The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Stake Pocket Rust

I have a '51 3/4 ton with stake pockets. I am in process of restoration and am not sure what to do about the stake pockets. The pockets are showing rust around the edges. Taking them off looks like a lot of work. I'm not even sure the best way to do it. How important is it anyway? Can the rust be dealt with without removing them? Thanks for any advice.

Iwill be watching this as i am curently working on the box of my 42.I have so far removed 2 of the pockets.The rust seemed worse where the pockets touch the bedsides.The way we did it was use a wire wheel to remove the paint along the sides of the pocket to expose the spot welds.We then used a punch in the center of the welds.A spot weld removeing tool that fits in a drill was used to cut through the stake pocket makeing a holejust slightly larger than the weld.As you penetrate the outer layer you can see it hit the rust on the box side and know to stop.Iknow eastwoods sells the toolbut ive not looked any where else.It realy wasnt diffacult with the right tool.If there are any other ways to deal with the rust id like to hear it too.

Hey Slow and Scuffy
I'm dealing with the same metal prep. Rust removal
with minimal damage to substrate.