Subframe Cleaning - Lateral-g Forums

ItDoRun · #1 02-12-2010, 08:01 AM

I sandblasted it before I started welding on it. After sitting for a couple of days, you can see oil that had seeped from the seams in certain areas. It's mainly contained around the steering box area. As I was welding on it, you could see oil bubbling up because of the heat...not to mention the smoke created from welding!

I had planned on blasting it again before I primed/painted it, but obviously paint won't stick to oily surfaces.

ProdigyCustoms · #2 02-12-2010, 09:24 AM

We paint ours. Powder coat will really show any pits in the surface. painting aloows us to skim, prime, sand and make it more prettier!

ItDoRun · #3 02-12-2010, 11:12 AM

Can you apply bondo or kitty hair over a sandblasted surface? I would think that should give it enough roughness to bond, right?

elitecustombody · #4 02-12-2010, 12:57 PM

I'd pressure wash it with degreaser, take it to powdercoater, get it blasted and coated ,it will give you alot better base than paint, primer, kitty hair or bondo,

ItDoRun · #5 02-12-2010, 01:40 PM

I hate to powder coat it because I still have to weld the subframe to the connectors. That means I would have to remove part of the powder coating for welding.

elitecustombody · #6 02-13-2010, 05:56 PM

Ughh...,just do it once all the welding is done

**GregWeld** · #7 02-13-2010, 11:30 PM

Just my .0000000005 cents worth....

Depends on what the final job is - what you're trying to build... a real nice driver - a show car - a riddler contender...

If you're trying to do most of the work yourself - in stages etc.... then degreasing the frame INSIDE and OUT -- maybe a couple of times -- Back in the day I even hooked up the garden hose to the drain hose bib on the hot water heater for a good blast of hot water cleaning with a suitable degreaser. You can also get long WIRE handled brushes - getting a large diameter - and run that in and out of the interior of the frame.

A nice coat or two of SELF ETCHING primer once the steel is all bare....

Or take it to a blaster.... then bring it home and put Self etching primer on it to protect it while you're still mocking up etc. Then paint it once you're happy with everything. It really all depends on your budget and what the end result is planned on. There's about a zillion hot rods out there that have their frames painted with POR 15 and they look great if done right...