acid dip - good idea?

Souper Steve ABB · 16-11-2008, 08:58 PM

having my Bay restored next year and i'm contemplating having it dipped - I've seen a splitty and a bug go through the process on beetlecrisis but never a bay. I'd love to know what the general consensus is on the matter.

So come on folks throw in your grubby old 2 pence worth

wobbly · 16-11-2008, 09:07 PM

Know of one guy with an E-type who had this done...burst into tears when it was returned!! Not for the faint hearted BUT a complete and thorough process.

ruby bay · 16-11-2008, 10:16 PM

good thing to do but like said, it may break your heart!!
make sure it gets the electro magnetic primer coating afterwards so the paint gets into all the nooks and crannies or it wont last long, you will never get a spray gun to coat all the bits in the seams that the chemical dip removes, nor waxoil !

DOOEY · 16-11-2008, 10:27 PM

An acid dip every week keeps the wife lovely and clean.

16-11-2008, 10:28 PM

Quote:

make sure it gets the electro magnetic primer coating afterwards

I'd steer clear of 'e coating' if I were you, I've seen shells which have come back completely distorted after this process. I've also seen shells which have been bent due to the careless forklift drivers they use picking up shells with forks and not being too careful about where they put the forks! If you do get it 'e coated' make sure you get the shell properly braced first otherwise there may be tears.

16-11-2008, 10:31 PM

a friend of mine had his Beetle dipped and charged and it's definately not for the faint hearted! It will bring EVERYTHING to light including the bits that you wouldn't dream of looking at initially.

I think it depends on the depth of restoration you are going to, not to mention the depth of your pockets! The process usually costs circa 2k, then you have to take in to account that your rebuild cost will increase due to the extra work that it expose.

IMO it's not for your everyday resto.

jinx · 17-11-2008, 07:33 PM

i looked in to it - as has been said already heard of carlesness by the companys handeling the vehicles
also extra damage to the areas they drill to drain the chemicals from the enclosed sections
not to mention the £1800 price tag, then if you think about it you will want it re-doing when you have replaced the damaged/rotten areas in order to clean and coat the insides or the peices you have fitted?

think im either going to buy a small sandblaster and do it a bit at a time
or
have it blasted and primed (£400 on site) then buy myself one of the small sand blasters to do inside places when i cut the rot out

think it may be a bit daunting being faced with a vehicle with every panel and internal support, damaged in someway, that is what ill get what ever i do!

ruby bay · 17-11-2008, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timo 67

I'd steer clear of 'e coating' if I were you, I've seen shells which have come back completely distorted after this process. I've also seen shells which have been bent due to the careless forklift drivers they use picking up shells with forks and not being too careful about where they put the forks! If you do get it 'e coated' make sure you get the shell properly braced first otherwise there may be tears.

they are e coated after putting together, all cars, its just a coating of paint that is magnetised, if its not done the paint doesnt get into EVERY nook and cranny exposed to air. that splitty on campervan looks really good, but if youve not coated the internal metal its a waste of money, your bus/van will drop to bits from the inside out, not saying that that van on campervan wasnt, but if you dont it will. thats why you put weld thru primer on before you put panels together etc.

03-12-2008, 10:12 PM

Apologies for the confusion, its the actual stripping process that the e coat people use that causes the damage, they have been known to burn the paint off which can cause distortion if your shell is not properly braced.

flat4fanatic · 04-12-2008, 09:51 AM

Surface processing do a good job apparently.
It's an extremely expensive process though so only really viable for something rare or expensive (2k could get you a lot of bodywork done)