Slow project to restore a very tired Dandy Windmill, circa 1920. Pump Jack (water pump) is already restored and in earlier pictures of restored projects.
Windmill tail is now ready, old and new here for comparison. The tail is new as the old was too shot up. (Old is now "wall art".) Fabricated with new galvanized metal, using a plywood form to create the shape and rolled edge.
Used POR15 and then Sterling Silver POR15 to topcoat for the first time. Doing graphics over the Sterling Silver POR was near impossible as it leaves a powdery residue and didnt seem to adhere very well (but I may have used an incompatible reducer). Ended up stripping down some of the silver POR15 and using conventional epoxy primer and urethane paint, red, silver, and black. Whole thing covered in semigloss clear.
Needed four sets of letters to cover this. Two on each side, one to put on the sheet metal, one just for the reinforcing bars, kind of a waste but necessary.
If I had to do over, would have just used black POR-15, with conventional silver paint over top, or maybe powdercoated silver. Also would have skipped painting the graphics and just made one large vinyl for each side, not just the letters. Live and learn, would have taken like a third of the time!
Hopefully this puppy will be a working windmill again someday! Next up as time and $$$ permit is rebuilding the mill itself, as all the bearing surfaces are ovalized and the gearing is worn away!
- Paul
Last edited by Paul Bell; Tue Mar 24 2015 03:14 PM.
