Mastodawn

New project acquired. My in-laws wheelbarrow. My son wanted to toss it, his grandmother wanted it tossed, but his grandfather pointed out they had the wheelbarrow since they first got married sometime in the 60's. Already ordered replacement handles and wedge pieces, now deciding how far I go with the metal restoration. On the plus side, all the undoubtedly leaded 1960's paint long gone, lol. Now, to decide on removing the rust or just covering it up after some metal brushing.... #ReduceRepairReuseRecycle #repair

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AI6YR Ben 6d ago

First step, a little PB Blaster and some work with two garage sale adjustable wrenches. Pb Blaster really reeks. Ends up a lot of the bolts are rust with no threads. #ReduceRepairReuseRecycle #repair

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AI6YR Ben 6d ago

Pile of metal, tire, old wood (rotted!!!). Had to pull out a hacksaw, many of the bolts were more rust than metal, and you can't remove a bolt where there is no thread. #ReduceRepairReuseRecycle #repair

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AI6YR Ben 6d ago

Current status: these wheelbarrows have carriage bolts, but when they are very rusty, they spun. An angle grinder would be the best option here, but I have no angle grinder. So, manual hacksaw through the bolt (which works, but is a lot of work. But, great arm workout!) #ReduceRepairReuseRecycle #repair #wheelbarrow

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AI6YR Ben 6d ago

Sears wheelbarrow. Probably 1960's or early 1970's. Purchased in Ventura or Oxnard, I understand. #ReduceRepairReuseRecycle #repair

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AI6YR Ben 6d ago

I wonder if someone has the appropriate catalog for this one online anywhere. #Sears

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AI6YR Ben 6d ago

Going with rust covering paint on this. Did a quick once over with a metal brush while wet to knock off loose rust, and I see the undercoat is most certainly that vintage leaded paint white (it has a certain sheen). So, better covered and encapsulated than removed. Washed with a degreaser. There are bits of ancient cement I can't remove... they will have to remain there I suppose. #ReduceRepairReuseRecycle #wheelbarrow #repair

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AI6YR Ben 2d ago

Wheelbarrow parts repainted. New wheel acquired. Waiting on handles. (Will still be cheaper than a brand new wheelbarrow, but not as cheap as snagging a free one off the curb). Restoring it for family sentimental reasons more than anything, lol. #wheelbarrow #ReduceRepairReuseRecycle #repair

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Nazo 2d ago

@ai6yr

Not for highway use.

Are a lot of people riding wheelbarrows on highways these days?

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John Burns 2d ago

@nazokiyoubinbou @ai6yr

If there is a warning...

... someone did it.

😉

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Nazo 2d ago

@JohnJBurnsIII @ai6yr Lol, jokes aside, someone probably towed one or something.

Still, it definitely would be bad.

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John Burns 2d ago

@nazokiyoubinbou @ai6yr

The barrow tires are same as what's on my 4 wheel cart... and they have tubes in them and cannot support the weight they say they can - at recommended highest pressure... (800 lbs).

I could only get 400 ish lbs on it - before it could not be pulled through grass. On ashphalt - yes... but rolling on 3" grass was no-go.

---
Can't imagine someone tries to use those cheap cart tires for anything where human life is at stake.

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Nazo 2d ago

@JohnJBurnsIII @ai6yr Honestly I imagine it's more of an issue of they can't handle that speed. At a speed like that a weaker tire would just rip itself apart.

Someone probably towed one at the back of a vehicle or something. I can imagine the tire probably blew and sparks were flying. I also imagine they didn't notice and kept going until police pulled them over or something. 🙄

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AI6YR Ben 2d ago

@nazokiyoubinbou @JohnJBurnsIII Ha, this is in the Congressional Record as part of a 2004 law... (the 2004 Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act).

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Lawsuit_Abuse_Reduction_Act_of_2004/Zp5l2OaDcWEC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=wheelbarrow+tire+lawsuit+highway&pg=PA17&printsec=frontcover

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Nazo

@ai6yr @JohnJBurnsIII Douglas Adams has that part beat too: https://hitchhikers.fandom.com/wiki/Wonko_the_Sane

I would tend to assume any time they have to write that on there someone somewhere actually needed it.

Yes. They are the words that finally turned me into the hermit I have now become. It was quite sudden. I saw them, and I knew what I had to do." The sign read: "Hold stick near center of its length. Moisten pointed end in mouth. Insert in tooth space, blunt end next to gum. Use gentle in-out motion." "It seemed to me," said Wonko the Sane, "that any civilization that had so far lost its head as to need to include a set of detailed instructions for use in a package of toothpicks, was no longer a civilization in which I could live and stay sane.

Wonko the Sane

John Watson, also known (at his own request) as Wonko the Sane was a marine biologist and scientist who lived in coastal California and is very sane. He and his wife Arcane Jill Watson lived in a curious place called the Outside of the Asylum. John calls himself Wonko in order to remind himself that a scientist must be like a child in having no preconceived notions - "Wonko" being a childhood nickname bestowed by his mother. Wonko added the epithet "the Sane" to his name in order to reassure...

Hitchhikers