Rusty Bucket: Capacity Slot & Upgrade Choices

Rusty is the item name

Look for a loose Rusty bucket among damaged ships and station debris and collect it by hand. It weighs 2 and has maximum part durability 100. The name identifies this particular container; it does not tell you the condition of the individual bucket in your inventory.

Treat the pickup as an upgrade part when sorting your haul. Ordinary Metal has different uses and requirements, so a rusty-looking object is not automatically a substitute for the Metal a crowbar repair asks for.

Compare an available bucket before making a rare-part trip

Backpack upgrade partPlastic barrelRusty bucketLeather bag

A Rusty bucket gives the Nutri-Pack-O-Mat 110 nutrients of tank capacity, 20 more than its original 90-nutrient container. The other three replacements hold more, but a bucket already in your inventory can still be a useful first upgrade.

The table covers nutrient storage in Build 25584330, updated October 18, 2026. Compare the total with the batch you want to process before making a longer trip for another container. Only one part occupies the Capacity slot.

Compare current condition as well as maximum durability

Maximum durability is the part ceiling, not a promise that a found or used bucket is full. Include current condition in the replacement decision. Removing a worn machine upgrade and installing it again is not a repair method; the official 0.8.6 update fixed removed upgrades returning to full durability.

Bring home the parts that solve your next job

For a food run, pair the chosen container with biomass and any materials needed to restore the machine. For a tool-repair run, prioritize its actual ingredients. Carrying several spare containers adds weight without creating additional Capacity slots.