Preventing Rusty Parts

[xman23]

Guys sorry for the long story, but just thought I would share a tip I had forgotten about and rediscovered yesterday.

After many years of trial and error, I built a bear proof bird feeder system. This design has been up for at least 10 years. It's a 100 feet of 1/8 cable strung between trees. It has pulleys at each end and shock absorbing springs that tie it off up in the trees. For filling, it lowers from one end that ties off at the base of the tree. It may sound complicated, it's not. The bears can't figure out why they can't tear it down. Once they know that they stop trying.
So after being up all this time the cable rusted through. Besides the new cable I picked up a 10, 1/8 cable clamps. I recall in previous designs they didn't last long. These had to be rusted up. But no, they were perfect. Just some very gooey grease all over them. Oh! this was back when I discovered Bell-Ray waterproof grease. It great bearing grease used on anything that gets wet. So I coated all the clamps again. I even thought about a light coat on the cable, but I don't think the birds would like it.

Tom

 

[saewoody]

Guys sorry for the long story, but just thought I would share a tip I had forgotten about and rediscovered yesterday.

After many years of trial and error, I built a bear proof bird feeder system. This design has been up for at least 10 years. It's a 100 feet of 1/8 cable strung between trees. It has pulleys at each end and shock absorbing springs that tie it off up in the trees. For filling, it lowers from one end that ties off at the base of the tree. It may sound complicated, it's not. The bears can't figure out why they can't tear it down. Once they know that they stop trying.
So after being up all this time the cable rusted through. Besides the new cable I picked up a 10, 1/8 cable clamps. I recall in previous designs they didn't last long. These had to be rusted up. But no, they were perfect. Just some very gooey grease all over them. Oh! this was back when I discovered Bell-Ray waterproof grease. It great bearing grease used on anything that gets wet. So I coated all the clamps again. I even thought about a light coat on the cable, but I don't think the birds would like it.

Tom

That’s a great idea. I have some waterproof grease for plumbing applications. Outdoor use makes a lot of sense if it isn’t something you will be messing with for a while. Great tip!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Ashful]

The Military solution: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmoline

If you’ve ever bought mothballed machinery from the military, you’re familiar with this stuff. It works, but can be awful messy.

 

[greg13]

Stainless steel?

 

[peakbagger]

I have a can of Boeshield that I use, works pretty well and bit easier to get off than Cosmoline

 

[sportbikerider78]

Stainless steel?

That is what I was going to suggest.

Or, hit it with WD40 every month or so.