Fiberglass & Insulated Boom Maintenance
Maintaining Insulated Booms
Maintenance of fiberglass wound booms is critical to retain the insulating qualities of the aerial devices for which they are used. Good maintenance procedures result in longer life for the boom and preservation of acceptable safety levels.
As a trusted fiberglass boom manufacturer, Waco Boom provides detailed maintenance instructions for all fiberglass booms manufactured at Waco Boom. One seemingly small issue may result in the failure of a dielectric test and the protection of the operator. We take no chances when it comes to safety. Simply give us a call if you have any questions about fiberglass and insulated boom maintenance.
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Fiberglass Boom Inspections
Fiberglass boom maintenance starts with simple, daily inspections of the fiberglass aerial boom. This inspection ensures that any problems are quickly discovered and resolved. Waco Boom’s filament wound booms come with an instruction manual that helps our customers determine if their boom is repairable.
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Fiberglass Boom Repairs
If the damage to the insulated boom is more cosmetic, meaning the damage is just in the paint or gel coat and it has not reached the filaments, this can be fixable.
- Clean the boom surface by washing with a mild detergent soap, rinse, and dry.
- Sand the damaged area to remove foreign material.
- Resurface the damaged area with polyester fiberglass resin or gel coat.
- Spray the inner and outer surfaces of the boom with a thin coat of silicone material and rub down with a lint-free cloth.
However, if there is damage in the filaments of your insulated fiberglass booms, depending on the size, location, and other variables, we recommend replacing your insulated boom altogether. This will ensure the safety of your employees and machines.
Please see your operator’s manual for detailed instructions.
Protect Common Wear Points
Two common fiberglass wear points are at the boom rest and fiberglass-to-steel joints. Replacing rubber or plastic components is essential to reduce wear in these areas as is regularly cleaning boom rests to remove embedded dirt or gravel.
If the fiberglass-to-steel joint is compromised, the sealant should be removed past the point where it has been compromised. The joint should be cleaned and resealed.
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Need Maintenance on Your Fiberglass Booms?
The above information is a simple description of the maintenance and repair process for insulated booms, please consult your operator’s manual for detailed instructions before beginning a repair. If, after consulting your operator’s manual, you still have questions, we’d be happy to help. Send us a picture and we can help guide you in determining what caused the maintenance issue and how to move forward.
Our Process, Our Booms
Waco Boom's expertise in a multi-stage, controlled manufacturing process is why our booms are the best performing and most reliable booms in the industry.
Over 30 years of vetting different types and sources of fiberglass combined with a special epoxy-based resin system, enables us to produce the very best Fiber-Reinforced (FRP) booms and jibs. All materials undergo quality assurance testing when received.
Waco Boom’s CNC Filament Winding is optimal for focusing patterns and glass angles specific for load requirements and stresses of the aerial work platforms or jib arms.
Through a proprietary Close-Molding process, Waco Boom can achieve high-density, controlled fiber-to-resin ratio. This serves optimum capacity, stiffness, and strength at the basket / boom tip with less weight of material. In addition, it controls specific dimensions and condenses voids in the laminate so moisture and debris cannot enter and cause dielectric failure.
After a controlled curing cycle, booms are prepared for coating. A grinding process provides surface prepping without cutting deep into the continuous fibers which provide its strength. The standard gelcoat sprayed by Waco Boom provides durability and flexibility. It is also designed so it can easily be sanded if booms are going to receive a final coat of urethane once installed.
Quality Assurance checks are administered throughout the production process based on customer specifications and internal tolerances. Prior to shipping, all booms undergo dialectric testing, and final inspections.
These processes evolved over the company’s history to create a truly unique insulating boom. Our exacting and unique manufacturing processes ensure the highest strength and degree of insulation possible in the industry.
Use and Design
Engineers at Waco Boom have a long-standing history of serving on the committee that helps define standards for ANSI A92.2. With a primary focus on safety and understanding its use, it is Waco Boom’s privileged to have jibs, upper booms, and lower booms represented on telescopic, articulating, and overcenter aerial platforms in addition to insulated tools and line lifters. Protecting workers, the public, and property, these booms serve these categories of usage:
Our Process, Our Booms
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Contact Us
If you have any questions or would like more information on any of our products, please contact us or submit a request.
(254) 776-2556
Mailing Address
PO BOX 20008
Waco, Texas 76702
Shipping Address
481 Texas Central Parkway
Waco, Texas 76712