Good sealer for outside body seams etc?

[e9999]

any specifics about a good sealer to use for the outside of the body if you have to make sure water doesn't get into cracks, seams etc?
There is a bewildering variety of goop in tubes out there...

I saw some mention of Silicone sealer (including the kind that rusts steel...??? Doug?). But I read warnings about silicone migrating and giving trouble with subsequent painting etc

I'd like something that will last at least 10 years.

Any brand/name?

(and yes, if you must really know, I may indeed need some sealer for my plugs, bolts, or nutserts on my roof...)

thx
E

added: I said seams above in the generic sense. I want to use this on parts that overlap, on washers or bolts that cover up holes etc...

 

[dans67]

Go to your local auto body paint supply shop and get the sealer that they sell. It should be made by 3-m and is a product made specifficaly for the auto body industry and will last years, with no leaks. It works, I used some on my Nova when I built it in 92, and it's still holding strong, no problems.
Dan

 

[Waggoner5]

As Dan said, 3M Seam Sealer.

 

[e9999]

As Dan said, 3M Seam Sealer.

Is this stuff also an adhesive or just a filler? Gets hard?

e

 

[turbocruiser]

Its both sealer and adhesive. Another recommendation: get the 3M "brushable" as opposed to "sprayable" seam sealer, tape off the seam with like a 1/2 inch wide overlap and brush the seam sealer heavily but evenly across the seam and over the edges of the tape, then remove tape and let the seam sealer cure. Another overly anal recommendation: before you brush on the seam sealer, get some in a tube with a caulk type tip and squirt it into the seam, then quickly wipe off any excess on the outside and then go ahead and tape and brush etc. Remember to properly prep the area by rubbing with some 3M tar wax and grease remover or somehting similar. If you do all this, you will probably never have water penetrate past the seam. Ohh, with the good 3M stuff, it will never get hard like epoxy; it will be tough but still soft enough to point a knife point into it. HTH.

 

[e9999]

Its both sealer and adhesive. Another recommendation: get the "brushable" seam sealer, tape off the seam with like a 1/2 inch wide overlap and brush the seam sealer heavily but evenly across the seam and over the edges of the tape, then remove tape and let the seam sealer cure. Another overly anal recommendation: before you brush on the seam sealer, get some in a tube with a caulk type tip and squirt it into the seam, then quickly wipe off any excess on the outside and then go ahead and tape and brush etc. If you do all this, you will probably never have water penetrate past the seam. HTH.

is this intended for prepainting only or after painting too?
Could I use this to goop up a washer before tightening a bolt down on the outside, to prevent subsequent water ingress?

interesting how 3M's name pops up all the time for professional goops...


thx
E

 

[bjowett]

These folks are hard to beat on pricing and customer service...

http://www.autobodysupply.net

 

[harveya]

is this intended for prepainting only or after painting too?
Could I use this to goop up a washer before tightening a bolt down on the outside, to prevent subsequent water ingress?

interesting how 3M's name pops up all the time for professional goops...


thx
E

I've used 3M brushable seam sealer before. It's great, can be left unpainted or overpainted, can be used over the top of bolts, under washers, around grommets (altough it won't stick well to hardened rubber.

Can be used on top of paint as well as it sticks pretty well (try and get it off paint if you are a bit careless.

Cheers
Andy

 

[Junk]

Sealer

 

[e9999]

Sealer

what, Junk? No crack about cracks, seams, sealers, goop etc...??? U gettin' old, buddy? Or is this mod job that turned you into a ?

E

 

[Junk]

uh, did you click the link? It takes you to the www.millerwelds.com page Now mig your mouth shut and your fingers together

 

[e9999]

uh, did you click the link? It takes you to the www.millerwelds.com page Now mig your mouth shut and your fingers together

Junk, if I MIG my fingers together, I'll have but one big fat finger to give you...
and we would not want that, now, would we...?
E

 

[Junk]

You can't count that high, so I have nothing to fear

 

[ginericLC]

POR makes some seam sealer. I bought some for my 40 seams. It is like a caulk that dries and fills the seam but somehow remains flexible. It takes paint. Sound similar to the 3M stuff. I bet it is available at www.por15.com I bought mine at the local body shop.