M5driver
MUD Addict (Ret.)
- Thread starter
- #201
HELP!
This up one day, down the next at the panel beater is exhausting.
Today, I inspected the welding (good!) and the repairs to the rear sill (good!). Then, I looked at the rest of the project. Turns out the apprentice painter ignored instructions from me, the foreman, and Mario, the owner/manager to prime only those parts I had pulled aside as priority (mostly chassis parts). He also ignored instructions to put a second coat on the axles and frame to maximize the benefit from the RB we have. Instead, he decided to paint whatever he picked up, especially small parts and flat bits, because they are easier to paint and he did not believe a second (and third) coat would be needed.
We are now down to one pint, and Mario told me he doesn't know why I just don't let him spray his standard primer, which he claims is as good as or better than RB (he uses a standard automotive primer with a rust inhibitor). As an aside, the foreman privately told me that Mario is insulted that I wanted to use something not recommended by him, and that Mario thinks RB is an untested and unreliable product, based on our experience with water contaminated solvent. This afternoon, Mario asked if they could use the last pint to recoat the frame and spray inside the boxed areas. Of course, I said yes, but who knows what will happen. He also told me he is getting very nervous about this project. He said if I can't prove to him I have additional RB on the way by Monday, he plans to just spray everything with his standard primer, and start shooting color next week. Now I'm scrambling to see if I can get anyone to air ship more RB. SIGH!
THEN, as I was about to leave, I happened to lean down and pick up the drag link, which was laying on the floor with the tie rod and relay rod, still not primed. My "minder" quickly reached down and grabbed the other two rods and started to walk away with them. I stopped him and looked at what he had - he was trying to hide damage from me.
Apparently when the Bedford ran over the shocks, the guy also clipped the tie rod and relay rod. These rods were perfectly round and in good condition when I brought them in. Not any more! 
I've included some pix below of the ends of the rods where they were run over. The shop foreman intends to repair them by taking a torch to the ends, and whacking a cold chisel into the slot on each to open them back up. Then he wants me to bring him the old tie rod ends to attempt to force them into the threads while heating the rods with a torch. He claims this will take care of the flattening,and make it possible to put my new TREs into the rods. He is probably right that this can be done (apply enough force and heat...) but I wonder if this is really going to make the rod ends right again, and if it is safe. Does anyone have suggestions, comments, etc. about this proposal? I still have the old TREs, but am reluctant to allow this "fix" until I know if it is safe and permanent.
This up one day, down the next at the panel beater is exhausting.
Today, I inspected the welding (good!) and the repairs to the rear sill (good!). Then, I looked at the rest of the project. Turns out the apprentice painter ignored instructions from me, the foreman, and Mario, the owner/manager to prime only those parts I had pulled aside as priority (mostly chassis parts). He also ignored instructions to put a second coat on the axles and frame to maximize the benefit from the RB we have. Instead, he decided to paint whatever he picked up, especially small parts and flat bits, because they are easier to paint and he did not believe a second (and third) coat would be needed.
We are now down to one pint, and Mario told me he doesn't know why I just don't let him spray his standard primer, which he claims is as good as or better than RB (he uses a standard automotive primer with a rust inhibitor). As an aside, the foreman privately told me that Mario is insulted that I wanted to use something not recommended by him, and that Mario thinks RB is an untested and unreliable product, based on our experience with water contaminated solvent. This afternoon, Mario asked if they could use the last pint to recoat the frame and spray inside the boxed areas. Of course, I said yes, but who knows what will happen.
He also told me he is getting very nervous about this project. He said if I can't prove to him I have additional RB on the way by Monday, he plans to just spray everything with his standard primer, and start shooting color next week. Now I'm scrambling to see if I can get anyone to air ship more RB. SIGH!THEN, as I was about to leave, I happened to lean down and pick up the drag link, which was laying on the floor with the tie rod and relay rod, still not primed. My "minder" quickly reached down and grabbed the other two rods and started to walk away with them. I stopped him and looked at what he had - he was trying to hide damage from me.
Apparently when the Bedford ran over the shocks, the guy also clipped the tie rod and relay rod. These rods were perfectly round and in good condition when I brought them in. Not any more! I've included some pix below of the ends of the rods where they were run over. The shop foreman intends to repair them by taking a torch to the ends, and whacking a cold chisel into the slot on each to open them back up. Then he wants me to bring him the old tie rod ends to attempt to force them into the threads while heating the rods with a torch. He claims this will take care of the flattening,and make it possible to put my new TREs into the rods. He is probably right that this can be done (apply enough force and heat...) but I wonder if this is really going to make the rod ends right again, and if it is safe. Does anyone have suggestions, comments, etc. about this proposal? I still have the old TREs, but am reluctant to allow this "fix" until I know if it is safe and permanent.
My friend/fellow club member said he did get a price and will post it asap. Will let you know as soon as I hear something. How much RB would you need to do the entire tub ?
I told him as much and asked for alternatives. Haven't heard back yet. I'm also in touch with Rust Bullet directly to see if I can arrange a shipment ($$$) from the US. I decided to ask for more than I think I need just in case. Two quarts would probably be sufficient to finish up if it's used carefully, so I've asked for a quote on 4 quarts.
Chris, the sandblaster guy, called and said he was heading down to look at the project and asked how it was going. I related the newest tale of woe. He said not to worry, he would run by his home on the way in and bring something I might like. 
What a Guy! Nice bloke! 
). According to him, there are NO restrictions on importing goods of this sort into Malawi (if there were, I would not have gotten the first batch from S Africa in here). He is checking to see if there is an actual restriction/limitation on minimum quantities coming from Ghana, but his initial response is that there is not. He is also checking to see if there are any restrictions on shipping the product from the US to Malawi, other than the need to comply with the special packaging requirements for paints and coatings (Class II/III goods); again, his initial take is that there are no restrictions. Once I have that information, I will be able to make a decision on whether to purchase more RB for shipment from the US. That's the good news 
