Seat frames??

[Brandon Metzger]

I jut got my frames sandblased and ready to repaint. They were quit rusty. Is there any primer that will prevent the rust from comeing back. 99% of the rust is gone but there is always a little left and I wanted to know what will help prevent it from returning.

Secondly, Is there a way to separate the upper and lower seat tracks. Mine are still very very tough to move and I need to clean them a little more and get them slideing smoothly.

Thank you,
Brandon

[Terry F.]

Re: Seat frames??

I would have them powder coated gloss black. Regards, Terry

[Larry P.]

What year? *NM*

[Brandon Metzger]

Re: Seat frames??

I am sorry. I should have said.

The year is a '72.

I would powder coat them, however, I think that will be a bit pricey and I don't plan on showing them. Also, How will powder coating stop the rust from comeing back and free up the rails. I don't know anything about powder coating so maybe the process will do both, this is why I am asking.

Thanks,
Brandon

[Terry F.]

Re: Seat frames??

You have me confused. As I recall, the seat frame unbolts from the seat tracks. Seat tracks were probably either natural color or gray phosphate. You can't take them apart unless you have a torch. You have to drill or grind off the large rivet on the end of the track and then they slide apart. Big pain in the ass. You will need the torch to rivet them back together. If you are worried about rust comming back, I would powder coat them. It is a durable finish and totally resists rust. I have tractor wheels that I had done that way and I let them sit out year after year and NO RUST. Do comparison to paint.

Powder coating is very reasonable and is getting more so. If you are on a budget go ahead and buy some rustoleum and spray paint them. I don't think spray can primer is going to give you any more added protection from rust really. Water shouldn't be getting in there anyway, low buget or not.

[Tracy C.]

Re: Seat frames??

Brandon,

There is a product called POR15 availible that claims to be bulletproof with regard to stopping the rust process. Looks and applies like heavy paint. It cures very tough and essentially seals off the oxygen to the metal substrate.

Rust needs oxygen to thrive.

This product is very hard to remove, and many contributors on this board have said it is easliy detectable on surfaces viewable in the judging process.

For an application on your seat frame, this may be your answer. The seat frames will be covered with upholstery and never seen again.

However comma....

The insides of your seat frame tubing may also be rusted. Be sure to check this out and if need be, figure out a way to completely coat the inside of the frame tubes as well. Otherwise, they will continue to rust from the inside out.

good luck,
tc

[Brandon Metzger]

Re: Seat frames??

Terry, you are correct. the fram bolts to the rails. I did not know how they were put together which is why I was asking how they come apart. It does sound like a pain. I think I will skip it.

Tracy, I am not familar with any tubing on the '72 seat frame. Where are you referring to? Also where can you get this POR15, and do you brush it on or spray it on?

Thank you,
Brandon

[Joe L.]

Re: Seat frames??

Brandon-----

First, remove all the rust that you possibly can with a wire wheel or bead blasting. Next, apply a coating of a product called EXTEND and allow it to dry completely. You can purchase this in most hardware stores. Last, apply about 2 or 3 coats of a paint like Rustoleum and allow it to dry completely. You won't have a problem with rust again for your lifetime on the seat frames.

You can't do this with the seat rails, but they are nowhere near as subject to rusting as the seat frames. Clean them up as best you can and apply a coating of a product like Pre-Lube 6.

[Mike M.]

Re: Seat frames??

Joe: EXTEND, as you state, is unbelievable.The wife has an old golf cart she uses to feed the hens, fill bird feeders and otherwise find ways to deplete our retirement funds.I treated the rust battery boxes(six of them) when i bought the 15 year old golf cart 5 or 6 years ago.this old golf cart sits out all year. absolutely no oxidation anywhere the extend was applied after a good wire-brushing.One good product in a sea of rip-offs. regards, mike

[Terry F.]

Re: Seat frames??

Soak the seat tracks in some solvent. Dig aroun in them with a sraight piece of wire, blow them out with compressed air, lub them with white grease. Makes a world of a difference. Hang on to your seat when you adjust it next time. You can get a lot of the crud out of them.

I like Por1500 product. My friend showed me some of that stuff. I can't imagine what it is but it dries extremely hard and I believe recently I heard it comes in a spray can. I see it advertised in Hemmings. YOu can probably find in on the web. Terry

[Tracy C.]

Re: Seat frames??

Brandon,

Not familiar with your style of seat frame I guess. I'm a 63 guy. The link below will get you to the POR15 home page.

I've seen adds in Hemmings, Hot Rod, and the Restorer for this stuff.

good luck,
tc

http://www.por15.com/

[don izzo]

Re: Seat frames??

Go to any local autobody supply and ask for an aerosol spray can of sikkens zinc-chromate primmer.I use this on all my glass beaded metal parts for all my collector cars. For larger jobs I buy by the quart or gallon and spray with my spray gun. It is green in color. Just spray a light coat, thats all it takes. There is a chemical reaction between the primmer and the bare metal. Your parts will not rust again. When we painted my rust free 1956 Belair we first applied a coating over the entire car, then primmed and painted. That was 14 years ago and the car still looks like the day we took it out of the spray booth!

[Clare Carpenter]

Powder coat info/rust proofing solutions

There are many kinds of powder coats, epoxy, hybrid, polyurethane, acrylic, T.G.I.C, vinyl, nylon, etc. Most automotive type applications, which would typically be epoxy, or polyurethane (epoxy being the toughest), require curing temps in the 350 to 400 degree range for up to 30 minutes. If the substrate can't take the heat, then it can't be coated. Exceptions are other types of powder coatings for plastics, woods, etc., as mentioned above. Powder coats are applied electrostatically and then cured in the oven where the powder melts and flows. Advantages are many, but from your perspective it would be reasonable cost, toughness, and ability to flow into and give good coverage to hard to spray nooks and crannies. Like any top coat it requires the surface must be clean of any contamination, including rust, oil or grease, old paint, etc, if not, the coating will fail. Many coaters will want to do their own blasting and surface prep, which could also include preheating before coating, to insure a clean surface.

There is only one way to insure your frames are totally free of rust both inside and out before coating. That would be to have them chemically and electrolytically stripped, as in the Redi-Strip process. If you go this route make sure they are completely cleaned and neutralized by the stripper after the process. If you have an ecoating facility nearby have them ecoated and then topcoated with powder for the ultimate in protection. Paragon provides this service and may have an exchange program for your frames.

You could, (as mentioned) use a product like POR-15 to coat the seat frames after having the exterior sand blasted. You might be able to slop some inside the frame too. It flows real well and can be brushed. POR-15 is a multi-step product and requires their metal etch for best results. BEWARE, it's messy and requires the use of a respirator ESPECIALLY if sprayed. It doesn't have UV resistance so if exposed to sunlight it needs to be topcoated, they have chassis black for those applications. It can't be top coated with regular paint, as it won't stick. POR-15 works by encapsulating and converting the rust. You might also want to look into a product called Rust Bullet, similar to POR-15 but a tougher, one step product that works in a similar fashion. It is silver so it definately needs to be topcoated. Unlike POR-15 it has excellant adhesion and compatability properties for a variety of top coats. Neither POR-15 nor Rust Bullet can be top coated with powders.