Off-Road Ranger I
- 937
- First Name
- Bruce
- Last Name
- Robertson
- Member #
-
4045
- Ham/GMRS Callsign
- VA3BWR
- Service Branch
- Fire Rescue
So, I'm currently rebuilding an FJ40 and just couldn't bring myself to put the old rusty nuts and bolts back to hold it together, but also hated the fact that without doing this I would have a huge bin of useless nuts and bolts. (And would need to spend a small fortune on new bolts!)
I knew there had to be a better way than individually sand blasting or wire wheeling each piece of hardware, and after that, having to set up some sort of electroplating system.
I found the Eastwood Hardware tumbler and thought I would give it a try for "batch cleaning" where I could start it up and walk away. That system worked like a CHARM!
So, now that I knew the cleaning worked, I had to find a good coating system. Paint wouldn't do, it adds to the diameter and chips off. Zinc or "copy cad" coating would work, but it's not exactly a simple setup, or large batch process. I could send them out to be done, but then the cost factor eliminated the purpose.
Today I tried Caswell Black Oxide - it's a totally simple straightforward and very inexpensive process. If you have small parts, like hardware, that you want coated black - check this out!
I knew there had to be a better way than individually sand blasting or wire wheeling each piece of hardware, and after that, having to set up some sort of electroplating system.
I found the Eastwood Hardware tumbler and thought I would give it a try for "batch cleaning" where I could start it up and walk away. That system worked like a CHARM!
So, now that I knew the cleaning worked, I had to find a good coating system. Paint wouldn't do, it adds to the diameter and chips off. Zinc or "copy cad" coating would work, but it's not exactly a simple setup, or large batch process. I could send them out to be done, but then the cost factor eliminated the purpose.
Today I tried Caswell Black Oxide - it's a totally simple straightforward and very inexpensive process. If you have small parts, like hardware, that you want coated black - check this out!
