Print

[Clifford Pope]

Advice, from experience. Do not leave a barrow leaning against the shed, so that rain water can trickle into the open ends of the handles ... the front bit rusts from the inside.

The obvious solution would be to prop the barrow up resting on its handles. I always forget though, so the front end rusts and eventually collapses.

The perfect design would have a sturdier piece at the front. If you do a lot of tipping on hard surfaces like concrete the rounded end wears out anyway.
Another improvement would be to have the front bit curve upwards just in front of the wheel so that the front was less inclined to ground suddenly when pushing over rough terrain.

[linesrg]

Good Evening All,

Go on then somebody tell me why you can buy a wheelbarrow with a galvanised 'bucket' but it is then fitted to a *&%^$ piece of mild steel framework.  Guess which rots first especially used in a horsey environment?

Regards

Richard

[Old Hywel]

I have a nice galvanised framed barrow, complete with rusted body!
Rescued from a skip

[w3526602]

Hi,

Some wheel barrows come with a plastic monocoque tub and frame.

Why can't you buy a plastic tub for a builders barrow ... it should carry sand and wet cement, but probably not bricks and heavy rubble.

602

[dartymoor]

Another vote for plastic bodies.

Ours was metal, but the barrow rusted through. I managed to scrounge a plastic body from another barrow where the frame had rusted through, and stuck it on. That's been out stables barrow for about a decade like that (total age about 18 years). The plastic wheel exploded through UV brittleness, so replaced that for a fiver - but otherwise it's the hardest working little trigger's broom I know.

[Clifford Pope]

Case in point - I've been collecting horse manure from a field this afternoon and realised the barrow is literally on its last legs. The curved bit of the frame at the front has rusted apart, so is only held by the axle.
The tub is held onto the frame by baler twine, and the connecting link across the back of the tub has rusted through.
So it is very wobbly to push, and when set down tends to bend over one way or the other.
But the tyre is good, so it's not quite dead yet :)

[kev]

Following this topic:
https://www.series2club.co.uk/new_forum/index.php?action=post;topic=8860.0;last_msg=98297

Post some pics of your wheelbarrow.
Stay on topic by having something Land Rover related in your barra’.😁

[Wittsend]

The more obvious solution is to buy 2 wheelbarrows.

A metal tub one for heavy duty building work ...

And a plastic tub for the stable yard type duties.

 

[Scotty38]

It's rare there's much rubble type stuff in my "plastic" barrow, more likely logs etc but it's very strong and I have no doubt it could cope with bricks and stuff, especially in a domestic environment.

In fact I just read the blurb on the Haemmerlin site and the polycarbonate bodes are up to the task of construction sites....

[Wittsend]

Here's my wittsbarrow.

It's a B&Q model left here by some builders we had in about 10 years ago.
I guess it's mine now, paid for in their bill!

I've had to Gorilla glue the handles back on, otherwise it's good to go.

So much so that I cleared those weeds (nettles) out as the garden bins are emptied tomorrow.

[crumbly65]

After a spirited discussion, SWMBO decided that this will be our (!)  new wheelbarrow.

It's extremely light, and does feel a little odd at first, as it's completely plastic and twin-wheeled with solid tyres.  However, on initial use, it dealt with 4 x 60 litre bags of multi-compost very easily, how it deals with logs during the coming winter remains to be seen......  99% of it's use will be light garden duties, no rubble or concrete etc, so it should be ok.

I'll report further if there any problems......

[Old Hywel]

Two-wheeled barrows, as above, are fine on smooth surfaces. On rougher ground though, it’s a constant battle with the handles as they yank the operator from side to side.

[w3526602]

Hi,

Ditto a lot of the above, but referring to cement mixers ... I think a new drum used to cost about £40.

And then there's Royal Marine Sankeys, which rust due to nobody removing the "flotation" plugs (I understand that Marine Sankeys are intended to float), which means they fill with rain water, and rust from the inside.

602

[oilstain]

In 1984 I went to my local Jewsons and bought a builders barrow, to protect it I painted it with black bitchmun paint and have repeated the painting process 3 or 4 times since after the paint wore off. I have also added air to the tyre a few times. When not in use I put it away out of the rain in the cellar. The barrow is still in good condition and with care will see me out, all for a few pounds, I think about £6, perhaps less

Yes I’m tight

[Calum]

Metal for me. Plastic ones just provide a huge contribution to the excessive amount of plastic we already produce and use