Acid dipping in the Midlands
Discussion
Heard mostly positive stuff about Surface Processing, the moans tend to be about the handling of body shells and picking up dents during handling during the process. So for a chassis, I don't think you can go far wrong as they do claim of 3000 cars treated now.
Does the roll cage really need dipping ? Might be cheaper/easier to have that blasted and powder coated ?
Does the roll cage really need dipping ? Might be cheaper/easier to have that blasted and powder coated ?
jason61c said:
Surface processing have the worst reputation of the lot. There's some very very expensive restorations that are currently sat reacting to acid that became trapped between panels.
Do you have any first hand knowledge of this ? I have often read this on forums, but yet to come across the person who has seen this problem, let alone the owner. I've seen that talked about on forums as well. I did notice that their web site talks about making sure that holes are added to allow the acid into and out of box sections. Chap I know had a BMW 3-series shell done there and I mentioned the leaking acid thing, but he said he'd had no trouble. I have no direct experience.
I looked at doing this with my M3 shell and the leaching acid story came up a few times, but no one ever said it happened to them and it was always an internet story. Every owner who I did contact directly never had this problem and the worse thing seemed to be the handling of the shell and it picking up dents.
One of the guys on Practical Performance Car mag had a shell done years ago with the e-coat which he has let sit in a barn unprotected all this time. I mailed him via the mag and asked his thought on the process and how the shell was holding up since it was just sitting their in its e-coat. He said it was great with just a couple of minor bubbles of rust showing.
One of the guys on Practical Performance Car mag had a shell done years ago with the e-coat which he has let sit in a barn unprotected all this time. I mailed him via the mag and asked his thought on the process and how the shell was holding up since it was just sitting their in its e-coat. He said it was great with just a couple of minor bubbles of rust showing.
Mr_B said:
jason61c said:
Surface processing have the worst reputation of the lot. There's some very very expensive restorations that are currently sat reacting to acid that became trapped between panels.
Do you have any first hand knowledge of this ? I have often read this on forums, but yet to come across the person who has seen this problem, let alone the owner. As for the car sat E coated in a barn with just a "few bubbles" imagine the car painted and back together having never got wet and then bubbles appear which is what happened to me
vpr said:
Mr_B said:
jason61c said:
Surface processing have the worst reputation of the lot. There's some very very expensive restorations that are currently sat reacting to acid that became trapped between panels.
Do you have any first hand knowledge of this ? I have often read this on forums, but yet to come across the person who has seen this problem, let alone the owner. As for the car sat E coated in a barn with just a "few bubbles" imagine the car painted and back together having never got wet and then bubbles appear which is what happened to me
I might have suffered from it a tiny bit with my car (I think). There's a small section of the floor with two panels very close together, and that turned into a rusty bubble.
However, it's entirely possible that it has nothing to do with that at all as it would be a terrible rust trap anyway, and I had the car dipped the best part of nine years ago now so normal rusting is entirely possible.
However, it's entirely possible that it has nothing to do with that at all as it would be a terrible rust trap anyway, and I had the car dipped the best part of nine years ago now so normal rusting is entirely possible.
I don't want to name companies on here but they company that processed my car is well know.
The car was a rust free CA car...wanted it stripped of everything so was advised to dip.
I wasn't happy from the start once the car was completed ...I could see faint rust streaks coming from where inner and outer panels were welded together such as doors and bonnet etc
For this reason I vowed never to get the car wet...never even washing it but even then bubbles appeared particularly on the outside of the doors where acid hadn't been washed out from where the door carcass and skin fold around.
God knows what's going on within
I don't think I would mind getting your chassis done however but depends if its open both ends so it can be cleanly washed through
The car was a rust free CA car...wanted it stripped of everything so was advised to dip.
I wasn't happy from the start once the car was completed ...I could see faint rust streaks coming from where inner and outer panels were welded together such as doors and bonnet etc
For this reason I vowed never to get the car wet...never even washing it but even then bubbles appeared particularly on the outside of the doors where acid hadn't been washed out from where the door carcass and skin fold around.
God knows what's going on within
I don't think I would mind getting your chassis done however but depends if its open both ends so it can be cleanly washed through
Interesting. Was the shell e-coated ? Have seen people offering acid dips and then no e-coat, but a sprayed on primer leaving any box sections and the like rather unprotected I would have thought.
What was the time line and process on your car. How long between dip, repairs, e-caot ( if applicable ) and the paint ?
What was the time line and process on your car. How long between dip, repairs, e-caot ( if applicable ) and the paint ?
Try Enviro-Strip UK Ltd in Tamworth just had loads of panels dipped some very delicate.Results were great just give them a call and they will explain their process and the materials that they use and it is far superior to other companies mentioned.As previous people have mentioned and people i know have had panels and shells acid dipped and have been returned with major damage as if they had been treated like a piece of industrial scrap.
Andy
Andy
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