Good vibrations!

Our very own Beach Boy Ralph Ferrand checks out Gunson’s vibratory tumbler!

- RALPH FERRAND

I have always wanted a big industrial vibratory tumbler along with a vapor blast cabinet; sadly,I have neither the funds nor the room in my workshop for either. One has to cut one’s cloth, I suppose!

When it comes to cleaning up rusty, painted bits I have the luxury of a glass bead blasting cabinet powered by a bad-ass eight horsepower compressor, and a big powerful bench-mounted polisher with an eight-inch wire wheel on one end. I am in the enviable position of having a better half, who has been ground down enough to merely raise her eyes with the clearly readable expression of: ‘At what point will he feel he has enough tools and motorcycles?’

She also knows in her heart of hearts that this day will clearly not come to pass whilst there is still breath in my lungs. That said, she did somewhat put her size fives down when I was toying with destroying her view of the fields by erecting a massive spray booth in the garden. It definitely helped her cause that I simply didn’t have the pecuniary wherewithal for such an ambitious project. Next year eh, Rodders?