Rear Spring clean-up best practices?

[dhetch]

In the past I always cleaned up spring leaves by taking them apart and running a hand grinder on both sides of the leaves. It was messy, dusty, and I think it did not do a very satisfactory job. I did not go as deep as the pits because I did not want to take too much strength out of the spring.
By now, I assume we have many additional methods that might be better for this job. A few that come to mind are a flapper wheel, sand blasting, and electrolysis.
I would like a response from anybody has tried any of these or any additional methods and their thoughts on how well they worked or didn't.

Dave

[Stakebed]

I took mine to a local sandblaster, got em 100% clean then I por15 each leaf then lubed with my mix of open gear grease(extreme tacky) and as much graphite as it would take. Then reassembled.

[KimVanOrder]

I sanded mine with the flap sanding wheel. Made a box to do this in with two shop vacs to catch the dust. Yes it is a filthy job otherwise. Then used Slip Plate to lube them. Spray on. One can did them all. Assembled and painted.

KVO

[Shorthaul]

Then used Slip Plate to lube them. Spray on. One can did them all. Assembled and painted.

What is slip plate?


KVO

[Stakebed]

Slip plate is found in a spraycan and ive seen it brush on. its special "paint" that allows things to slide and is meant for plates of metal to slide mainly in the farm industry. think of it as a more permanent non edible Teflon type of thing.

[flatford39]

It's also good for under mower decks. Grass won't stick or build up. You really want to brush it on though. Works good in snow blowers as well. Looks like black teflon when done right.

[Stakebed]

It's also good for under mower decks. Grass won't stick or build up. You really want to brush it on though. Works good in snow blowers as well. Looks like black teflon when done right.

yea it does! ive seen it by another name before at BigR and Tractor Supply but exact same concept and stuff. Farm stores have it as its usually meant for discers and combine heads.

[Shorthaul]

Thanks for the info. Did you just paint the edges of the spring pack or the underside of the protruding springs also?

[KimVanOrder]

Thanks for the info. Did you just paint the edges of the spring pack or the underside of the protruding springs also?

I assembled the entire 'spring pack' and then painted all of the outside sides. You can't see or get at anything else anyways.

KVO

[1crosscut]

Thanks for the info. Did you just paint the edges of the spring pack or the underside of the protruding springs also?

If you have them apart paint all sides of them with the Slip Plate.
I did a couple coats on all of my spring leafs. And then I did a final spray coat after they were all assembled. Took closer to three cans. After they cured well I gave them a coat of Johnsons Paste wax. They are still looking good after three years.