Galvy bumper & "welding" issue

[1971Series88]

The PO of my Series 2a had welded a brush guard on the the front bumper. As it was rusted out and I didn't like the look I cut it off. Now I am grinding down the welds to the galvy bumper. Of course they will appear as rusted spots now...guaranteed...so has anyone done anything in the past to keep the galvy look (ie no paint) and deal with small spots of rusted welds???

I know - if I am that worried - buy a new bumper...just wondering if anyone has a little "magic" they can share!!

[leafsprung]

dip it in molten zinc - they will go away

[I Leak Oil]

dip it in molten zinc - they will go away

That only works if your bath tub is big enough...and not made of fiberglass.

There really is no magic. Only thing you could try is to remove the rust and hit it with some cold galv. spray from a can. Have no illusions though, it will not look the same or match the surrounding galvanizing. Will not weather the same or as long either.

[1971Series88]

thanks Jason - I didn't know you could get Galv spray?

Has anyone applied this... http://www.homedepot.com/p/Rust-Oleu...3#.Ucwpv-tFwV4

I am thinking that if I spray the whole bumper it will look best?

[amcordo]

The cold galvanized spray will not last long on the galvanized portion of the bumper; it'll chip right off.

You've got some galvanizers nearby to you. Consider taking it over and paying a few bucks to have it dipped! http://www.galvanizeit.org/galvanizer-locator/state/VA/

[TedW]

thanks Jason - I didn't know you could get Galv spray?

Has anyone applied this... http://www.homedepot.com/p/Rust-Oleu...3#.Ucwpv-tFwV4

I am thinking that if I spray the whole bumper it will look best?

I've used this many times with great success. Rustoleum also makes what they call "Bright Galvanizing" compound (same style can) that looks more like fresh hot dip than the gray stuff shown in the link.

That said, Tony et al are correct that re-dipping is the ideal way to go. However, in cases where dipping isn't practical the galvanizing spray can work well. We use lots of salt up here, and I have parts on my truck sprayed with galvy spray that still show no rust after 20 years.

If I were you I'd just spray the bare spots and see how it looks. Then give it some time to weather and see how it blends in.

Just my $0.02......

Ted

[SalemRover]

I would do a little leg work on the galv paint that you use. They do not perform anywhwere near as well as a hot dip galvy coating does, and some are downright useless. This has to do with the percentage of zinc in them. The best cold galvy I have come across has to be the ZRC cold galvy paints. The one quart of ZRC paint I bought years ago weighed about 5-7lbs. due to its zinc content. Good stuff, the only downside to cold galvy paints is that they are more susceptible to road debris chipping away and removing the paint whereas hot dip adheses much better and is less prone to road rash.

[TedW]

I would do a little leg work on the galv paint that you use. They do not perform anywhwere near as well as a hot dip galvy coating does, and some are downright useless. This has to do with the percentage of zinc in them. The best cold galvy I have come across has to be the ZRC cold galvy paints. The one quart of ZRC paint I bought years ago weighed about 5-7lbs. due to its zinc content. Good stuff, the only downside to cold galvy paints is that they are more susceptible to road debris chipping away and removing the paint whereas hot dip adheses much better and is less prone to road rash.

Absolutely true. The higher the zinc content the better (IIRC the Rustoleum in the link is 93%). The last galvy spray I bought was from a marine store, so it was formulated for salt water conditions (or at least that's what the can says). The "Bright Galvanizing" spray I referenced earlier has a lower zinc content (high 80's, I think), so if a part is going to show I use the marine grade spray and then use the bright stuff as a topcoat.

In an ideal world I'd be like Tony Cordo and dip everything (Tony, have you dipped your upholstery yet??? ), but I don't have that option. The spray is, in my view, a reasonable alternative for some applications.

[amcordo]

In an ideal world I'd be like Tony Cordo and dip everything (Tony, have you dipped your upholstery yet??? ), but I don't have that option. The spray is, in my view, a reasonable alternative for some applications.

My new seats just arrived...

http://www.antiquaireonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/tolix-arrivals-july-2009-040.jpg

[Les Parker]

Sweet, heated, lumbar supports, inbuilt ashtrays...................