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  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2022
    Location
    England
    Posts
    4

    Default Maintaining Outdoor Gym Equipment

    Hi everyone,

    I have a piece of outdoor gym equipment(think I have managed to attach photo). It is made from galvanised metal - I was told that they use a hot dip galvanising process.

    It’s holding up great overall - had it for over a year and showing no signs of rust.

    However, the arms that stick out the the sides (which are for sliding weight plates onto), have become very smooth and are now a little difference in appearance, as a result of repeatedly sliding weight plates on and off. Do I need to be worried that I have rubbed the galvanised coating off, and this part will now be susceptible to rust? Or does a hot dip galvanised process treat the metal sufficiently deep so that it will still be protected?

    If it is the former, and it will now be susceptible to rust, what action would you recommend be taken. Buy a galvanising spray and apply. Use some weatherproof paint such as hammerite? Or maybe both of the above for maximum protection?

    Thanks for any help or suggestions!

    Tim
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  2. #2
    BobL is offline Member: Blue and white apron brigade
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    7,183

    Default

    Yes it's likely the galvanising will eventually rub off and the arms will rust.
    A paint or galv spray won't do much, but a lubricant might be a better option.
    Even something like a thin smear of Vaseline over the arms after a weights session would be enough to protect the arm from rusting and also make it easier to put the weights on/off.

    If you wanted a minimum fuss solution, how much of a gap is there between the borehole of the weights and the arms?

    If there is enough room you could protect the arms by using "shrink fit", a thin hard plastic tube available from hardwares and electronics shops that can be cut to size and placed loosely over the arms and then heated with a hot air gun so that it will shrink and grip the arms tightly. The plastic is very smooth so even if its a close fit it will be easy to slide the weights on and off, certainly easier than metal on metal.

    Eventually the shrink fit will wear but it can be easily cut off and replaced.

    If you are lucky the arms will be slightly oversize for black polyethylene irrigation pipe. Then you can heat lengths of the pipe and arms with a hot air cut and force/slide the pipe over the arms. Then when it cools it will tightly grip the arms. I did this on the arms of my small metal storage rack.
    smallbits.jpg

    Presumably the weights are stored inside? If so and the boreholes are too small they could be bored out by a whisker to fit the added plastic - the weight loss will be minimal and not really affect the weight rating. This would need to be done by someone who has a drill press and large drill bits and knows what they are doing.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2022
    Location
    England
    Posts
    4

    Default

    Thank you @BobL

    This is a super useful reply!

  4. #4
    Join Date
    May 2022
    Location
    England
    Posts
    4

    Default Thanks

    Thanks BobL!

    Super helpful reply 😊

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