Metal protector?

[RussMurco]

We always see the pro-shop's cars in bare metal, sometimes for months at a time, and they never seem to have corrosion issues. I've always wondered what they do to protect them, is there a product put on the metal??

[wiedemab]

I plan on using this stuff from RadRides

http://radrides.com/index.php?option...ant&Itemid=579

[dontlifttoshift]

Gibbs

[ccracin]

That's what we use, but i learned after we bought it that it is Gibbs relabeled.

http://www.gibbsbrandlubricant.com/

Whichever is easiest to get!

[RussMurco]

Thanks for the input guys! I'm going to be stripping the Firebird soon, my first time!

[RussMurco]

Originally Posted by ratman67

i don't understand why they don't primer them up after the bodies are metal worked. if they need to change some stuff, you can 80 grit the primer off where you need to weld in a few minutes....

I'm guessing it's a time/labor issue in a shop environment. Especially when you have other work being done on the car, not wanting to prep and spray it between jobs.
I have some metal work to do but it will be spread over some spare time for at least a few weeks. I'll probably put it in primer as soon as it's done.

[GriffithMetal]

Gibbs oil is great to use. It is also easy to remove for the painting process. I also use a thin coat of Phosphoric acid on the metal then wipe it off if the car won't be touched for a while. If someone touches the car with either product it will begin to rust. I offer a hand removal service to those who like to touch bare metal cars!

[RussMurco]

Originally Posted by GriffithMetal

If someone touches the car with either product it will begin to rust. I offer a hand removal service to those who like to touch bare metal cars!

Did you really mean "with", or "without" either product?
Thanks for that tip, can you do sanding/welding/metalwork with these products on or do you wipe it off the area you are working with and recoat?

[ironworks]

Gibbs Product will protect the surface the best for fabrication. The acid will protect from rust but will make it a pain in the ass to weld on.

The reason not to put the entire car in epoxy primer is that is your grinding off the primer to do metal work your breaking the seal. We have gotten to the point we don't blast the cars any more as it's just to rough on the metal and the rust faster after being blasted. We paint strip the panels and just blast the parts that paint stripper would work on.

Plus if the epoxy primer sits to long it will absorb moisture and start rusting in less then a year. There is no way to prevent steel from rusting unless you properly seal the metal and paint it a timely manner. Most painters will sand off any epoxy primer if it has been on there for any extended length of time so it then becomes wasted effort.

So get all your metal work done, Then proper prep the entire body for primer right before you start body work.

[RussMurco]

Originally Posted by ironworks

We have gotten to the point we don't blast the cars any more as it's just to rough on the metal and the rust faster after being blasted. We paint strip the panels and just blast the parts that paint stripper would work on.

You chemically strip your projects? I've been looking around here locally for a stripping company (this Firebird has at least 3 layers of paint) with little luck. The one I knew of just absolutely destroyed some small pieces I had him strip last year so there's no way he's touching my car!