I'll try to get a pic tonight...
Essentially my question is this: what do you guys use to clean metal (for welding) in a hard to reach spot?
I have a drill with some wire wheels and a flappy disc on an angle grinder. Both are WAY too big to get in there.
I have some rust converter, but I fear that I won't be able to weld through that very well.
I do not have access to a media blaster, nor do I want to deal with the mess inside the panel when I'm done.
Any help is appreciated!
Once the rust is gone, Alcohol in a spray bottle with the spray bottle jet set to squirt instead of mist. Gun cleaners could get you in there (I'm imagining this crazy corner of flat stock.)
Dremel? Small wire brushes with long handles?
If all else fails, either a handheld wire brush or one of those squishy sanding blocks wedged in there.
_ said:Once the rust is gone, Alcohol in a spray bottle with the spray bottle jet set to squirt instead of mist. Gun cleaners could get you in there (I'm imagining this crazy corner of flat stock.)
Getting rid of the surface rust is the issue.
I will look into gun cleaners.
Tom_Spangler (Forum Supporter) said:Dremel? Small wire brushes with long handles?
This is kinda where I'm at. Hmmm.
Can you touch the corner with a finger?
In reply to _ :
Probably. Unfortunately, I don't have the Midas touch.... lol.
What are you thinking?
One of these with a wire wheel on the end?
Some phosphoric acid and a spray bottle. Does a good job of taking care of surface rust and doesn't seem to hurt welding ability. I buy it as resin remover.
I probably wouldn't worry about it. If you are able to weld to it, it's not rusty yet. If it blows through with a touch of the arc, it needs to be replaced.
Weld, then drill holes in the bottom and spray a rust inhibitor up there. I use Fluid Film and compressed air. Hose the fluid film up there while blowing into the hole, and spray until it starts coming out the seams. Move ahead a foot or two, drill another hole, continue until bored. Plug holes with rubber plugs, the do the job again in the fall.
One of these from Harbor Freight:
With a box of these from 3M:
The belts that Harbor Freight sells are worth having just for taking paint off and cleaning up very light surface rust but the 3M ones will easily clean up welds and go through metal. If you have a decent air compressor then there are also better quality air powered tiny belt grinders available.
Adam
I ordered a WEN electric powered detail sander like the one above and a bunch of belts.
I also ordered some chemical that is supposed to be awesome for exactly this situation. Picklex20.
Can somebody recommend me a weld through primer as well?
There was a thread recently on weld through primer - https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/can-someone-recommend-a-good-weld-through-primer/170493/page1/
If your answer isn't in there already you'll probably get more action posting in that thread.
Post up a review of that WEN, it's a bit slower and half the power of the Harbor Freight one (it is basically an angle grinder with a different head) but I bet the head is nicer on the WEN and will last longer.
Adam
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