Stopping Rust

[Smosh]

Okay so my van is getting rustier. Im gonna rake all the seals out using a curved wire brush, But i am wandering what I should use, RC900? Vatcan? Kurust? to prevent the rust getting any worse. I also am going to attack every little bit of rust I find in the same way until I can find somewhere to keep her to strip panels off and get new metal welded on. I did review the wiki but got a little lost and confused!

What do people use and where can you get it from (online?)

Here's the main areas to be attacked! http://s258.photobucket.com/user/joshs1 ... t=3&page=1

Cheers

[what2do]

Vactan for me but I'm not convinced that it's any better or worse than other brands. Just about to buy a die grinder to get into those tight spots that the angle grinder won't reach.

[Plasticman]

angle grinder with a 1mm disc no doubt, your panel started of about 1..2mm max and has rusted and you take a diisc in there and there will be even less steel and in the future when it needs doing again there will noot be enough metal left on the adjoining panel to work with, i find it all the time, y.
you need to open the seam a bit and use a stanley knife with an industrial blade to hack the bulk out then grit blast, using smaller medium as you progress (the coarser stuff wont fit into the back of the seam),this is how you proceed, and also consider splitting the panels at the seam in some areas
mm

[boatbuilder]

Maybe hes using the grinder with a wire wheel of some sort... Vactan etc only converts the very top layer of rust, like less than a millimetre thick in my experience. I bought a bottle of it a few years ago but wasn't very impressed. To me it seems like pva glue with a rust additive. No matter what you do its going to be cosmetic if you don't get every bit of rust off. Grit blasting and separating the seams is the only way of doing that.

[CovKid]

As already hinted at, the only way to really eradicate rust is to cut it out. Light surface rust can be stopped or slowed down with a rust treatment. Vactan contains tannin (a known rust converter) suspended in an acrylic base. It has a shelf life off up to 12 months so only buy small bottles.

[itchyfeet]

I used a dremel clone with wire wheels for the seams, gets the rust out and the seam sealer. larger wire brushes just don't get deep enough, get a packet of 10 dremel wire brushes as they don't last long.
I'm sure grit blasting is better if you haver access to a compressor big enough but the average DIYer probably doesn't.

I used Vactan as it's a primer also which doesn't have to be over painted if you do 2 coats, so at any time of year if I see a little rust it gets wire brushed and treated, it gets painted later if on show.

Under the van or anywhere out of sight I just re apply vactan every year and don't paint, that way you can see if any of the rust is coming back, once you have painted it can be festering under the paint without you knowing.

As said it's impossible to stop rust once it's started just slow it down.

[Smosh]

Yea, its just to slow down whilst I try and find somewhere to keep her and rip panels off!
I wont be using a angle grinder dont worry!
Maybe I need to invest in a die grinder though, pack of ten wheels and a can of vatcan. See if I can make it last a little longer.
Alternatively, I'll price up getting the seams blasted, I don't have access to a sandblaster at present to do it myself.

thanks for the quick responses!

[what2do]

My reference to grinders wasn't specifically for cleaning between panels, more for general crud removal to expose areas that require further treatment. I've yet to start painting and in a way I'm dreading it because of the inevitable - the return of the dreaded first blemishes. I wonder what the record is for time lapsed after remedial work and the appearance if seam rash! A tearful moment all the same.

[itchyfeet]

My reference to grinders wasn't specifically for cleaning between panels, more for general crud removal to expose areas that require further treatment. I've yet to start painting and in a way I'm dreading it because of the inevitable - the return of the dreaded first blemishes. I wonder what the record is for time lapsed after remedial work and the appearance if seam rash! A tearful moment all the same.

Just an MOT would be a step forward

[what2do]

My reference to grinders wasn't specifically for cleaning between panels, more for general crud removal to expose areas that require further treatment. I've yet to start painting and in a way I'm dreading it because of the inevitable - the return of the dreaded first blemishes. I wonder what the record is for time lapsed after remedial work and the appearance if seam rash! A tearful moment all the same.

Just an MOT would be a step forward

Yeah yeah, I'm on the case, well not at the minute as I'm in wilts and the van is in Herts. This time next week Rodney........

[Smosh]

Move to Guernsey! We dont need them...

[itchyfeet]

Move to Guernsey! We dont need them...

Call me sensible but I'd rather drive with cars that are checked once a year.
Anyway the commute to work would be too much

[Smosh]

Yea tell me about it!
Although it made it fun for the first year I was on the roads and 13 cars I owned. The garages would love for it to be introduced, I was always against it (we only go 35) but as i've got older and more sensible I dont think it would be bad idea! My bigger concern is people taking there cars to work.

Buy a helicopter or better still, the latest Mod?