I was recently having a clear out at the back of my little barn. And I found a really cool old tractor seat in the dirt. I never even knew it was there. Maybe I should clean up more regularly. Anyway, it is pretty knackered but I was wondering if I could make something out of it?

I know the obvious thing is to make a bar stool, but I’d have to make a bar first, ha ha! But I don’t mind, I like the odd project to keep me busy.

But I would really like an opinion from any experts out there. I am thinking this is probably cast iron correct? And, correct me if I am wrong, but I thought you couldn’t weld cast iron. I have a welder, but have never actually welded anything before. It was one of those purchases for a rainy day and maybe it’s time I started using some of my random purchases.

Also, when I watch the restoration channels on YouTube and they have something really rusty, they mostly use a sand blaster to clean the rust off. Is there anyway to do that without a sand blaster? Can you actually sand off rust? Everything chemical I have used to try and get rust off, never seems to work. I guess that’s why the professionals use a sand blaster. I don’t mind the hard work, I need the exercise. I am just trying to assess if it is even worth it. Or is this old tractor seat too far gone?

If I grind on it, I am worried I will just grind away most of the metals integrity and it wont be strong any more. I don’t mind little projects, but didn’t really want to spend months working on one little bar stool or seat.

Maybe I will just paint it as it is and let the wife sit on it. If it can hold her weight, perfect and if she falls off, I know it was too far gone and we’ll have a funny story to tell the kids.