MTFCA Forum

Going to sandblast a front axle, and wanted to protect some of the surfaces. Will try 3D-printed caps and plugs.

You might try removing the perches from the axle. I’ve rebuilt the axles on both of my T’s and all four perches were a slip fit in the axle. I’m guessing your perches are rusted in place?

I can understand masking up new bushes that were fitted prior to sand blasting, but that's not the usual order in which I do things. In a used axle I have yet to find shackle bushes which did not need replacing.

Allan from down under.

The masks survived blasting, and worked well.

I have no idea how such a printer works, what skills are needed to operate it, how long the process takes,nor how much materials cost. However, the same results can be achieved in an old tech way. Leave your old spindle bolts just threaded through the lower eye, leave the nuts on the perch mountings and leave an old shackle in each perch. This might even be quicker, and you get a pair of clean perch nuts as a bonus.

Allan from down under.