The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop What to do about the lead?

I am stripping the paint of the 53 Panel and
found lead at front post, behind doors and
back of vehicle at roof level. I also found lead
at bottom of front posts. Also, lead filler all
the way down the left outside cowl.
All looks good except for one small area at roof
rear that could be releaded.
I want to use new fillers in prep for epoxy primer and basecoat/clearcoat as a topcoat (probably PPG)
Can I leave the lead in place and cover with
sealers or what?

I left the lead that was in mine (mainly above the left headlamp) where it was. Just a light skim coat of Dynatron Putty Cote over it to fill the scratches from stripping, and primed (I used Kondar) it's been fine since.

Left mine in on my 55 Chevy pickup. It was located
where thr door pillars meet the roof.For some of my rust repairs...I welding in patches and then sealing with lead..

Keith

The lead will cause no problems with the finish. Lead was used before the invention of Plastic body filler (Bondo). You can just prime over it, you can sand it, just like filler.

And you don't have to worry about rust in those areas.

Frank

The lead will cause no problems with the finish. Lead was used before the invention of Plastic body filler (Bondo). You can just prime over it, you can sand it, just like filler.

And you don't have to worry about rust in those areas.

Frank

I would not sand lead as it makes air borne dust of a toxic material. If you DO sand lead wear a respirator.

Lead is difficult to work but in the end a better fix than bondo. There aren't many guys around that know how to work lead anymore. I tried it on the hood of my 50 Chevy as a teenager and made a complete mess. It did create a lot of laughs at the body shop.

Is there a safe way to remove old lead repairs? I found some lead on one of my front fenders and I was sanding it out. I don't have a resirator so I stopped. Can I melt it out? It doesn't look like a very good repair as there was a bit or rust under the lead I removed.
I would prefer to remove all of it and start over on repairing that area.

a plumbers torch will easily melt it out.

Melting it out is easily the safest way to remove it.

If you melt it out just get it hot enough to wipe off with a shop rag. Too much heat and you may wind up with a warped panel.

Now we talk about respirators when working with lead. What about using respirators when we are sanding plastic filler, epoxy, 2k, lacquer primer, and clear coats?

I don't think sanding or filing lead is half as dangerous as the other chemicals we expose ourselves to everyday we work in the shop.

Frank

Seems that lead wouldn't be that big a problem because it wouldn't turn to airborne dust that can be breathed in like bondo and other plastics...

Here's a link to health info.
https://sbms.bnl.gov/sbmsearch/subjarea/114/114_Pro9.cfm
It sounds as though breathing the fumes off molten lead can actually leave lead in your bloodstream. There are definite mental acuity and memory problems associated with this.