Care of wicker baskets?

[Snape]

I pressure washed mine when I cleaned the car at my local garage and then left in the sun to dry. It tightened up the wicker nicely.

To tighten it put a brick or rock in it and lower into a pond or water butt. Leave for a while then remove and let it dry. Hey presto! one tightened wicker basket.

[Kevanf1]

I have one of those big blue industrial water barrels. I used it on my allotment when I had it but it is now in the garden. This basket fits it beautifully Perfect for a bit of dunking..

[DaceAce]

The last time I had a wicker basket it got very loose in the heatwave of 1976 so I used it as a bait platform in a match thinking that it would tighten up. At the end of the match it had tightened up al right, so much that the bottom fell out and I had the problem of carting my gear back to the car a mile away.

[MGs]

I have just used the white vinegar, white spirit, boiled linseed oil mixture to coat my creel. Anyone know how long it takes to dry (become useable)?

[Kingfisher]

I have a freind who I supply with eggs who is into wicker wear, I'll seek her advice on this stuff. you never know she may even offer to make me one.

[Kevanf1]

I have just used the white vinegar, white spirit, boiled linseed oil mixture to coat my creel. Anyone know how long it takes to dry (become useable)?

Mine took no more than a week. I did keep it in the bathroom where it was fairly constantly kept warm. This was just after last Xmas so it was cold outside.

[MGs]

Kevanf1, thanks. It is too cold to want to fish at present, so a week will be fine. It is out in the garage at the moment.

[Marc]

Just so I don't ruin a perfectly good basket, am I dipping it in this concoction or daubing it on?

[MGs]

I used a rag and an old paint brush. It took about 1/8 pint to do my average size creel

[Mark]

To tighten it put a brick or rock in it and lower into a pond or water butt. Leave for a while then remove and let it dry. Hey presto! one tightened wicker basket.

That's what I normally do, drop it in my pond with a brick or two inside for the day.