On Mon, 16 Nov 1998, Gernot Vonhoegen wrote:
> Basically correct. May I just ask what the purpose of the excercise should
> be, if the thing is rust free, why would you want to reinforce it in the
> first place? Reinforcing things usually don't work that way.
It's rust-free because of a chemical strip, not because it's virgin metal.
If it were me I'd be inclined to reinforce it with something too. A lot
of my sheet metal was really thin (the usual test was to wave the welding
torch at it-- if it vanished, it was too thin). As I was welding, I
"reinforced" (replaced) it that way.
When I did my front fender I used fiberglass as I didn't have the gumption
to reconstruct ANOTHER fender out of thin air. Also, I was able to mold
it over the bondo & rust, then remove the bondo & rust with an angle
grinder and fiberglass the back. Can't do that with weldment.
I think that both fiberglass and epoxies are viable alternatives to steel
repair-- but it must be done RIGHT. Don't go goo up the holes until you
can't see the ground. Clean properly (chem-strip is the way to go!) and
make sure it's all sealed, and it will be fine. This is all that is
performed in a gas tank repair.
-Malcolm
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