How to fix broken handles on a wheelbarrow

After many years of great service, our cheap-and-nasty wheelbarrows handles gave up! Rather than just go get a new study wheelbarrow, I decided to replace the handles with strong ones I found at our local hardware store. Not being the worlds best handy-man, I thought I would share what i did in case other folks had a similar skill set and the same problem.

So here is the pictorial guide of what we did : http://www.almostafarmer.com/how-to-fix-a-wheelbarrows-handles/

I hope people find this useful.

Gaz
www.almostafarmer.com

Well done. Great to find ways to re-use what is basically a useful set-up or tool.

Your post reminded me of something that I find handy when wanting to dril straight holes - often in outdoor (away from shop) situations...

I got one of these:

I got it via telephone order (an 800 number) from Big Gator, the company distributes them in N. America. $25 plus handling/shipping.

Mine is in English measure, but they offer ones in metric, too. So what do I lik about it? It guides your drill bit perpendicular to the surface of the workpiece. The one I bought has 17 graduations, between 1/8 and 3/8 inch diameter. It's made of a very hard steel alloy. It's compact, hence fits nicely in even your smallest away-from-shop tool box, or fits well into a pocket of your tool belt. And (being ferrous alloy) can be stored on a magnetic tool holder on a shop wall, with other hand tools.

Okay, I was originally contemplating using one of these with just carpentry/woodworking applications - and it's good for those, but also works nicely on steel tubing. Due to the V-groove running across the bottom, it fits especially well on smaller tubing (say, 1-inch o.d. and smaller). It can be hand held, or clamped in place temporarily, hence in effect it enables you to have something like a 'drill press' (straight, well-aimed holes) wherever you go.

Wow...thats a neat tool! I will search one down!

Gary

Gary Lewis wrote:After many years of great service, our cheap-and-nasty wheelbarrows handles gave up! Rather than just go get a new study wheelbarrow, I decided to replace the handles with strong ones I found at our local hardware store. Not being the worlds best handy-man, I thought I would share what i did in case other folks had a similar skill set and the same problem.

So here is the pictorial guide of what we did : http://www.almostafarmer.com/how-to-fix-a-wheelbarrows-handles/

I hope people find this useful.
Gaz
www.almostafarmer.com

You did a great job. My wheelbarrow handle broke. My problem was I couldn't buy the handles separate from the various hardware stores. I could get them made, but at an exorbitant cost. After some contemplation I went on line to KIJIJI and found two almost new wheelbarrows of excellent quality. The seller wouldn't dispose of one so I bought two for $100.00. I considered this a bargain, since I had the old wheelbarrow for over 20 years. One of the new wheelbarrows has metal handles and the other has strong oak handles. Also my property is large enough that two wheelbarrows are an advantage in some cases.