. Every project you try is at YOUR OWN RISK.
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I've used the same water level since 1972...Always accurate,and unlike lasers, no calibration needed! Excellent tutorial.
Yup, and no batteries.
I can’t get over how neat a water level is! Water levels and plumb bobs are 2 of my all time favourite things!!
Yup, simple and effective.
Great video! I love the concept of a water level. My first one I actually made like you did with a Home Depot 5 gallon bucket. But then I realized instead of ruining the bucket by cutting holes in it all you need to do is initiate the siphon in the tube sticking the tube in the water right from the top. It will do the exact same thing that yours does seeking the level of water in the bucket. In order to secure it to the bucket I just use a spring clamp with a zip tie. Now your bucket can be used again for its normal uses and there are zero places for leaks to occur. Thanks again
That's a great trick! It would really help if you wanted to throw one together for a single use.
Neat trick have to try that first! Save a bucket! A bucket saved is a few bucks earned.
We used these all the time many years ago building sheds and such.
Young fellas now look at you like your crazy when you talk about water levels....guess I am getting old,
Nice content mate, very well done indeed!
Thank you!
HUGE this is the most convenient way to get these readings which always 'make or brake' a project.
Thanks for this, I had a clue but your demonstrations are very clear.
Joe
Thank you for watching!
Out of of the videos to assist on this subject this one is my favorite.
Thank you!
Water levelling was utilised by the ancient Egyptians in building their massive monuments, by digging slitvtrenches and filling them with water. Great video, well done.
Thanks!
Thank you sir! Always wondered how a water level worked. I use to work for a mobile home company doing basic maintenance. There was a crew of guys that would install and set them and they'd use a water level to level the trailers up.
Yeah, I bet they would use it while crawling under the trailers. It works great for tight spaces. Thanks for watching!
I work on one of those crews. Based in TN. We are in KY right now setting up a triple wide for Fort Campbell. We use a water level at almost every job.
This is the best tutorial I have found so far. There is no need to search further. Thank you.
Thanks!
Great explanation and practical demonstration .............Thankyou
Thank YOU for watching and commenting!
Agreed, especially on the demonstrations. Until midway through the video, I was mostly trying to figure out why I would want such a tool! lol It may actually benefit you to structure these videos in reverse order; demonstrating your nifty tool before explaining how we can make our own. 🤔
Your water reservoir is probably far larger than it needs to be though. Your hose only holds about 30 cubic inches of water, which is just under half a liter. A 1L bottle could be strung over a nail for easy height adjustment. Charging the system with 1L of water should give you plenty of spare volume for water to flow in and out of the hose as you move around. 🤓👍
The demonstration of the building of the level is great except for some parts it should be slowed down. If, like me, you've never seen a valve like that before it is pretty hard to follow what you were actually doing and WHAT tool you were using to deconstruct it. I guess you can adjust playback speed on UA-cam, but why should everyone need to do so?
Have been in the steel stud suspended ceiling industry for over 30 years a water level never lies unless someone steps on your hose
Yup, especially if they're stepping on the hose to mess with you.......grumble.
Wickedly Cool!!!! So simple....What sorcery is this!!!!! Ive got a half acre of desert land in Southern Utah, its very uneven and I was using a string and line level to make a map so I'd know how much fill I need to level it. A huge pain sinking multiple poles in multiple areas , then running strings in every direction. Wow with this, one bucket and 100 or so feet of tube and I can map my back yard level anywhere and everywhere without bending over, banging poles in the ground and trying to accurately level lines for measurement. Thanks Brother!!!!!!
Yes! That is a perfect application for a water level. Glad I could help!
I was in the Peace Corps in the 1980s. Peace Corps volunteers and local helpers used clear plastic tubes just like in your video to build one- or two-room schools and teacher houses, Worked great. Many people commented one how level everything was, compared to other local amateur construction. (Never had a problem with the water freezing.)
Cool story! It's great to hear how a simple tool can change the overall quality of a project.
Great video and real life uses. I used a water level to build my 3,000 gallon koi pond. Worked flawlessly to get multiple levels established.
Awesome! Yeah and I bet you managed to do all of the leveling alone too. Not that a transit is a bad thing. It just takes a least two people to work.
Clear, Thorough, several examples, possible pitfalls. Absolutely Outstanding video. Many Thanks!
Thank you!!
I've watched many water level video's and this is the best Water Level video. Thanks.
Wow, thanks!
I've used a bucket level for years but never thought to add a story pole!!! Awesome 👍👍👍👍Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Gib!
Thanks! You just saved me a ton by removing my need for a rotary laser level.
