Club 80-90 Forums

ok chaps and chapesses, need some advice.

Ihave a bit of rust in my seams. No surprise there then!

a previous owner has attacked said rot with filler - joy of joys. Now, in sorting the seams, is it ok to take a dremel-like tool and grind out the seam where its full of filler?

And replace with sikalfex or the like? (will visit B&Q - see what they have got). I take it I can then just paint over it?

thanks folks
Em
x

You can do it with a Dremel type thing, it will take time.
Get the filler out and get as much rust of as possible.
Then slow the return of the aforementioned rust with some "rust cure". Fill if necessary and repaint.

Remember, you are only going to slow it down.

thanks Titus....
yeah...I am more than aware that I will only slow it down, contrary to the claims on the Kurust tin!!! Back to metal, guv. Yah, right!!

Am doing repair job that I am hopin will last me till next autumn, by which time I will have saved enough money to get a panel or two replaced. Now, back in the real world....


thanks again...dremel here we come!

Em
x

To fill the seams where you have rusty scabs I have used filler and covered the whole shebang, then with a steel straight edge make a seam with a craft knife, gradually parring away to get an acceptable shape.
To fill the seam with sealant you will need to visit an independent auto-factor type shop, there are various sealants available, but getting it to look right is very difficult, and if you have scabby rust either side of the seam going the filler route can be easier.

I find a round wire-brush attachment on a cordless drill good at brightening up the metal.

Just hacking into the rust, and opening up the bubbles, letting out the moisture will stop the spread.

I also use a hot air gun on gentle heat to get the panel and seam really hot, to dry out any moisture.

Another trick, to get back the seam look, is to wire brush out as normal, then with a thick anti-rust paint, like Finnigan's Number One, which is a pink or brown undercoat, dribble it down the seam. the paint is so thick, that after a couple of applications you build up a long lasting anti rust finish. That Finnigans, available from Halfords, really does stop the rust, better than anything else that I have found. Takes a long time to fully harden, but if you are Rustoleuming over the top, then that does not matter. The Finnigans is such a thick paint that it acts like a thin filler, and a little sanding a month after is often all thats needed.

Use a wire wheel attachment for an angle grinder to remove as much rust as possible, got mine from screwfix.
Buy some VACTAN from here http://shop.ebay.co.uk/?_from=R40&_npmv ... nkw=vactan
'Excellent product'.
Then apply some high build primer, flat off and then apply seam sealer in a mastic from any local auto paint supplies firm.
After that you could blow in some original colour or roller with rustoleum.
Keep laughing what ever you do

By the way if you heat gun the seams, careful not to overheat and warp your panels!!

Thanks for the repiles chaps. All very useful.

ok I found the

I find a round wire-brush attachment on a cordless drill good at brightening up the metal.

last night and was out this morning having a bash! The seams are very well fillered already, but have got a reasonable amount out. I have managed to sand back the excessive amount of filler that was on there, and now have a nice smooth finish with some shape to the seam. The dremel has a small cutting disc...may see if this is a useful alternative to the craft knife option to give the seam a little more definition.

Generally pretty chuffed with my efforts so far!

Em
x

ok body-work gurus!

I now have a nice smooth finish. But the patches are not totally covered in filler....do the need to be?
[img:300:400]http://snap31.photobox.co.uk/954437588f ... 62bf32.jpg[/img]

as you can see, some of thr treated areas are still showing, but the pitted areas are fillered. It feels smooth under the fingers! I can now
A. Leave as is, and cover with rustoleum
b. paint with red oxide to see how good the finish is
c. spray with poundland gloss to see how good the finish is
d. put a little more filler over the whoe area before applying anything

what do you rekon??

Em
x

Probably a bit late (and irrelevant if you haven't the kit), but I read somewhere on here that the best way to clean the seams out is to sand blast!

Great information here though - our van needs some serious attention. Not going to sand blast though cos it'll probably blow holes and fill the van!

Hi DD,

I think I may also end up with more sand in the van than on the seams....

but thanks for replying.

I ahve got plenty more to do this weekend....I fear twill be most of the day Saturday with sandpaper and kurust. Going to vist B&Q to see if I can afford a wire brush attachment for the drill. The ones I have a are for the dremel....ok for seams that is all.

Emx