Interim rust measures

[sheesh]

Hi,

Hope everyone's enjoying the sunshine (at least it's been a lovely sunny day in London - hope it has been elsewhere too!).

I have a question about rust. My camper has some areas of rust on it but I can't afford a re-spray just yet, so what's the best interim / preventative measure to stop the rust getting any worse?

Here are some pics:







My friend who lives on a barge said the best thing to do would be to scrape off the rust, scrub down to the bare steel, then paint over - it'll look a bit patchy but at least it'll prevent the rust from spreading.

What do you think? Is it the same with vans? Is this the best thing to do or does anyone have any other suggestions?

Any advice much appreciated

Thanks all

Jess

[lloydy]

I'll think you'll find that when you start rubbing that down there won't be any clean metal. You'll end up with holes, i'd just leave as is and start saving. Only my opinion though...
I suppose you could scrape off the bubbly paint and paint/spray one of those rust converters onto the rust, just expect to find holes
lloyd

[boatbuilder]

You could rub it down with sandpaper to remove most of the loose paint and rust and apply something like Vactan and then paint over. Very temporary and personally I wouldn't waste my time doing it, I'd leave it as is until I could afford to tackle it properly.

[jamesandtheopenroad]

WHS ^^^

Start saving, coz that looks like a window out, cut rot out, weld new metal in job.

In the meantime, you could rub it/wire wheel it down, treat with vactan, JB Weld any holes up as a temp measure, fill with Dinitrol metalized filler, then treat again, prime and paint.

For that extra mile, you could take the windscreen out to do it then fit a new window rubber that will seal better. But what it has to seal to is the question.

However, it's whether or not that is even possible once you've started rubbing.

Plus, even that would cost about £150 ish in materials, that could go towards getting it done properly.

Sorry fella.

[CovKid]

Put it this way, if I saw that much rust bubbling up on a camper for sale I'd run a mile. Its going to need major surgery at the bottom of that screen (new top front panel as a minimum) and it could be more extensive. There is nothing you can do beyond miles of duck tape and it is still compromising the strength of the front end. I'd say it needs sorting pronto. Not what you'll want to hear I know, but I can only give you an honest opinion.

You'll only reach what is showing. I'll guarantee there is little if anything left of lower lip on screen. Find a welder that can sew.

Please read this: https://club8090.co.uk/wiki/Bo ... well_leaks" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Plasticman]

oh heck well If I assume you own the van? then leave well alone untill such time as youve had a costing to put right,
the screen will need to come out and you will most likely need a new upper front panal as there will be no metal left behind the worst of it , as for the areas to either side of it, they are not readily available see here from about page 5
https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.p ... 7&start=60" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
so you need someone that can make and add that area or maybe find a very good cut, hens teeth usually easier as are honest polititians so I would enjoy your van and leave sleeping dogs to lie,
oh and nothing you do now will slow down waht needs doing noir will it do any good whatsoever
sorry mm

[jimpainter]

Going to be nasty that little lot. Dont try to rub it down and treat it as you will make it worse. Just get some pennies saved and get it done. Or you could enjoy the feeling of wet feet

[sheesh]

Hi everyone,

Sorry for the slow response - my internet's been down.

Thanks for all the honest opinions - good to know where I stand! It's pretty much what I expected, but sounds like there's not much point treating it as an interim measure.

In terms of anticipated costs, I've never had anything like this done before so can anyone have a rough guesstimate as to how much it might be to fix this properly? So I know how much to save...

Thanks all
Jess

[jamesc76]

Terms like how longs a piece of string spring to mind, once the screen is out then can a guess be made!

[Andrew Evers]

Mine came back today from having a hole where the pop top meets the roof corner, the rear seams sorted (As well as they can be sorted without a full removal - the rust will be back in 3 years). some bubbling around the windscreen, not as bad as yours the front end stone chips removed and little bits elsewhere on the van. He's resprayed the parts that needed and it looks really good. Cost me £820 inc VAT. I'm happy with it, just got to get the stickering sorted now. Looking at yours the above advice is right, get the money togetehr and do the worst bits 1st. They removed my screen and have put a new rubber around it.

[waltraud]

If and when you do want some work done there's a very good and decent welder and body prep place on Westgate Street off mare st in HAckney, two mates have had their vans in there and I've been in to check quality control, good work and fair price. If you were able to it would be worth doing as much as you can before taking it somewhere like that but they might also p[refer you to just leave it for them to play with....depends if you can use angle grinder etc. good luck, ask if you need any more ideas re London garages.

[sheesh]

Brilliant, thanks v much that's given me a rough idea and great to know that there's a decent garage that can do that kind of work nearby!

Jess