That's great to hear! Thanks for watching!
Great video. You're a natural teacher. Easy to follow and understand.
I live on a steep hill side. Need to build a greenhouse and chicken house. This a great tool. Never saw a lot of the options show before. THANK YOU.
You're welcome! If you have a large elevation change you can alway make your story pole longer. Good luck!
'Cons: Others may think you're weird.' Hilarious! Nice video, thanks for the information.
Lol! Few read the description! Thanks for watching, reading and commenting!
Oh man this just made my day, I'm replacing my deck and this will solve so many problems that I've been dreaming up over complicated solutions for. Thanks for sharing!
That's great to hear! Thanks for watching Mike!
Absolute best tutorial on youtube. I want to level a mobile home with this water level tool. Should I first find the high point? Position the reservoir/bucket to that height. Put the clear tube next to the frame bottom and raise or lower the the tube until the water level is at the bottom of the frame and mark the tube. Should I now have a reference mark on the tube to raise the rest of the frame to? Thanx in advance for your comment.
I would place the bucket so that the elevation of the water is somewhere between the ground and the underside of the frame. Then find the high point and measure the distance between the water elevation and the frame.
So, for example, if the distance between the water elevation and the frame is, say around , 10 inches, then you would proceed to raise or lower the frame so that it measures 10 inches in all locations.
You want some space between the water elevation and the frame because it makes it a lot easier to inspect the hose and measure the difference. Good Luck!
@@Makebuildmodify Got it. And thanx for the quick reply! Cheers!
p.s., I just realized "raising or lowering the tube" does nothing, as the water will find level as this is done. Therefore, "putting a mark on the tube" is also unnecessary. Thanks again. And this really is a versatile tool.
Excellent video! Thank you! So helpful that you included links for materials!
You are so welcome!
This is perfect, just what I needed to see and learn. Thank you!
You bet! Glad it helped.
Man I'm going to pimp this video out😂. You would think people would understand that we get level from water. But😪😪😪This was taught to me in H.S. shop class. Great job on the video.
Haha! Thanks Steven.
@@Makebuildmodify no sir! THANK YOU! You have saved me the time of making such a video. But I still may an show the LEVEL marks with a 360 laser LEVEL. AWESOME JOB FOR REAL!
This was a great explanation!
Thanks!
Brilliant method good job. We just filled it up with a water hose and anti freeze when it's cold. But that's badass with the bucket
Thanks! Yeah, having the bucket in a central location allows for the transfer of elevation along with the level, they are very different but equally important.
Thx for taking the time in making this video. I thought the fact that lasers can't shine upon something that the light can't get to was so true. So the laser isn't the be all end all when there are items in the space but the water level won't care, Shweeeet. The bucket is optional. You can just use the hose. The funny thing is that I have seen water level go for as much as $50 for a 50' unit. I guess they used magic hose. Hahaha.
Thx again.
Thanks! Yeah, you can make a water level without a bucket but the way you use it is a little different. A single hose is only level and does not help with overall project elevation. While using a hose level the elevation must be calculated relative to each instance of level. A water level with a reservoir (bucket or something of the sort) can be used for both level and elevation measurements within a reasonable tolerances.
That was the best explanation possible. Thank you
Glad it was helpful!
Great demonstration on how to use your system.
Thanks for watching!
excellent idea simple and cost less. Thank so much!
You bet!
This would have came in really handy when i was trying to level the roof on my pergola. I even have all the parts sitting in my garage!
I should have made the video sooner. Thanks for watching!
Super helpful, thanks.
You're welcome!
Thank you. I've made and used just a colored water filled line for some basic projects. I really like the res and storypole plan. Eelegant.
Thanks!
Wow thank you. Going to bed in 2023 with more knowledge and I'm 65. Cheers :)
Wonderful!
What a great video. You make it so easy to understand. I'll be doing piers and posts and will definitely use this method!
Awesome! I'm glad it helped!
Se que no me entenderás, sigo tus vídeos son muy ingeniosos y explicativos auque yo no entienda todo en inglés pero estoy aprendiendo a entenderlo y con tus vídeos aún más Gracias thank you
¡Wow eso es genial!
not bad !
not bad at all !
I've checked things with a water level of hat we're more accurate than a laser.
you can't abuse a laser,they tend to break sometimes !
and they gotta be stabilized !
Nothin beat's a well made water level.
you made a good one
but I prefer red food color not purple,
not a Barney fan
Lol.
thanks for the video.
Lol! Yeah, they're a pretty good tool.
It was very useful ! Thank you for sharing !
Thank you!
Thank you very much.
