Mastodawn

AI6YR Ben Apr 5

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

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

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

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

AI6YR Ben 6d ago

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

AI6YR Ben 6d ago

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

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

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

AI6YR Ben 1d ago

Uh oh! Made a serious, strategic mistake in the wheelbarrow project. Will likely require reordering yet another set of handles. (Will reconsider what to do in daylight). Do not copy a heavily modified/jury rigged piece of equipment, is the lesson here. #wheelbarrow #ReduceRepairReuseRecycle #repair

AI6YR Ben 1d ago

Ah, screw it, going to see if I can make it work anyway. Now into "what is he doing in there" Tom Waits hour. Furniture clamp time!!!

AI6YR Ben 1d ago

It worked!!! The handles were not lining up anywhere near the right size for the end piece.

AI6YR Ben 1d ago

Aha! This should work. The spacing between the two sides of the wood are now tight enough the wheel will stay in place. #wheelbarrow

Earlier today: unwisely cut the wheelbarrow handles to match the onr rotted old one. Now know, it had already been modified and jury rigged, and should be longer. #mistake #repair

AI6YR Ben 1d ago

Also done earlier, the wheelbarrow wedges I ordered did not match the old wedge. Just went and cut new ones on the table saw. But now, wonder if that wedge was also jury rigged. 🤔 #repair #wheelbarrow

AI6YR Ben 1d ago

Sanded and linseed oiled the wood pieces, and then fitted them. Backwards, as it turns out.

AI6YR Ben 1d ago

Anyway, now stalled out as I need properly matched nuts for my bolts, and apparently I have fine thread nuts (but no fine thread bolts, only coarse bolts), plus some metric nuts (also don't work). I may have the right bolts hiding somewhere, but it's probably just easier to go buy some matching hardware rather than trying to rummage through the hardware pile for 3 hours. #ReduceRepairReuseRecycle #repairs

AI6YR Ben 1d ago

Almost done! Went rummaging around a bucket of bolts and found two that would work. Now I just need to hacksaw off the too long bolts and give it another layer of linseed oil. I opted for just whatever bolts I had here with large washers instead of carriage bolts. #ReduceRepairReuseRecycle #repair #diy #wheelbarrow

April’s Fool 1d ago

@ai6yr I have so many jars of misc nuts and bolts, many inherited from my dad and father in-law. But I can always find what I need in them, with a bit of hunting. 😋

BoTheMagnificent 1d ago

@apriloq @ai6yr A few years ago I invested in some small parts containers then spent an afternoon listening to podcasts and sorting nuts and bolts. It's *so* nice to be able to find exactly what I need instantly. I've probably saved more than the containers cost by not driving to the store to buy things I already had.

Meanwhile, on Earth One 1d ago

@ai6yr A lot of work, but it is coming together! 😄 👍

Clark Breyman (he/him)1d ago

@ai6yr - c’mon man where’s the ambition? Build the die, melt the scrap, cast new hardware?

AI6YR Ben 1d ago

@clark LOL, well, I have a die set... I suppose I could just find some rod and cut my own matching bolts 🤪

Roknrol like the slur 1d ago

@ai6yr Melt down the ones that don't fit and fabricate them fresh; that's the only way to do it properly. You have an anvil, right?

AI6YR Ben 1d ago

@roknrol @clark lol

Shirley Eugest 1d ago

@ai6yr
I appreciate my local Ace Hardware Store for having mounted gauges to allow you to identify the thing you have and then buy just the pieces you need, and write down the size, length and pitch.

AI6YR Ben 1d ago

@EugestShirley I actually bought a guage here! Except I am unsure how to figure out the pitch using the gauge, lol.

Shirley Eugest 1d ago

@ai6yr
For the pitch, you need to screw the nut onto a bolt on the gauge for at least three turns, or vice versa.
So many bolts are machined with a taper or even a rounded end. One turn appears to fit, but the wrong pitch will get stuck soon enough.

Or use a handy calculator Like this. Count threads per inch first.
https://www.omnicalculator.com/construction/thread-pitch

Or try a chart 🤞 🍀

https://www.portlandbolt.com/technical/thread-pitch-chart/

AI6YR Ben 1d ago

@EugestShirley Yeah, those "oh this fits" on the first two cranks doesn't work so well, lol

Oh yeah, the wood should grip the square on a coach bolt if you drill the holes just big enough to take the shaft.

@ai6yr side quest: I grew up hearing only the term “Jerry-rigged”, and M-W says they’re both valid although emphasis is slightly different!

https://www.merriam-webster.com/grammar/jerry-built-vs-jury-rigged-vs-jerry-rigged-usage-history

'Jerry-built' vs. 'Jury-rigged' vs. 'Jerry-rigged'

Three terms, three strong options.

J. Brian Coyle 1d ago

@bolderbekah
Today is the first time I've heard the term Jerry-built.
@ai6yr