Cleaning & de-rusting awkward corners

Post by **Cam** » Wed Oct 20, 2004 1:40 pm

I was thinking of buying something like a Dremel for cleaning & de-rusting awkward to get to corners (like where the inner wing panel meets the lower bulkhead & tie plate).

My usual method for de-rusting & cleaning to bare metal is an angle grinder with a cup-brush on it, but I can't get into corners with that!! So I thought I'd try a smaller version.

However.......... is this the best method, or is nitromors, or some other method better? I thought about shot/media blasting but I would like to do it myself and I don't have a compressor and don't fancy sending the entire shell off to be done!

I was also wondering about the area behind the front bumper-mount (where is meets the inner wing). That area there (in-between the bumper mount and the flitch) seems a nightmare to get to.

Any ideas folks?

Post by **d_harris** » Wed Oct 20, 2004 1:42 pm

you're normally the font of wisdom for this sort of stuff cam..............

Post by **Cam** » Wed Oct 20, 2004 1:49 pm

Dan_Harris wrote:you're normally the font of wisdom for this sort of stuff cam..............

Yes, but I want to get it as perfect as I can!! de-rusting the underside of cars that will be painted non-body colour and not critisised or doing flat panels is no problem!! But derusting awkward corners I can't get at is a problem!! I just wondered what other folks did!!

If I was asked the question I would probably recommend a Dremel or shot/media blasting.............. maybe that's the answer then!!

thanks Dan!!

Post by **Pyoor_Kate** » Wed Oct 20, 2004 2:01 pm

Well, I dunno if they're any good, but some of the pressure washers at B&Q had an optional sand-blasting attachment. That could perhaps be an option?

Post by **Cam** » Wed Oct 20, 2004 2:08 pm

REALLY????

Well, my mate has a pressure washer.......... I feel a Heath Robinson funnel & sand job coming on!

How we laughed on the way to the accident unit.....................

Post by **Kevin** » Wed Oct 20, 2004 2:08 pm

Cam I have a Wizard its the Black & Decker version of the Dremel and although I have found it useful for awkward household jods I dont know how well the bits would hold up when use on a car, it might also be worth looking at a flexible chuck for a drill (as thats all the dremel really is) and seeing what stones ect could be used in one.

Post by **Cam** » Wed Oct 20, 2004 2:21 pm

Not a bad idea, Kevin. What I really want is a small Dremel sized rotary wire brush, then I could buy one of those and fit it into the end of a flexible chuck I suppose.

I don't want to use grinding stones, or sanding discs really, just the rotary wire brushes:

I wonder if Frost do something similar......

Post by **Cam** » Wed Oct 20, 2004 2:52 pm

This might do it:

Apparently it's called a Ruftuf End Brush (with a 20dia 6mm shank). Anyone ever used one?

Post by **edjones** » Wed Oct 20, 2004 3:35 pm

When doing the corners of my engine bay I used a wire brush, like the one on the left in your pics, on a drill. Seemed to do a good job. Plus my drill has a small torch so you can sort of see what you are doing if the inspection light can't get too near.

Cheers

Post by **Cam** » Wed Oct 20, 2004 3:36 pm

Thanks Ed. Did you mean the cup brush or the Ruftuf End Brush?

Post by **edjones** » Wed Oct 20, 2004 3:48 pm

The cup brush was the way I went. I haven't heard of a Ruftuf brush!
I have used my wire brush an awful lot and it still works fairly well too!

Cheers

Post by **Cam** » Wed Oct 20, 2004 3:50 pm

Cheers Ed! I have nearly worn through my 2nd wire cup brush and my 1st straight twisted brush........ I was worred about getting right into the corners though as I didn't think it was possible with the cup brush, but I'll see how it goes.......

Post by **edjones** » Wed Oct 20, 2004 3:55 pm

Hmmm if you get one with fairly long wires, like mine, you should be ok. Staring at the picture of the brush I think that mine may possibly be slightly longer, just a thought!

Post by **polo2k** » Wed Oct 20, 2004 4:55 pm

You can usually rent compressors fairly cheeply
either that or get a dremal accesory kit with the brust you want and then a flexible drive extention on a drill

Post by SR » Wed Oct 20, 2004 5:22 pm

get that ol wood chisel in there mate with some elbow grease, and make like a fiddlers elbow!!!!

Post by **d_harris** » Wed Oct 20, 2004 6:41 pm

Cam wrote:REALLY????

Well, my mate has a pressure washer.......... I feel a Heath Robinson funnel & sand job coming on!

How we laughed on the way to the accident unit.....................

Umm, thats essentially all the karcher kit is, a tube which sticks into a big bucket of grit.....

Fairly useless really

Post by **bigginger** » Wed Oct 20, 2004 7:59 pm

The Dremel with wire brush isn't much good for removing heavy rust, for that the attatchment for engraving and the stones are good. The brush is excellent sor getting rid of light rust and just the job for pokey places. If you're buying one, get a dremel, I've used B&D, Draper etc, they all broke after not too long.

Post by **Cam** » Wed Oct 20, 2004 9:00 pm

I might get a Dremel with a 'kit' of stones, etc then if the twisted wire brush method does not get in there. Thank folks! Rust treatment prior to etch priming then? If so, which do folks use? I was going to go for the green stuff from Halfords that Chris has used (can't remember which make it is now but I would recognise the pot by sight!!!).

Post by **Chris Morley** » Wed Oct 20, 2004 9:15 pm

The green goo is great, but you do need to clean it off afterwards - which might be difficult in tight nooks & crannies.

Post by **Peetee** » Wed Oct 20, 2004 9:59 pm

Cam, I don't think a Dremel would have the power to derust a corner of your car. I have a hobbycraft drill and it's fine, with the right bits, for polishing combustion chambers but it really struggles with a wire bit.
your best bet would probably be a 'normal' mains drill with a pointed wire head shaped like a artists brush.