Quick ungarbage of a wheelbarrow

I found a wheelbarrow next to the dumpster today. It always surprises me whatpeople throw away...

Oiled the axle, put some air in the tire, knocked off old concrete and riveted some sheet metal over the see through parts. It's not like new, but definitely worth the 30 mins of work.

Excellent find (and repair) Benjamin. You can't have too many wheelbarrows.
I find that the tyres don't last well here - it's worth getting better quality inner tubes, rather than cheap ones.

Thanks Nancy.
I said to my partner when we drove past: “that’s just cutting some sheet metal and putting some rivets in, quick and easy repair.”
She answered most people wouldn’t consider riveting sheet metal an easy repair.
Maybe that’s one for the thread “you know you’re a permie when…”

They stopped selling individual tubes around here and now they make you buy the whole wheel including the axle, the rim, mantle and tube… I could probably order online somewhere.

I went for a full rubber design on the other weekbarrow, won’t ever go flat.

I like the solid tires on wheelbarrows too.
And I have done that type of repair with bolts and nuts. Maybe your partner finds that easier than rivets? :D

I agree with the tires. I scrounge tires whenever I have the chance.  I probably have 11, of various sizes, hanging in my barn.

We tried an all rubber tire and the ones available here we described as 'always flat'! They just didn't roll easily.

Soooo... Hubby had the local tire shop install an equivalent sized small trailer tire instead. Since it's road legal, it's much tougher. However, since road ones are more flat and less domed if you look at it, it doesn't turn on a dime quite as well as a regular wheelbarrow tire would.

That said, it also is more resistant to Himalayan blackberry thorns.

This is not a cheap option. It was more money up front, but it saves us time in upkeep.

I have a friend who has a huge fleet of wheelbarrows that are in various states of rehabilitation, so Ben, you're not the only one who feels it's worth saving one from the dumpster!  I admit my small hands would struggle with rivets, so I'd go the nut/bolt approach that Pearl mentions, but to each their own on how you get the job done!

Good job!

Something I am sad about is when I moved I couldn't bring my dad's big 6 cubic foot construction wheelbarrows. They were so old and crudded up I couldn't get them apart to save space, I held them to the very end in hopes of getting any into the moving van, but there was no way.

I DID move all of the pieces and parts dad had: wooden handles, wheels, axle/feet assemblies etc. Figured I could always make something to be the bucket for them.

Great score!
My own favorite 'barrow was rescued from a dumpster.
My repairs included closing the crack in the bottom with screws (from the inside) into scrap wood(on the underside).

I planned on getting fancier later,but that repair was good enough that I keep it upside down lest it collect rain water.

Here near Bonanza, all the used metal stuff is taken to the County's "transfer station", where there are many used (maybe reclaimable?) metal items, especially appliances. But the County is jealous of its bounty, no trash-picking is allowed. I believe they have a contract with a metals reclaiming company, that forbids scrounging.

...sigh...

I had that same problem both in Germany and Spain Jerry.
It seems as soon as “trash” becomes a business and countries are too affluent weird stuff like that happens.
Sometimes a little “coffee money” in the tip jar goes a long way with the people working in these recycling centers. With the ones in my home town I was on excellent terms.
I always found it was very important to be on good terms with them. Now I have to make those relationships again. One of the definite downsides of moving away.

Just a thought for anyone who struggles using a hand riveter because of grip strength. I use a lazy tongs riveter which uses your arm strength instead.

I’ve mentioned it over on the Tool thoughts for women thread. It’s a good resource for anyone. Because I have arthritis starting in my hands I use makita’s 12v range instead of the industry standard 18V and other wrist saving tools.

I also have a "rag-tag fugitive fleet" of wheelbarrows, and a galactic pile in disrepair to scavenge parts from. I will bring home a "donor" if it has at least two things going for it, a tub and a wheel, a wheel and one handle, two handles... I have also scavenged just the bolts that would come loose from an otherwise lost-cause. Commercial grade wheelbarrows are usually built heavier and with better components than the consumer grade ones, and can be more worth fixing up. Although salvage parts are harder to come by, than with the consumer grade ones.

Wheels are the problem that is impossible to cope with any disfunction. Not really a "wheel" barrow without it!
I like the solid/no-flat wheels for their main attribute, although they are heavy and don't absorb any shock or squish over short obstacles like a pneumatic tire will. Usually, fitting a good quality, new inner tube is all that's needed...IF you also clean the rim and tire of loose rust and debris before reassembly. I like to get inner tubes from a recognizable brand (also in the bicycle or highway tire business) rather than some cheap random unknown or "house" brand, as the quality is better. I have had spotty results with tube/tire patches (likely due to age and a poor quality tube to begin with).

Pearl Sutton wrote:I like the solid tires on wheelbarrows too.
And I have done that type of repair with bolts and nuts. Maybe your partner finds that easier than rivets? :D

Self tapping screws

When the metal is that thin, it's not so hard to drive these through

Also good for patching floors in old trucks so you don't have to disconnect the gas lines before welding
Requires one cordless "impact" screwdriver or elbow grease with a hex socket driver or similar tool and a little inspiration  😄

Wheelbarrow restoration is simply a sign of intelligence