Patch panel or filler

[wilberweb]

Hi, I am a novice body man. lack of finances mostly so I am doing my own body work with patch panels,welding the works. I don't have much experience in Body work.
my question is on a floor pan or any area that has miner rust, just a small area with a small amount of rust. Is it better to replace the area with a patch of steel, or just fill in the holes with body filler or weld up the small holes with weld filler? or a combination of both. here is a picture of what I am talking about
Thanks

-Larry

[dwcsr]

Rust never stops eating the metal no matter what you cover it with. If you replace the panel or patches it will last usually as long as you own the truck, But if you let is stay and just fill it or spot it the it will creep back fairly quickly. Replace just what needs replacing. I don't replace a full panel unless its all shot or is quicker, but usually its not. Steps are the exception. If a portion of step is rotted replace the whole step.

try to get this dvd it will help you in making most of the small patches and panels you need rather than buy them
http://metalshapingzone.com/shop/cat...hD&shop_param=

Its 2.5 hrs long and packed with good info on how to make panels with hand tools. It is pricey but well worth the investment.

[72lb4x4]

Originally Posted by dwcsr

http://metalshapingzone.com/shop/cat...hD&shop_param=

Its 2.5 hrs long and packed with good info on how to make panels with hand tools. It is pricey but well worth the investment.

Thanks for the link! I may get the DVD... It'll at least motivate me to reconnect the DVD player that got unhooked a few years ago when the TV died.

Funny that they just call the English wheel a wheel

To the OP, you'll probably find that alot more holes appear after blasting and its no fun trying to fill alot of holes. Those holes tend to get blown out when you weld. Use a copper backing plate.

Ouch! $62.76 I think and guess the exchange rate is not going to get better soon...

[dwcsr]

Originally Posted by 72lb4x4

Thanks for the link! I may get the DVD... It'll at least motivate me to reconnect the DVD player that got unhooked a few years ago when the TV died.

Funny that they just call the English wheel a wheel

To the OP, you'll probably find that alot more holes appear after blasting and its no fun trying to fill alot of holes. Those holes tend to get blown out when you weld. Use a copper backing plate.

Ouch! $62.76 I think and guess the exchange rate is not going to get better soon...

Its worth the $62 when you see what you can do with simple hand tools.

[72lb4x4]

Originally Posted by dwcsr

Its worth the $62 when you see what you can do with simple hand tools.

Oh, I ordered it...

[dwcsr]

Originally Posted by 72lb4x4

Oh, I ordered it...

Mine took about 10 days which isn't to bad coming from the UK.

[wilberweb]

Thanks, Dave
I looked at the promo on youtube, incredible work just with hand tools amazing...you are right about the price a lot of money. It seems like a thorough DVD, so well worth the cost. on the same note about rust eating the rest of the metal what about ospho I here it stops rust. Will it work for this application? I am going to replace the metal but was just curious.

Thanks
-Larry

[dwcsr]

Originally Posted by wilberweb

Thanks, Dave
I looked at the promo on youtube, incredible work just with hand tools amazing...you are right about the price a lot of money. It seems like a thorough DVD, so well worth the cost. on the same note about rust eating the rest of the metal what about ospho I here it stops rust. Will it work for this application? I am going to replace the metal but was just curious.

Thanks
-Larry

Ospho is good for panel prep to prevent flash over before painting but its not a rust inhibitor. Rust under a microscope looks like the roots on a tree and it eats at the iron in the metal just like miners going after a vain of gold. So the best way is to cut it out. The other way to stop rust is to sufficate it with a rust encapsilator but they get mixed results depending on the exposure to elements. POR 15 works that way buit I have never used it. POR stands for Paint Over Rust

[52 Rat]

I would clean or sand blast the area and weld in the small holes. POR works great!

[MrDude_1]

i have a similar question.
if one were to blast an area like above, removing all rust, then weld up holes.. would it be ok?

im not worried about the pitting effect as it will be covered by carpet... but i dont want rust coming back.

[52 Rat]

Originally Posted by MrDude_1

i have a similar question.
if one were to blast an area like above, removing all rust, then weld up holes.. would it be ok?

im not worried about the pitting effect as it will be covered by carpet... but i dont want rust coming back.

Yes, that is what I mentioned in the above post.

[wilberweb]

Great information
I am going to get that DVD... $62 Dollars is worth all the valuable information you get, I'm' thinking about acid dipping the body,finders,and hood.All of the body parts and sand blast the frame only.
I have some information on POR 15 A friend gave me. He said it works great.The best approach is to replace the metal. I would not want to spend all that time and work sanding dipping and have the rust come back. Especially when its all painted. It would not be fun or financially worth that kind of risk...well worth the effort to replace the metal.

-Larry

[OKGMC4]

I usually go with this outlook...if the metal is pitted but solid and no holes I sand it, treat it, and seal it. By solid I mean you can poke it with a screwdriver and it doesn't cause another hole. If there are holes and it is weak I patch it. POR is awesome but expensive. Many times I have used an acid based rust treatment that leaves a black film and scuffed it and used an epoxy primer to seal it up and choke the oxygen from it. I used Rust Mort on a pair of bare Chevelle doors that have sit outside for 3 years now with no other primers and no new rust has popped up, so I think with a coat of epoxy primer, urethane primer, primer sealer, and a coat each of base and clear there shouldn't be much chance of oxidation!

[wilberweb]

Great looking project okgmc4...
Looks like you have a project like mine some trouble rust spot
but for the most part its workable. I have often wondered is there ever a project that has to much rust or is it a mater of just replacing parts and going for it no mater how much rust a truck or car has. http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/d...yphotos236.jpg