Well here it starts, the beginning of the end of this thread of what can be done with what would probably be one of the worst examples of a Model 45.
I've deliberately done this machine when I could've picked a much better one / easier purely to demonstrate what can be done with a machine that's probably been able to be purchased for around $100 in this current climate of outrageous 45 pricing.
Here are the first of a series of photos that I'll put up for readers / paid up members to view. Remember only paid members can see these or any photos on this fabulous Forum.
I live a 24 Hour lifestyle, but every now and again I seem to fall asleep, well at least that's what my wife tells me.
That handsome hammered paint is sexy as hell! And that lawn omg. Puts a blinkin bowling green to shame. I feel like I'm looking at a lingerie catalogue with those racy pics.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
Unbelievable BB, that is so good it's too good to mow with and get dirty. I think in the current market place your machine would fetch high 900,000's to a Mil. Thanks for showing us this remarkable achievement.
Hi guys, I took the rather interesting trip to Windsor yesterday and obtained three cans each of Ultra-colorgold hammertone and deep green hammertone paints. I have taken pics of each can. Each three are the same no.
The bloke who sold them to me revealed they are actually sourced from China and receive their label. He says they can't skin inside the can and it's best to store them on their side. I noticed something interesting about them. They have the same spray button as a cheap can of spray paint I bought from a one of those dollar discount stores, but those came with a second spray button type (the white one with the red adjustable direction piece on the end) you can put on. The black one (the Ultra Color has) was hopeless so I discarded it and used the other instead which sprayed much better.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
Thank you very much for your kind words re: achievement.
As I've mentioned previously, this project wasn't done to show anything off, rather it was merely about demonstrating what can be achieved with such a poor starting point and how if one was to find one of these for a small fee then one should not to be discouraged as it is clearly visible what can actually be achieved with more time opposed to more money, and time is the huge factor for the older generation who actually enjoy doing these sort of things. Member Bruban & NormK has really opened my eyes in regards to this point.
In the process of doing this machine I also did the Sole Plate and cutting cylinder which incidentally was probably the best part of the machine as far as life left in it is concerned, so at any time this machine can easily be returned as a cutting machine rather than the Verti-Cutter that I have made out of it. Everything is retro-fitable without any witness marks of the purpose I used it for.
MF,
I do recall being told that the paint was originally sourced from the great land of China, but I feel that it's actually made for "Ultra Color" under contract over there with probably most of all their other stuff, thus why they can sell it so cheap.
I'd be really interested in how the Gold looks as lots of machinery made in the 1960's / 70's was painted Hamnmertone Gold to stand out in machinery sales shops.
I also felt that the nozzle played a big part of how poor these can spray at times. Regardless the warmer it is the better the paint flows from these cans.
Cheers, BB.
I live a 24 Hour lifestyle, but every now and again I seem to fall asleep, well at least that's what my wife tells me.
Well the time has come to wrap this thread up as the machine is now finished and ready to go off to work for which it was originally planned for.
With that in mind I feel that I must now give credit to all those that have either helped or provided services, being paid or for free.
so here we go,
Assorted Bearings.........................................................................................................Ben at Applied Technology Various new components...............................................................................................Cam Peitrie at CETE Verti-Cutting Reel and Handle Bar Shield Badge plus a few chain half links.................George at BonMods Adelaide. Zinc Plating of all Fasteners..........................................................................................Scott at M.K.Birrel Electroplaters Stripping of Old Chrome................................................................................................Paul at Klemzig Platers Final Plating of Handle Bar Assembly............................................................................Greg at "A Class Metal Finishers", Lonsdale New Stainless Front Roller........................................................."Reel Solutions" QLD (replaces the zinc plated unit as shown in the photos) Paint..............................................................................................................................Debbie at Ultra Color NSW Donor Chain Case.........................................................................................................Steve Rose at Australian Saws and Blades Pooraka.
So for now I guess that this is it for topic.
Finally I have to thanks all the contributors that make stories like this enjoyable to do as a project, but in the long term this is all about helping others in their quest of pursuing that ultimate restoration of a mower because really it's just way too expensive to restore a car, so a mower is within the realms of most cash strapped folks on a budget, but gaining the same type of satisfaction in the end.
Cheers, BB.
PS. I have decided that I will finalise this thread with an update on how the machine performs as a Verti-Cutter so that others that may want to go down this road can read some sort of road test and how this combination of machine and reel scrubs up.
I live a 24 Hour lifestyle, but every now and again I seem to fall asleep, well at least that's what my wife tells me.
Well the news is..................it's still sitting on carpet all covered over in the shed as the growing season has been somewhat different this year here in Adelaide with the grass not growing as aggressively as in the past few seasons, thus no thinning has been required and the machine is still sitting idle.
It's now way to late in the season to thin the growth out as that will only encourage infestation of weeds for the winter and I don't want that in any way.
So I guess it won't be until next season that it gets it's first run. I will say though that I'm seriously thinking of applying the same treatment to my 20 inch Scotty over the off season as it won't be required for some time.
I'll start a whole new thread when I do that and document it well.
Cheers, BB.
I live a 24 Hour lifestyle, but every now and again I seem to fall asleep, well at least that's what my wife tells me.
Ahh, fair cop BB. Shame though because it looks like a winner.
Keep us informed if you decide to go all in on the 20". I didn't have enough punishment the first time around in transforming my rust bucket 45, so now I'm eyeing off a 33. It looks like it has been sitting for a long time but in very original condition. Just don't want it scrapped.
I don't collect mowers. I just require Multiple Mowing Solutions™.
