17 replies to this topic

[edi57]

Before...




After!

At Surface Processing this morning...




Back home at in the garage...




It makes it blindingly obvious where attention is required...




Also got the front and rear subframes dipped and e-coated.

Before:




After:




I've been meaning to start my project thread for months now. Hopefully I'll get round to it tomorrow. Lots of work ahead of me. It's going to be taken slowly but I hope to have the shell fully welded and ready for e-coat by the end of the summer.

[dezshearer]

Quite simply,

WOW!

Aciddipping rocks?

[Bungle]

what sort of cost is involved in dipping a mini ?

[edi57]

It's a bit pricey, but for a paricularly special car (arn't all minis!), 1965 Mk1 Cooper and a car that I'm planning on keeping forever and never restoring again I think it's going to be worth it.

Prices have gone up a bit now. I was on a 5 or 6 month waiting list (I think) and it was 495 + the vat when I booked. I paid £100 +vat to have subframes dipped and e-coated so my wallet got stung with the sum of £816.25 (inc. vat) this morning!

I believe the price to have a small shell (mini) dipped is now £595 +vat.

[chunkytfg]

Looks superb but at 700 quid it should do!!!!

[sazal]

Doesn't look in too bad nick! Spose its good though, means you wont restore it then get any nasty surprises!

[analogue_radio]

Good luck with the rest of the project .

What exactly does acid bathing do?

[Scott.Tamson]

Removes paint, rust & all dirt as it gets into every little nook and crannie......just hope there isnt any little bits of acid still there

[analogue_radio]

Oh okay, impressive!

Cheers Scott.

[panelbeaterpeter]

Looks good! cost £3000 to get a vw camper acid dipped and E-coated!

[Scott.Tamson]

Did the place you got it dipped, give it a temporary waterbased coating ?

[panelbeaterpeter]

Couldn't tell you to be honest, It was done at work before I started there.

[Scott.Tamson]

Sorry Peter, that post was aimed at Edi57. Just hope his garage isnt damp...

It's going to be taken slowly but I hope to have the shell fully welded and ready for e-coat by the end of the summer.

[panelbeaterpeter]

Ah! sorry. Yes I was thinking that too. You get special primer for cars that have just been dipped/blasted. It etches and flows out to fill any slight imperfections.

[edi57]

Hi Scott,

The final stage of the process is a high pressure neutralising preservative wash. Apparently this leaves the steel stable.

The garage is bone dry (was designed to be converted into a bungalow if ever required) so I shouldn't have too much a problem with deterioration. I did however spray the whole thing with a can of WD-40. I'll prob do that every month that I have it sitting in the garage.

Phil (at Surface Processing) told me not to worry about rusting at all. It's only going to be surface rust, which the re-dip will easily wash off before the e-coat. Even though he said that, I'd still rather avoid that enemy No.1 as much as possible!

I'm leaving my shell for a month now. I'm working on our convertible mini at the moment. Getting that ready for the better weather.