I am thinking of getting 30 or 40 bases sand blasted and wondered if anybody had had bases blasted and what sort of cost it was. I guess looking at the number of bases I'm talking about should keep the price down considerably per unit. I will have a hunt around tomorrow and see how I go .
Hi MF and speedy, Molasses is a no go just too slow for the volume I need stripped and I'm not sure if it would strip the paint. Peter is doing this for a completely different reason. I'm also thinking of possibly getting them hot dipped galvanized but then I would need to get a higher price for them and I'm not sure that I could do that. I will check it out and see how much it is going to cost.
Not sure about the hot dip Norm. I had a box trailer done once. Buckled the floor pretty well. It's lasted 25 yrs out in the weather with no maintenance other than tailight lenses.
Mowers might be Ok. They are tightly pressed and not welded. Will add a bit of weight.
Dunno why but that talk of hot dip for a mower base gave me a laugh. I have seen a video from America where the guy literally just sprays the mower deck with a rattle can with no prep or masking and on sold it! Mowers are inherently damaged and scuffed from normal use. Cutting a lawn does their appearance no favours.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
Jeff and MF, Was just a thought, got sick of just sanding the bases back. Anyway probably won't happen, we to the local sandblaster and they had gone and some gate mob had moved into the factory The gal idea would be a good move in saving these Victa bases from extinction but I guess the people I sell mowers to wouldn't pay a premium for a galvanized base. Would save me a lot of work but would never get my money back to break even
Hey Norm, Put a few in a big molasses bath and the go fishing for 3 weeks.................... to Tassie...... Can't miss. Or go to Rocky fish barra in the town reach....... cheers speedy
........................Keep your blades sharp......................
A galvanised PT utility 450 would be one hell of a mower though It goes by weight of the galvanising A mower base would not absorb much Might not be as expensive as you think
Now look you fellows did. You make Norm think about going on see-food diet. <LOL>
Here I have been trying to get off the see-food diet but I have a hard not opening the door to frig. The solution I think is not putting anything in there is ready to eat.
Gave up and just painted this one by hand because I ran out of thinners so I could spray them. Seems to have come up ok but missed a couple of spots so have to wait 72 hours before I can touch them up. This base had some deep pitted surface rust under the motor area due to the base being powdercoated
The base came up well ,I've mainly been using wire brushes in the drill for cleaning old steel bases but I see wet blasting would be easier and quicker ,I will have to try this method if I can find the time.
Hi Max, I have worked out it is taking me about 40 mins to prepare a base ready to paint. Every base needs welding repairs somewhere, most need the front axle area repaired and then sand off all the loose paint/powdercoat, I don't strip them back completely, that would take me far too long. I do have a dry sandblasting kit but it is only small and I haven't used it for years.
That garnet for sandblasting cost heaps even for industry..... And you can't use ordinary sand, unless you want a lung desease...... Easy molasses, hard a wire ripper..... seriously removes rust and paint.... or just rough sand for rough bodgie job..... I see plenty of mowers for sale at tender centre and other places, just have rough sand and spray. As long as motor goes....... a useable mower, not a collectors piece...... I do all.............. cheers speedy
........................Keep your blades sharp......................
Hi speedy, The bases I have are all pretty sad when I get them so they have to be painted and this is the cheapest way I can clean them up for painting. Hopefully I will have a dozen sanded up ready to paint tomorrow so that will give me plenty to assemble over the next few weeks/months. Next big problem is finding 48 usable wheels for them
That garnet for sandblasting cost heaps even for industry..... And you can't use ordinary sand, unless you want a lung desease...... Easy molasses, hard a wire ripper..... seriously removes rust and paint.... or just rough sand for rough bodgie job..... I see plenty of mowers for sale at tender centre and other places, just have rough sand and spray. As long as motor goes....... a useable mower, not a collectors piece...... I do all.............. cheers speedy
Wouldn't using a good respirator mask work under the face shield work okay? Even a dust filter is better than nothing. Still should use good organic vapor mask when painting. Lots nasty stuff in paints.
That garnet for sandblasting cost heaps even for industry..... And you can't use ordinary sand, unless you want a lung desease...... Easy molasses, hard a wire ripper..... seriously removes rust and paint.... or just rough sand for rough bodgie job..... I see plenty of mowers for sale at tender centre and other places, just have rough sand and spray. As long as motor goes....... a useable mower, not a collectors piece...... I do all.............. cheers speedy
Wouldn't using a good respirator mask work under the face shield work okay? Even a dust filter is better than nothing. Still should use good organic vapor mask when painting. Lots nasty stuff in paints.
Apart from being a health hazard to the user, I read it's illegal at least in some states in Australia as it can drift away and get breathed in by others.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
