cleaning the metal

[bluenose]

Hi, I'm trying to do a job on my van and I'm finding cleaning the metal up in a particular area a real pain in the ****. I can't get my angle grinder in only my wire brush. The whole lot has the light surface rust. I've scrubbed it loads with my wire brush and there are no loose bits but it still has that rust colour instead of that nice shiney metal colour. Can I just weld it or not?

It only started out as a little patch but after cutting that off it was one rusty plate over the next, I bet they never cleaned the metal up the boggy *******.

 

[the snooper]

if you han`t already i would cut out the bodgy plates and replace the lot if you have already done this and there is no way you can clean better then give it a go

 

[bluenose]

I have cut off all the layers but i've now been left with a rebuild of an entire section instead of a small repair.

It is my first ever go at welding something that's not a practice sheet and it's turned into a bigger challenge than it was supposed to be but i really want to do it right, it's as clean as I can get it so i'll just go at it and see what happens.

 

[the snooper]

if you find it wont weld properly you may have to go further to a point where the steel is good.
this is the problem when people ask you to weld up their MOT failure.
can you weld up this hole its only the size of matchbox they dont realise its almost always spread further then the eye can see and as you have found out even when you find solid steel it can be too rusty to weld properly.

 

[Shedendman]

Is it a transit bluenose?
Dreaded tinworm cut its feed off then watch it die,lol

 

[BChild]

Hi, I'm trying to do a job on my van and I'm finding cleaning the metal up in a particular area a real pain in the ****. I can't get my angle grinder in only my wire brush. The whole lot has the light surface rust. I've scrubbed it loads with my wire brush and there are no loose bits but it still has that rust colour instead of that nice shiney metal colour. Can I just weld it or not?

It only started out as a little patch but after cutting that off it was one rusty plate over the next, I bet they never cleaned the metal up the boggy *******.

I'm no expert but rust on cars is like cancer - only thing you can do is cut it out as far as you need to to get to sound unaffected metal - if you make a big hole then at least you have it all out repairs can always be added a section at a time

 

[katbloke]

You could try an application or two of bilt-hambers deox gel