Rusty dumbbells/Heavyhands

[kathryn]

I have a full set of iron hex dumbells from 10-35 pounds, and most of them now have rust on because of the summer humidity. I'm thinking of getting some steel wool to take it off, then spraying them with some kind of rubberized paint (if the stuff exists in a spray) to prevent further rusting. I'm wondering if this is the best way to go about it, or if anyone has other ideas? I'd rather "fix" the ones I have than buy new ones (what a waste), but I definitely have to "derust" sometime soon (Christmas vacation project?).
Also, anyone have Heavyhands? I have two pair, and the handgrips (neoprene or some other similar material) are getting (actually have been for a while) really skanky looking from sweat accumulation and dirt. Any suggestions on how to clean them (the metal interior and water don't seem to mix well!)
Thanks!

 

[LaBelleRebelle]

I noticed my dumbbells were getting rusty and the outside (whatever it's made of) is chipping off... I was actually thinking about spray-painting them with a primer and another color, but I'm not sure if that would work. I'm going to check on that. (I was even thinking about painting them with that shiny gold paint :-gloat)

 

[Gettingfit]

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Nov-25-01 AT 02:27AM (Est)[/font][p][font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Nov-25-01 AT 02:21 AM (Est)[/font]

My weights are also chipping & rusting! I've thought about getting a brillo-type wheel for my drill & sanding them down & painting them with Rustoleum type paint from Home Depot. I'm going to wait until the spring though when I can do it outside without freezing my tushie off!
http://www.smilies-world.de/Smilies/nichtani/queenserenity.gif GettingFit!

 

[cinza]

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Nov-25-01 AT 11:32AM (Est)[/font][p]i have rusty bells too and tried to clean them up...you can get stuff off with steel wool but its not a perfectly smooth surface so getting it all off is hard...I even used a drill with a sanding tool! with wd40... its still hard to make them look nice.

i would worry about using paint where your hand will be, I imagine the stuff is toxic and might become more available to be absorbed with your sweat..

how about painting them and putting bike tape on the handle?

ever see the bells on karen voights site? they have a blue tape on the handle.......

 

[Marnie]

Hi Kathryn! My husband used to work with metal (he's a carpenter these days) and I asked him about this because I have the same concerns about my bells. He said to remove as much rust as you can with sandpaper or steel wool and then apply a primer and then a non-toxic oil-based paint to seal it. He said the oil-based will prevent our sweat from peeling the paint.

marnie

 

[kathryn]

Thanks! Though I think I will also have to wait to do this until spring (unless winter is unseasonably warm) because of the "freezing tush" factor!