You are welcome!
Very cool thks for the video. Never used this to find level but I know it can be very accurate. I'm going to make one to set the slope on a sewer drain pipe.
Nice. I've used one to find grade for a french drain. So, that's totally doable.
Nicely done!
Thank you! Cheers!
God bless you Sir
Lol! Thanks.
This is going to save me some head scratching and guess work, tks.
You're welcome. Thanks for watching!
So cool! Thanks!!
You bet!
Thanks for revealing the great mystery of the water level, Excellent video.
Thanks for watching!
Thank you for this video. It really helped me understand how it all works. Really great video with all the examples you gave.
You're welcome. Thanks for letting me know you liked it!
Thank you,very clear.
🇦🇺👍🏻
You are very welcome
@@Makebuildmodify thanks 🙂 , I am 59 and working on my house ( 3rd house) , I had a brick paving business for 3 years In 1988 ( 34 years ago 😩) and used to use a water line all the time,but I forgot about it and how to use it,thanks to you now I remember.👍🏻
They really are a great tool.
🇦🇺👍🏻⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I live in a cold area and can't use straight water as the system is stored in my van . I use automobile antifreeze . The dark pink is more visible then the green stuff .
I made sure the containers can't leak where I filled them as they are sealed .A on/off valve is used at the top of the container to displace and let air in .
Nice.
Great instruction!
I was going to drop $600 on a Laser Level but after watching your video I bought this set-up and now I have $570 I can spend on more tools!!!
Thanks for sharing.
Awesome!!!! That's great to hear!!
Yep same here 👍👍
Excellent video
Thank you very much!
Another solid video. Very nice job.
Thanks, Dan!
excellent video ! thanks for sharing ...
You're welcome. Thanks for watching!
is the most effective level, since before your video is used....thank you
Thank you!
I used rubber tire stem valve (remove valve), pop into a thick container for fast seal outlet. Long neck valve is best. Heat or clamp on hose for tight seal. Great tool, mine is 80 feet 3/8" hose. I used old 1.5 gal dead pump sprayer.
That's great!
Outstanding video. Thank you.
You're welcome. Thanks for watching!
Hey! I feel like I had a part in this! 😉🤔Thanks for making this video! Now I fully understand! 👍
You definitely did! Thanks for letting me know that you watched.
You definitely did! Thanks for letting me know that you watched.
Make Build Modify Very informative!
that is an awesome how to. thanks so much
Glad it was helpful. Thanks for commenting!
Use hose splitter and plug multiple hoses. Space them in all required spots, set up bucket. You can level whole house, barn, even forest in 20min!
interesting idea.
@@Makebuildmodify If you like it... you can also try to run "main hose" with "limbs". Get a bucket, plug in cheap, robust garden hose, instal few T-junctions and plug "clear pipe limbs". You can use few of those sets and drag them in different directions/along walls. Endless combinations available!
I use single bucket with 20 valves. I carry (inside the bucked) whole bunch of hoses of various lengths. must hoses are fitted with garden hose quick couplings. Clear PCV hoses go dull quickly so I use cheap garden ones and only add clear PCV at the very end. I never needed all 20 sets at once but I bough 20 valves bulk. I believe 12 was max I ever used.
It works indoor and outdoor, round the corner, in the fog and dust, is pretty much bullet proof, stores in single bucket, you can drive over it, throw it, trash it around your truck, never goes out of alignment and cost fraction of laser set.
Great video! Good tips to incorporate into the one I made few years back. Thanks!
Thank you!
This is great I want to level my Mobile home I see it sagging in some places not by much but the Wood Floor I noticed seems to be rising and causing a disturbance in the finish edges where they butt up too, Ill go down under the home and screw the adjustments until i find a happy medium with one person on top and me down under should work out much easier. Thank You so much ! God Bless you Bro.
You're welcome! I hope you get a good result on the mobile home project.
Exactly what I need to build my patio. Thanks for the detailed explanation.
You're welcome. I glad it helped.
Man, you have some really nice dirt in your yard.
More rock than it looks like. But the soil is great. Thanks for watching!
Great job teaching. Very usefull
Thank you!
Awesome! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching!
excellent video
Thank you very much!
This is really cool, never really thought of using something like this before. 🤓👍🏼
Yeah, they're pretty effective. Thanks for watching!
Total noob and this was helpful thank you
You're welcome! Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching!
Very interesting using a bucket, water is by far the best datum to measure from, its a world wide datum, every part of every country is above or below sea level. My favourite lake is 22 miles long and each pier is exactly the same height above the water level and they didnt need a pipe lol.
