Treating my welds as I go

[niall_mig]

Hi all,

I just took delivery of my glass blasted VW bus and it needs a lot of welding. It's coated in a primer at the moment and I was just looking for advice on what to treat my welds with as I work? Would I be able to use a brush on primer to protect welds while I work on other parts?

Thanks,
Niall.

 

[Jan]

Primer is better than nothing, but as it's porous if you leave it too long you will still see some rust coming up through it. Then you will have to sand it back to bare metal and start all over again building up the necessary coats of paint. If you can keep the bus in a garage (preferably heated) it shouldn't be much of a problem, but if it's outside it will start to rust again in a few days.

 

[niall_mig]

Primer is better than nothing, but as it's porous if you leave it too long you will still see some rust coming up through it. Then you will have to sand it back to bare metal and start all over again building up the necessary coats of paint. If you can keep the bus in a garage (preferably heated) it shouldn't be much of a problem, but if it's outside it will start to rust again in a few days.

It's in a garage but it's not heated. I'm hoping to move fast on the repairs (famous last words ) so I'll do the primer trick. brushing it on ok?
thanks,
Niall.

 

[Rocketman]

Brush on epoxy primer as you go would be better but a bit of hassle as it will have to be mixed every time you use it.

What I'm doing on a current inner wheel arch area at the moment is leaving it and hit it with rust removing gel before I epoxy primer after all the welding is done. My garage is pretty dry so at the very worst there may be a thin film of rust by the time I do that.

 

[niall_mig]

Brush on epoxy primer as you go would be better but a bit of hassle as it will have to be mixed every time you use it.

What I'm doing on a current inner wheel arch area at the moment is leaving it and hit it with rust removing gel before I epoxy primer after all the welding is done. My garage is pretty dry so at the very worst there may be a thin film of rust by the time I do that.

ok thanks. would this spray on option do? http://www.amazon.co.uk/Autotek-AT0...8&qid=1415636263&sr=8-1&keywords=epoxy+primer

 

[Rocketman]

I'd only use stuff like that on areas pre welding that you can't get to after welding. Just gives a bit of protection it's like the weld through primers. I wouldn't for sure put any top coats on it for instance.

 

[Monkey Harris]

Hi all,

I just took delivery of my glass blasted VW bus and it needs a lot of welding. It's coated in a primer at the moment and I was just looking for advice on what to treat my welds with as I work? Would I be able to use a brush on primer to protect welds while I work on other parts?

Thanks,
Niall.

what bus have you got ...?

we need pics...

 

[niall_mig]

I'd only use stuff like that on areas pre welding that you can't get to after welding. Just gives a bit of protection it's like the weld through primers. I wouldn't for sure put any top coats on it for instance.

ok cheers. can anyone recommend a particular product please?

what bus have you got ...?

we need pics...

I've got an original Irish (read "full of holes") 79 bay window panel van that's been blasted and primed. I need to host the photo somewhere to attach it here right?

 

[niall_mig]

I don't have photos hosted anywhere but here is a quick video of it being delivered

 

[fizzy]

Most of those zinc primers are crap - worse than nothing literally. I posted a link about some etch type wipes that my mate who runs a pro spray shop swears by.
http://www.spraygunsdirect.co.uk/product.php?tid=194&products_id=7657

 

[Monkey Harris]

I don't have photos hosted anywhere but here is a quick video of it being delivered

nice..
needs a front panel,wheel arches, cab doors,rear corners, engine etc...

i have a 72 westy ....needs some of the same ...

if your not on it already, join TLB ''the late bay'' forum ,
lots of top guys on there who have years of resto experience
art b

 

[niall_mig]

... cab floor, cargo floor, tailgate .... the list goes on
thanks, I'll check out the late bay forum.

 

[Rocketman]

Most of those zinc primers are crap - worse than nothing literally. I posted a link about some etch type wipes that my mate who runs a pro spray shop swears by.
http://www.spraygunsdirect.co.uk/product.php?tid=194&products_id=7657

Those wipes are preparation as far as I see and offer no corrosion resistance -

'The converted surface provides an excellent base for organic finishes, paint, sealers and most adhesives. This reaction greatly enhances adhesion and corrosion resistance of subsequently applied paints (including primer when multiple coat systems are used), sealers and adhesives.'

Going on from that what evidence do you have that a zinc primer is 'worse than nothing literally'

It is not desirable to put epoxy primer over zinc primer for sure. On areas that will be welded over and epoxy primer would just burn and contaminate the weld a zinc primer will give some corrosion resistance and is the only thing you can use other than dipping the car after.

BTW pro spray shops rarely worry about a cars long term rust protection other than seen panels. Car restoration shops usually spend much more time on long term corrosion protection.

 

[niall_mig]

can anyone recommend a particular product?

 

[Cobbler]

I've used Bilt Hambers Electrox zinc spray & found it very effective. I think you can buy it direct, see their web site, not cheap though. Tried the David's 182 zinc & found it useless the same as Fizzy

 

[bigbadbugga]

Epoxy mastic 121

It's epoxy so will need mixing as you go, but it will protect the bare steel and when you come to paint the whole bus you can just key the epoxy and prime over the top.

Most regular primers are pourus, epoxy is not.

http://www.rust.co.uk/epoxy-mastic-rust-proofing-paint/c28117/

 

[niall_mig]

thanks everyone

 

[marlinspike]

Had you thought of buying a small compressor, like the £90 Aldi 24l ones, and spraying epoxy as you go? Lechler epoxy at Express Paints is about £15 a litre, plus the activator, and I think it is non iso so can be used with just a good home mask,

 

[niall_mig]

hmm, I have a 250l compressor. but then I have to prep and then clean the gun every time. I can see myself getting tired of that
but thanks for the idea

 

[marlinspike]

Lol, true but how long is sanding down brush applied primer going to take? If you have the space to epoxy the whole bus, you could do that, then just clean it back with a powerfile near the bits you need to weld when required.