Subject: How do you fix small rust holes in panels?
jb4845
A.k.a.: Josh
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posted on February 13th, 2006 at 09:31 PM
How do you fix small rust holes in panels?
Just starting to do the body work on my Kombi and obviously the larger holes need new metal but what about smaller holes like these?
Pic 1 - Sliding door, just under swage line - about 2mm diameter (wirebrushed and painted with rust converter if wondering)
Pic 2 Rear compartment near wheel well - along floor and side join - wire-brushed, rust converted then etch primed to protect whilst further decisions
made
Do you use a dremel to grind out the holes to good metal then braze them up, or use glass-fibre filler(or similar) - or cur out all metal around and
put in new patch??
Any help appreciated - sorry if pics too big - just want them easy to see
Josh
helbus
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posted on February 13th, 2006 at 10:52 PM
The first thing to ascertain is which side the rust came from. In the first pic it is likely to have come from inside the panel. The problem there is
you cannot see how close any other rust is about to come through. When you weld up the little hole, you heat the area and anything behind that is 95%
rusted through and unseen will come through very quickly. Best to cut a piece out and replace.
The holes you shou in the back area look like they have rusted from the same side as you are taking the photo, so therefore you can see exactly how
far through any rust has eaten. These areas can be MIG welded up, ground smooth and treated, painted, sealed and protected quite easily from further
deterioration. It is the holes that come from inside out that are almost impossible to stop unless you remove the affected area, replace it with new
metal, spray fishoil and body cavity wax on the inside and then seal the panel from getting any further moisture inside it.