Do you think 22 miles in enough for the moon to have an effect?
@Makebuildmodify I don't know possibly, I have been going there for years and have never noticed it being tidal. There's a company that does tourist boat trips, they travel around in both directions with lot's of boat's and they made the piers to suit them. Water follows the earth curvature compared to a straight line laser that would go up in the air, so would a theodolite, is there an alternative to using the water? I once went on a boat tuition course the tutor said if I stand on a beach with my toes in the sea the horizon will be approx 12 miles, stand on the boat deck 15 miles.
Great one! Thanks for this.
You're welcome! Thanks for watching!
That was fantastic, thankyou!
You're welcome! Thanks for watching!
Fantastic video.
Thanks!
Its 2:30 am and want to continue watching your videos. you make it so easy to follow. I subscribed .....
lets build my garage together.
Thanks! I wish I could help build everybody's projects. I glad you like them!
This guy is a nut! You see that hose bib? I haven't ever seen anything like that
It's an awesome spigot!
@@Makebuildmodify Where'd you get it? I'd be interested
It's been about 12 years since I installed that one. This one is very close to the same thing amzn.to/2q7OzK8
I just stumbled across a few of your videos. These are awesome! I'm just a novice so this is very informative.
That's really good to hear. Can ask what you're interested in making? I'm trying to learn more about my audience so I can make better project choices for my new videos.
Make Build Modify I did a few makeshift things around the house for my daughters, we took a shelf and turned it into a play kitchen and I put some posts on their beds to make a canopy. I really liked the different tricks you used to make the bench. A friend I work with does a lot of wood stuff and I showed him this video.
Thanks!
I have an expensive transit but find it difficult to use when working alone. 🤣This may be just the thing.
Yes, I find that this is a better tool when working alone. Of course the hose length is the limit, though.
You can do the same thing but more minimalistic with just the tube: fill it with water as needed, hold one end to the wall and the other to another wall or wherever you need and it's done! Much more portable and you can even flush it each time because the amount of water is not that much.
True, that method does work for level marks. But for one position only. If either end is moved up or down the system's elevation will change. Level and elevation are two entirely different and independent things. The bucket style water level address both with one solution. At the end of the day you'll find that it's far less work to use a water level that includes a reservoir.
That is a nifty tool.
Sure is. It's very handy. Thanks!
Nice!
Thanks!
great video . what I'd like to know is where did you get all them wire shelves from great idea
The wire shelves are from Costco. If you would like to see how I installed them you can see it in this video. ua-cam.com/video/2V8fkTW_AMs/v-deo.html
Hi, I am back with more questions...lol. Please be patience with me as I am trying my hardest to make this thing work. So, after much research and thought, my husband said he can help me with using it out in the field. My question is instead of using the bucket at one end, now that I have another person helping me then can I make another measuring pvc stick...in other words, I would be making 2 pvc measuring sticks with clear tub attached on both stick for measurement. I have seen a lot of people doing that way and looks easier with 2 people using it. For example: First person holding one end of measuring stick stand at the start of the location where want the contour, put down the flag, then have second person with the stick walks out 50ft (that's how long I want the hose), first person called out the water line measurement, second person move around till find the exact measurement that's same as the first person measurement, second person put down the marking flag, then we move on to the next 50ft. Will this work?...just seems to make more sense to me. Thank you.
I'm having a little trouble understanding. Are you trying to find the change in elevation along a line (like along a fence) or the elevations of an area (as in points of elevation in a grid like graph paper)?
were you saying to have two hoses coming out of the bucket
So cool Thanks 👍
Thank YOU for watching!
Great video!!!
Thanks!
Doesn't this rely on the water level in your bucket staying constant? But when you raise the end of the tube, mire water move from the tube into the bucket, increasing the water level. I guess having the bucket be many times the diameter of the tube would make the effect very small.
Yes, good observation, that is correct. It takes about 10' of hose to change the bucket level about 1/16". Most of the time the level and elevation are both within a couple of feet so this never play a significant role.
You do not need to bother with the fancy fitting at the bottom. Just stick the tube in the top, tape it and then siphon it out. The level will still be the same as the level in the bucket. Also, put the measuring tape on with high numbers on the bottom. That way higher numbers will mean a higher elevation. Actual numbers do not matter; only the difference from the reference matters.
I've done both. I prefer it like the one in the video. Thanks for the input.
You might have mentioned it and I just missed it, but the bucket isn’t necessary if you have a helper.
That is true to a degree. The bucket changes how the relative water level is used. If only a hose is used the water lines will be level to each other but the elevation can change from measurement to measurement. With a central bucket location the level and elevation are preserved. Level and elevation are two separate things, although, they can be separated depending on the circumstances.
