Landscape Rake Build

[mjncad]

I was just about ready to powder coat the A frame when I realized I needed an integrated support stand. How come one of you guys didn't let me know ahead of time to make one of those ???

Larry

What? And spoil your fun Larry... The rake is looking good and I'm glad you're powder coating it instead of rattle canning it. That much work and craftsmanship deserves better than a Mal-Wart paint job.

I'm interested in seeing how your DIY powder coating works out.

 

[GuglioLS]

After chasing threads with the tap, the cylinder clevis mount was attached. I then hauled the A frame and boom outside to attach the two together with a King pin. Uh Oh, Houston we have a problem, seems the coating is a little too thick or my machining tolerances too tight. The boom will not fit underneath it's mount. Quick get a file it's starting to rain.





After filling down the coating, I was able to fit the boom underneath the A frame, then slide in the king pin. Next was to see if this will actually connect to my tractor - WOW it fits!!!! Good thing too, because I never checked till now, I just worked off my CAD plans, sure hope the rake tine holding bar is correct.





Well I guess I better get busy wrapping up the tine bar, still got a "little" to do on that and connect a few hydraulic hoses and fittings.
Thanks for checking this out.......

Larry

 

[GuglioLS]

What? And spoil your fun Larry... The rake is looking good and I'm glad you're powder coating it instead of rattle canning it. That much work and craftsmanship deserves better than a Mal-Wart paint job.

I'm interested in seeing how your DIY powder coating works out.

LOL - Mike Better check page 15 reply # 150, we were posting at the same time and you may have missed some really good close ups of the powder coating and my redneck powder coating "system". I sure am glad you brought up the idea of powder coating. If it were not for your suggestion I would have never even considered it, after reading up on it a bit, and finding out it's not really all that hard or expensive to get the best, most durable finish possible. Thanks! (Easy clean up too)


Larry

 

[3RRL]

Holy crap Larry, that is the cleanest, best, most sanitary project build EVER!
What a terrific job. Not only your fabrication and design skills, but that powder coating is just over the top! You're not kidding that looks like candy. Looks like a delicious desert any one of us would LOVE to have.
Everything...just outstanding Larry!
Send me your plans, man.

 

[J_J]

Larry,

Very nice work.

Did you use a powder coat primer, or regular primer?

 

[SkunkWerX]

All kidding aside, that Rake is a THING OF BEAUTY!
Top notch work, but that goes without saying.

I like your powder coat process of heating the metal, glad to hear it worked for you. In the winter when my woodstove is fired up in the shop, I find that placing metal items on it for about 10 or 15 mins. , then spraying (enamels paint not powder) works like a charm.

Again, that is a nice build!
Well thought out, well executed.

 

[GuglioLS]

Holy crap Larry, that is the cleanest, best, most sanitary project build EVER!
What a terrific job. Not only your fabrication and design skills, but that powder coating is just over the top! You're not kidding that looks like candy. Looks like a delicious desert any one of us would LOVE to have.
Everything...just outstanding Larry!
Send me your plans, man.

Flattery will get you........my CAD plans Maybe you want to wait and see if the rest of it goes together first?
Rob,
Thanks for your very generous compliments, they are much appreciated.
__________________________________________________________________

Larry,
Very nice work.
Did you use a powder coat primer, or regular primer?

Thank you J.J. -
I hope I have this right, with powder coating there is no primer, the finish coat is sprayed directly onto sand blasted metal for optimum adhesion. Do you know of a primer to be used with powder coatings? I did not notice anything about that in my research.
_________________________________________________________________

All kidding aside, that Rake is a THING OF BEAUTY!
Top notch work, but that goes without saying.

I like your powder coat process of heating the metal, glad to hear it worked for you. In the winter when my woodstove is fired up in the shop, I find that placing metal items on it for about 10 or 15 mins. , then spraying (enamels paint not powder) works like a charm.

Again, that is a nice build!
Well thought out, well executed.

Thanks Mr. SkunkWerX,
Using the "heat first, spray later" method of powder coating seems to work. I'm surprised I did not read anything about it or see it mentioned anywhere, but hey, what do I know. Maybe it's dangerous or something and I just lucked out that I didn't blow myself up.

I thank everyone who took the time to check this out and post all your wonderful compliments. My hope is the rest of it will come out just as nice. Thanks...

Larry

 

[tlbuser]

Thanks Mr. SkunkWerX,
Using the "heat first, spray later" method of powder coating seems to work. I'm surprised I did not read anything about it or see it mentioned anywhere, but hey, what do I know. Maybe it's dangerous or something and I just lucked out that I didn't blow myself up.

Larry

Maybe nobody else thought about cheating the process Think I'll stick with the heat lamp option over direct flame though. I'll definitely give it a whirl soon. , I don't have the full required redneck gear so mine may not work as well
The stand add-on was a definite plus. Did you get powders from HF too? The colors look really good.

 

[J_J]

Larry, About the primer.

I did not know either, so I went on the Internet and found this.

Powder Chemistries Available
DeLoKa offers a wide variety of Powder Chemistries, consisting of Polyesters, Epoxies, Hybrids, and Urethanes. DeLoka also offers a Zinc Rich Primer that can add durability and life to parts that are introduced to the elements.

For this type of extended use and high film thickness outdoor application. I would suggest that perhaps a two coat powder system is appropriate.

First Coat - A zinc loaded epoxy powder primer to partial cure

Second Coat - A TGIC Polyester color/top coat

This will give you about 5-8 mils film thickness and more salt spray resistance then you need.



I really don't know if this is necessary. I guess you will tell us in the long term.

 

[J_J]

While checking out the Internet, I did notice that some of the Powder Coating company's sandblast and then immediately clean and preheat the metal to specifically remove moisture, since bare metal will start to rust in a couple of hours. I also found out that Powder Coating paint has better chip resistant capability.