The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop pits pits and pits

I was totally aware of this issue going in on this project, but my '57 Panel has alot of pitted rust on the body. At this time, I'm just looking to get it driveable, and paint it flat black, and enjoy it for what it is. But for the long term, if I look to have it repainted to be nicer, what do you all recommend? I've done sandblasting of parts and some body pieces in the past, but I know that it won't go well in my current home/neighborhood to be shooting sand all over the place. I also know that it would be quite an undertaking to drill out the welds of all of the body panels and replace them (if the skins are even available).

I guess I'm just looking for what you guys might do, and, if it's different from my current plan? I'm not the kind of guy who needs a fully restored pristine machine. I simply take pride in knowing that I've saved yet another classic vehicle from the crusher.

PM

I have a small blaster with rubber nozzles shaped to fit against various shapes, and a bag to catch the sand. It limits the amount of sand that goes everywhere. Got it from Grizzly Industrial. Probably wouldn't work well except for small areas, but a consideration for you.

I had my entire cab blasted by a guy who came to my place and set up a tent to enclose it. It was noisy though.

Interesting!! Did they primer it for you as well? Or did you do that afteward on your own?

I did the primer on the cab. It was still on the rotisserie, which made it pretty easy to do. Blew the sand out, use some wax and grease remover on it and shot it in the driveway.

I took my bed parts and rear fenders to a different blaster years ago and had them shoot primer on them as well. That was before I was set up for painting.

Check around for Mobile Blasting. My guy has all his stuff set up on a trailer -- A diesel compressor, and blast pot. He can also do wet blasting.

If the pits are actually pin holes, you will have to patch the metal.

Unless they're continuous, you could use a skim of JB Weld for that. When it starts looking like cottage cheese, then you have to evaluate whether it needs new metal patched in.

If you can get at the pin holes from both sides, you can fix them.

The pits can be filled in with this Master Series Silver paint.

Tape over the backside to prevent drippage and the use a brush, roller, or spray. Once one side is done the back can be covered. This paint will not come off.

You don't have to remove the rust, just the loose scale.

It's a great product.