I found that to be true. First time using one and I liked the bucket better. Thanks.
A local guy used this with two measurement marks (each side of the tube). One side was for overall like this one and the other side worked sort of as a slide ruler to set the zero mark then show the difference easily. He said "Less math for my apprentice" haha
Interesting, I'll have to try it.
Great video
Thanks you!
Amazing not more to say
Thanks!
I've recently bought a water level and had a play around with it, I've found that when you move one end of the tube that the water height changes. I've put both ends of the tube on a wall, about a foot apart, marked the water level on the left side, then raised the right hand side up a couple of foot, then found that when the water levels itself, it's not on the mark.
My guess is that it was the hose type, right? It's important to know the difference between level and elevation. Two very different things. That is why a reservoir type is a little better than a hose. The change in water difference in the hose makes almost no difference in the reservoir elevation. Well within tolerances.
Ok. Thanks. 👍
I too have done this. But after consideration I realized ALL a water level does is find level between two points....after the rise and fall in the hose finally stops of course (often many minutes in a thin hose). Moving the one end of the hose to a 3rd location will change both sides and you will have to measure back to the original line you wanted and note the difference and then transfer that against the new 3rd location.......too easy.
The reservoir and hose still isn't perfect either, because as the hose end is moved around it will also be inaccurate (though less obvious then a hose by itself system). The reason is because no person can perfectly move the hose end around and keep it level.....it can be high in one spot or low in another and that will effect water level.
This is effectively changing the container size (reservoir and hose included) each time it is moved.
Holding the hose lower then the first mark will introduce more hose into the system = increase of container size that the water now has to occupy = drop in water height.
Same deal if the hose is held higher, it will mean there is a decrease in container size that the same amount of water now has to occupy which will create a rise in water height.
Great video, just subscribed
Thanks for the sub Dave!
QUESTION- does it matter how far up the side of the bucket the valve stem goes? For example, 1/4” from the bottom or 1/2” etc.?
Anywhere near the bottom will work just fine.
Now, just for example, let's say one footing is ground level and the other footing is 60 feet below ground level. As you move your tube down to 60 feet more water is now in the tube and less in the bucket. Therefore your level is not the same as the ground level. This water level only works accurately when the water is in the tube only. Adding the bucket introduces inaccuracies, albeit small when moving up and down a little bit.
I understand what you're getting at. There is an elevation vs. level problem with this configuration. But not as much as you would intuit. Providing that the hose is nearly full of water as you begin; your example of the footing 60 feet below ground level has almost no effect on the elevation of the water in the hose. In this case the end of the hose would stay at the same elevation and the tape measure would be extended down to the footing. This is the only way to get an accurate measurement. The top of the hose must stay above the top of water in the bucket or it will spill from the end of the hose.
If we started with the bucket near the lower footing we would do the same thing in reverse. Nearly fill the hose with water, measure the difference between the water line, and the lower footing, then move the hose to the location of the upper footing without changing elevation (sometimes this is not possible in this configuration due to obstructions). At this point measure down between the top of footing and the water line.
In both uses cases the distance between the top of water and top of hose (or end of hose) shouldn't deviate much. I usually place tape bands on the hose as tolerance markers and stay between them while at work. But just so you know even 10' feet of difference between the water line and the end of hose only makes about 1/16" change of elevation with a 2 gallon bucket.
I use a hose, a empty milk jug or two liter bottle and a funnel to fill the hose....making sure no air is locked in it and boom done
Sounds simple and effective.
can you share the link or tell me what kind of wall magnets you have for your tools. thanks, keep up the great videos!
Here you go! Magnetic Tool Holder: amzn.to/2rbiena
What if the bucket is tilted to one side a little bit? Does it affect the accuracy? Does the bucket needs to be level?
As long as the bucket is not moved during the process of measuring the tilt is not particularly important. Although, taken to extremes you would eventually spill water from the bucket. So, there is a point where tilt would matter.
Excellent video! Thx.
Thanks!
Great video, thanks. I have assembled all the parts except the tape measure, can't find a flexible one like you show, can you provide a part number for that item?
Cool! Here's the closest thing I could find. I think it should work.
Adhesive backed tape measure: amzn.to/2s8hKzg
Does it matter if my 2 gallon bucket resevoir is sitting on a level surface when I use the story pole water level?
Not really. As long as it's not spilling out a tilted bucket is fine.
can you keep the water long term? I figure it would get algae after a while
I empty the bucket when I'm not using it.