Preserving Patina - How To Tips and Tricks

[nc116]

@dogfishlake thanks! Yeah I actually still have a decent layer of paint but I wanted to try to add some extra protection and be slightly preventative

Yeah, but the roof bra has to go

Lol! I forgot that was in the picture...I took that right before the hurricane hit NC. I've got a slight leak that I need to take care of

 

[rkymtnflyfisher]

Yeah, but the roof bra has to go

I thought that was a shower cap.

 

[wngrog]

Lose the diamond plate. Reinstall the flares.

I plugged all the rivet holes with 1/4” button head bolts

 

[bugsnbikes]

Eastwood makes a rust converter and a product called Heavy Duty Anti rust which is like Fluidfilm except it sprays on black.

Here’s a shot of after the Eastwood Rust converter wipedown on the bed of my FST.

 

[bugsnbikes]

And here’s a shot of the HeavyDuty AntiRust from Eastwood underneath my other 40.

This was done 3 years ago or so and maintains a ever so slight tacky film which picks up some dust n dirt. I reapply that every few years as needed but it doesn’t build up which is nice. I do a light power wash to take off the old dust n dirt and then reapply. Stays very thin and is oily enough that it finds its way into seams. Great for frame inside and out as well as underbody and channels where water will infiltrate And cause seam-rust. I would say it’s about 50%more dry looking than fluid film when on.....but maintains a wet tacky feel barrier to keep moisture and rust at bay,

 

[bugsnbikes]

for East Coasters the fluidFilm would get the nod for thickness if you were battling salt and heavier east coast type wet/salt/or regular muddle

but for drier west coast, desert or intermediately wet winter environments I think the Eastwood AntiRust is thinner and can last for long 2-3yr intervals while looking a notch more uniform and less goopy if that makes sense.

If I was Canadian.....I probably wouldn’t have even opened this thread as rust would be in my blood and none of this would make any sense.

 

[wngrog]

Heavy-Duty Anti-Rust in Black - Eastwood

OK. If it sprays on black, how did you get the FST bed so clean?

I know my rust Converter is clear and it turns rust black.

I will say the Fluid Film screams to be wiped uniformly when you put it on the underside but everything says just leave it and I have (other than major drips) and it actually gets itself pretty uniform with time.

 

[Bludozer]

Heavy-Duty Anti-Rust in Black - Eastwood
I will say the Fluid Film screams to be wiped uniformly when you put it on the underside but everything says just leave it and I have (other than major drips) and it actually gets itself pretty uniform with time.

Same experience here. It's tough to not even out what looks like a goopy mess, but let it do its job creeping around and it always works itself out.

 

[wngrog]

Same experience here. It's tough to not even out what looks like a goopy mess, but let it do its job creeping around and it always works itself out.

I wanted to wipe it off so bad at first.

Now I want to spray it on everything.

 

[nc116]

I wanted to wipe it off so bad at first.

Now I want to spray it on everything.

Last night I went to home depot (and amazon) and bought:

2 gallons of CLR (pro?)
2 gallons of BLO
6 spray cans of fluid film
respirator
20 pack scotchbrite green
1 quart penetrol
(and then a cheap flux core welder and materials for that)

What else should I buy? FYI I already have a few cans of VHT rust converter.

Also I'm still not quite sure about where I will use penetrol in the mix.

 

[wngrog]

I used about 1.5 quarts of BLO on both of my vehicles so 2 gallons may be a bit heavy.

And CLR. Maybe about a 1/2 gallon on all the trucks

 

[S4Cruiser]

Last night I went to home depot (and amazon) and bought:

2 gallons of CLR (pro?)
2 gallons of BLO
6 spray cans of fluid film
respirator
20 pack scotchbrite green
1 quart penetrol
(and then a cheap flux core welder and materials for that)

What else should I buy? FYI I already have a few cans of VHT rust converter.

Also I'm still not quite sure about where I will use penetrol in the mix.

The green pads work but I like the 3m maroon ones better.

 

[bugsnbikes]

Heavy-Duty Anti-Rust in Black - Eastwood

OK. If it sprays on black, how did you get the FST bed so clean?

I know my rust Converter is clear and it turns rust black.

Apologies......the Eastwood rust converter was used on the bed. It’s a milky vanilla substance that wipes on and converts rusted/exposed metal/ scratches to black within a min or two. Once it “converts” /bonds.....I wiped off the bed with a dry rag followed by water/rag to clean off the excess.


On the underside.....rather than spray the converter- I painted it on the frame with a small brush vs spray and get all over.


once everything underneath was converted......I then topcoated the underside with the Heavy Duty AntiRust Which is much more oily and provides that “barrier” between elements and frame/underbody-preventing oxygen and moisture from getting to the body/frame.

 

[Hogan]

I’ve seen way too many Cruisers due to being torn apart and then abandoned.

View attachment 1813074

I know this to be true. We got our first Cruiser when my wife was pregnant with our daughter. Our daughter just turned 21 and this is all the further I've gotten. It's not abandoned yet.

 

[wngrog]

Last night I went to home depot (and amazon) and bought:

2 gallons of CLR (pro?)
2 gallons of BLO
6 spray cans of fluid film
respirator
20 pack scotchbrite green
1 quart penetrol
(and then a cheap flux core welder and materials for that)

What else should I buy? FYI I already have a few cans of VHT rust converter.

Also I'm still not quite sure about where I will use penetrol in the mix.

Let’s see some before/after

 

[wngrog]

I know this to be true. We got our first Cruiser when my wife was pregnant with our daughter. Our daughter just turned 21 and this is all the further I've gotten. It's not abandoned yet.

View attachment 1823088

View attachment 1823090

Unacceptable

 

[oregon fj]

I know this to be true. We got our first Cruiser when my wife was pregnant with our daughter. Our daughter just turned 21 and this is all the further I've gotten. It's not abandoned yet.

Can be done a lot quicker if you are motivated. (Being retired helps a lot.) Mine was 11 months.

Late Nov. 2017

Late Oct. 2018

 

[Hogan]

Looks like I need to retire. By the way nice job. We do have another one we can play with. We picked it up 12 years ago, so now we have two.

 

[Hogan]

Unacceptable

I know, I haven't worked on it in 20 years. Life is demanding and some times it get's in the way.

 

[oregon fj]

Looks like I need to retire.

I highly recommend it.