Onoff

On the basis that galv, stranded wire could be whacking weeds and forcing wet, green stuff into the wire I don't reckon it'd be too long before it rusted and broke. I'll try some 2mm stainless and report back.

And Latchway Mansafe systems...

He has sponsors!

Rolling vistas of rubbish mountains await future generations!

I've always known it as aircraft cord rather than "cable" oddly and I did mean stainless steel. I've got quite a bit of 2mm dia stainless scrap wire like this if anyone wants some to try.

Why not aircraft cable then?

So, next candidate for the citric acid treatment. MK1 Focus estate rear cross member. What a pig stripping the arms off it. Cut probably 50% out with a slitting disc. Bless Ford for never assembling any suspension component with grease or anti seize! Got a couple of old baths available as I say if I want them, might do as a container. Maybe paint black and leave in the Sun? However, wondering if making up a "tank" with some Celcon blocks, lining with DPM and then putting a ratchet strap round the whole lot might allow a tank near the exact size and thus save on citric acid powder? Just hoping there's enough metal left to make it worthwhile. Also a few seized, cut off bolts still in there that I'm hoping will loosen enough to undo once in the bath.

In this weather you need your wits about you to mix and pour quickly whilst the preceding mixes are still wet or it can dry too fast. Thereafter think about covering with a plastic sheet, keeping wet. Tbh it can be too hot to mix up concrete especially if you're new at it.

If your soil is firm enough and you can dig a hole accurately enough size wise then the soil sides will contain the concrete. Go oversize with your hole of course and you might underestimate your quantities. My brother hand dug a hole for his astronomy pier about 3 feet deep and I reckon it was near perfectly square. That's in clay though. Stems from digging holes in the Army I imagine!

Getting there:

You can mix up in a barrow...or on a board. I often use a mixing tray for small quantities. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Builders-Building-Material-Children-Plastering/dp/B06XS2FJND/ref=asc_df_B06XS2FJND/?

I wondered about replacing my electric strimmer line with 2mm dia stainless steel aircraft cable?

I suddenly want a Landover... (Thinking of approaching an owner for a neglected Series 2. Really need to do the Capris first...or more garage space but then I need that anyway). Why no MOT?

Adding flames to the fire stoked by @SteamyTea, I've just secured the old bath to be able to derust bigger things! First in will be a MK1 Focus rear cross member once I've liberated it from the associated suspension arms. That's tomorrow's job. Just hope there's enough metal left to make it worthwhile... Now then how big's the bath to calc how much citric acid...and how to heat? Thinking a loop of Pex-Al-Pex in the bath and a simple loop of black pipe in the Sun to thermosyphon...

Closer to the truth than you realise.

Worth thinking of ready mix. Just found a place local will do it for £99 cash per cubic metre. Doesn't matter if you want 1/2m3 increments, they'll mix what you want on site. They don't go as far as Wales though!

Use one of the online calculators like this: https://source4me.co.uk/calculate_concrete_mix.php

This is a refurb job not buy new. Using whatever I can find lying around hence the old gloss, part used rattle cans. Cost so far zilch...or is it? I now need a new sieve as the old one I used to sieve the gloss is ruined. The 2 half used cans of etch primer used it's not there for something else. Call that £5 for a can. It got the kids doing something practical was the main thing and maybe made them think about the throwaway society etc.

Thanks but I want a galvanised tub. Seen them on the bay for £30 to £40 but wonder at the steel thickness. This seems good and has the puncture proof wheel. But the bit about the "0.7 micron steel".....do they actually mean 0.7mm which isn't tbh that thick or are they referring to the "galvanised" coating. Zintec sheet coating is I'm sure about 1 - 1.75 microns. Lost in the Chinglish no doubt! https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/110L-METAL-GALVANISED-PAN-HEAVY-DUTY-WHEELBARROW-14-YELLOW-PUNCTURE-PROOF-WHEEL/322192105784?

If you zoom in on the picture above it looks like the cross bars on the frame are themselves pressed/recessed to receive the pulled down tub. Maybe one penny washer in the recess then another to take up the lost thickness of steel then the big disc washer.

Did think of those but maybe a bit thick if I'm shovelling stuff out of the barrow as in the blade will catch. Thin sheet plus dome headed coach bolts will give me the best chance I reckon.

Is it self levelling?

Yep the holes are probably about 1" dia. It's rusted where the original washers were. Had to cut all 4 original bolts out.

Was debating Starretting some round washers o/of stainless steel. It's either that or some mild steel. I've not got any Zintec. Was half thinking to do that then seal up all the other holes with CT1 and pour in my citric acid mixture to get rid of the rest of the rust...

I'll have to ask SWMBO.