Get farm kit ready over winter
After harvest, before spring: the best time to strip the rust off trailers, wheels and implements and protect them properly.
- Trading since 2001
- 23 m blast unit
- SPA & IPAF trained
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Winter is the best time to shot blast and repaint farm machinery. Trailers, wheels and implements are standing idle, and kit booked in after harvest comes back blasted, primed and topcoated before it's needed again.
A refurb in the quiet months doesn't take anything away when you need it, and it's the best chance all year to take a proper look at the steel before the busy season starts. Here's what's worth doing, how to plan it and what to expect.
What farm machinery is worth shot blasting?
If it's steel and it works outdoors, it's a candidate. Typical winter jobs include:
- Grain and silage trailers
- Flatbeds and bale trailers
- Tractor wheels and rims
- Ploughs and cultivators
- Drills, toppers and mowers
- Loader buckets, forks and grabs
- Water bowsers
- Cattle crushes and hurdles
- Feed barriers, troughs and hay racks
- Trailer and horsebox chassis
Why is winter the best time to refurbish farm machinery?
The kit is idle
Trailers and cultivators that work flat out in summer are parked up, so nothing is missed while it's away.
Back before spring
Book in after harvest and it's refinished and ready before the spring rush.
Weather doesn't matter
Blasting happens indoors in our 23-metre unit, whatever the forecast.
Problems show early
A blasted machine shows every crack and thin patch while there's still time to sort them.
How do muck, fertiliser and weather damage farm steel?
Farm kit has a harder life than almost any other steelwork. Most fertilisers are salts that draw in moisture, so any residue left in a spreader or trailer keeps the steel damp and corroding. Muck and slurry keep metal wet and dirty for weeks at a time, and silage effluent is acidic. Trailer floors and tailgate corners trap water, grain and chaff long after a wash down.
Once the paint is broken, rust spreads underneath it and lifts it in sheets. On trailer floors and wheel rims, that's how the steel gradually thins until it needs replacing. Blasting takes the corrosion right back to sound metal, and a good primer under a hard-wearing topcoat keeps the moisture out.
Illustrative imageShould tractor wheels be blasted with the tyres off?
For a full refurbishment, yes. With the tyre off, the whole rim can be blasted and coated, including the bead seat and the inside of the rim where water and muck collect. That's often where the worst corrosion is hiding.
If the tyres are in good shape and you only want the visible face tidied up, ask us about masking. It isn't a full restoration, but it can be a sensible halfway house.
If your tyres have ever been filled with liquid ballast, look carefully at the rims. Leaks around the valve can be hard on steel, and blasting shows the true condition of the rim. Rims can be finished in the manufacturer's colour or any colour you choose. See agricultural shot blasting.
How does a winter refurbishment work?
- Make a listWalk round the yard after harvest and note what needs doing, with rough sizes.
- Send photosPhotograph each item and send the pictures on WhatsApp for a free quote.
- Bring it inTow it to Belmont Farm at Needwood. For machines you can't easily move, talk to us about collection.
- Blast, prime, topcoatBlasted in our 23-metre unit, primed while the steel is fresh, then topcoated in the colour you've picked.
- Ready for springCollect it refinished and protected, in good time for the season.
What paint finish is best for farm machinery?
For trailers, implements and anything that takes a hammering, a two-coat industrial system works best: an anti-corrosion primer applied soon after blasting, then a tough topcoat. Smaller parts such as brackets, guards and gate fittings can be powder coated instead. Colour is up to you. Give us the manufacturer's colour reference or a painted part to match, or pick something new.
How do you refurbish a grain trailer?
Floors, sides, headboards, tailgates and chassis are all taken back to clean metal. A full-size trailer fits in the 23-metre unit with room to spare, so it's blasted in one go. Before it comes in, sweep out the last of the grain and tell us about anything that needs protecting, such as lights, wiring, hydraulic rams, hoses and seals, so it can be removed or masked.
What about farm buildings, silos and grain bins?
Steel that can't move doesn't have to. Our mobile team blasts grain bins, silos, portal frames and fixed handling equipment on the farm, bringing its own compressors and access equipment, with IPAF-trained operators for work at height. See mobile blasting, or the mobile pages for Staffordshire and Derbyshire.
Is it worth refurbishing old farm machinery?
For well-built kit, it usually is. A solid trailer or implement has plenty of working life left once the rust is dealt with, and a blasted, freshly painted machine is worth more when you come to sell or trade it in. It's also the ideal moment to look over welds, drawbars and mounting points, while there's time to put anything right.
How much does it cost to shot blast a trailer?
Every machine is different, so the price comes down to its size, how much rust and old paint there is, and the finish you'd like. A light refresh on a sound trailer is a smaller job than heavy rust on a floor that's done years of hard work. WhatsApp us a photo of each item with a rough list of what you've got and we'll send a free quote, or call the yard on 01283 813528.
Our yard at Belmont Farm, Needwood, is an easy run from farms across Staffordshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire. See agricultural shot blasting and plant and machinery.
Frequently asked questions
Can you blast livestock equipment?
Yes. Cattle crushes, hurdles, gates, feeders and troughs all blast up well and can be painted or, for smaller items, powder coated. Handling systems that are fixed in place can be done on the farm by our mobile team.
Can you match the manufacturer's colour?
Yes. Send the colour reference, or bring in a part that still has the original paint, and we'll match it. If you'd rather change colour altogether, that's fine too.
Do I need to clean machinery before it's blasted?
It helps. Pressure wash off the worst of the muck, grain and grease first. Blasting strips rust and paint brilliantly, but oil and grease are better cleaned off beforehand, so they aren't spread around.
Can you collect farm machinery?
For bigger kit, ask about collection when you send your photos and we'll talk it through. Smaller items can come in on your own trailer.
When should I book a winter refurbishment?
As soon as harvest is in. The months after harvest get busy, so getting in touch early gives you the widest choice of dates and means everything is back in plenty of time for spring.
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Find out moreFive-star reviews from Google
A selection of our five-star Google reviews.
These guys do a great job, from garden furniture to great big storage tanks.
excellent job of blasting and powder coating a 6ft garden [gate] for a good price
Had our garden furniture blasted and painted, great job and saved it for another few years
Tell us about the job
Send a few details and, if you can, a photo or two. Gareth or the team will come back to you with a price or a few questions. Photos help us quote accurately without a site visit.
WhatsApp us a photo for a quick price+44 7957 583965 · usually the quickest way
- Office01283 813528
- Mobile07957 583965
- WhatsApp+44 7957 583965
- Emailenquiries
@belmontshotblasting.co.uk - YardBelmont Farm, Belmot Road, Needwood, Burton upon Trent DE13 9PH
- HoursMon to Thu 7:30am to 4:30pm, Fri 7:30am to 2:30pm