Some pictures, how should I refurbish?

[Johnshan1]

Heres my old trailer, it has had 3 coats of paint and light sandings in the past 4 years, heres what it looks like right now.<br /><br />

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<br /><br />What the heck should I do? The metal has been eaten away in places if you look well enough. It has been dunked in salt water since it was made in who knows when. <br /><br />Any ideas? I will have the boat off it for a week here soon while at camp. Any ideas on making this thing look new? <br /><br />It has new springs, bunks, lights, winch, and bearings as of 2 years ago.<br /><br />I do not have access to a sand blaster.<br /><br />-John

 

[bubbakat]

Re: Some pictures, how should I refurbish?

The only other choice I see without sandblasting would be to get you an air chisel. You can get the kind that takes flux off welds and scrub that thing down good. A good wire brush Will come in handy to. You gonna have to get all the rust spots off then completely treat the frame with navel jell of some kind of rust inhibitor.<br />Then prime it with zinc chromate primer.<br />Put you about 2 ounces of hardener in the primer and then spray it.<br />It is very crucial for you to let this primer dry for at least 4 or 5 days. I know that is probably longer then you want to but I have done a lot of salt rusted trailers and this is the only way I have ever been successful with the finish product.<br /><br />BTW Before you spray primer wash the whole thing down with a water and vinegar solution

 

[Johnshan1]

Re: Some pictures, how should I refurbish?

Thanks for the input. The silver coating that is on the trailer now is Pettit's zinc trailer paint. I was thinking replace rollers, take my angle grinder and go over the whole thing, use Zinc paint on it again and then use a bedliner like herculiner to paint the frame and everything on the trailer. I want the trailer to look good and last a few years as well. I do a washdown after salt use but it still rusts like crazy.<br /><br />Thanks for thoughts<br /><br />-John

 

[bubbakat]

Re: Some pictures, how should I refurbish?

The bed liner is a good idea but you need to use an air jitter bug to get all the rust out of the pitted spots. I use liquid steel to fill pits or you can use jb weld. This is to get you a smooth surface. The purpose of the zinc chromate and hardener in it is to get you an air tight bond to the metal. Then light sand and paint with the chromate paint.

 

[Solittle]

Re: Some pictures, how should I refurbish?

I'm doing exactly the same thing to my 1970 trailer that looks just like yours. After the air chisel I coated all rusted areas with naval jelly or equivalant (phosphoric acid). It chemically interacts with the rust. I let it dry for a couple of days then bathed all rusted areas with Penatrol and let it sit for a couple of days. Tomorrow I will do the final and paint the entire trailer with Rustoleum.

 

[bubbakat]

Re: Some pictures, how should I refurbish?

Solittle add you some hardener to that rustoleum and you will be surprised how shinny and durable it will make it.

 

[Johnshan1]

Re: Some pictures, how should I refurbish?

thanks for the info guys, what exactly do you mean when you say to add hardener? What is it and where do I get it? Thanks<br />-John

 

[bubbakat]

Re: Some pictures, how should I refurbish?

Hardener is a liquid that is added to paint to give it a harder coat or shell.<br />I get mine at lowe's or at tsc or an auto paint store.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Some pictures, how should I refurbish?

How about renting a sand blaster or taking it to a place to have it dipped or blasted? I think that blasting would do a much better job than any hand sanding would do. <br /><br />A rental blaster also has the advantage that you can clean the whole trailer without taking the boat off. Just lift the boat enough to slip a heavy plastic drop cloth under it and go to it.<br /><br />Here is a link just to give you an idea of the equipment and cost of rental. Sand Blaster Rental Example <br /><br />Mark.