Liquid mettle

[sydduckett]

Just got my leg shields back from the blaster and theres a lot of rot and perforations where the floor runner channels sit. This was filled with filler previously and can be again but ideally I'd like to get some metal in there and was wondering what the options might be.

I was thinking of May be filling the dips with liquid metal and then gently grinding back, or maybe brazing which I don't really know much about although Ed had good result on a floor plan on wheeler dealers

[coaster]

Loading the area with lead might be possible but brazing will need a lot of heat (cherry red) over a wide area which could cause distortion/buckling. Brass is also very hard and will take a lot of grinding. I'd be tempted to use JB weld, it is very liquid and could be brushed out.

[sydduckett]

Loading the area with lead might be possible but brazing will need a lot of heat (cherry red) over a wide area which could cause distortion/buckling. Brass is also very hard and will take a lot of grinding. I'd be tempted to use JB weld, it is very liquid and could be brushed out.

When you say brushed in do you mean brushed into the pitting?

Ta

[goldeneye]

brass (brazing) isn't hard at all to dress with a flapper disc in a grinder. if your going to the hassle of brazing in a large area, you might as well cut out and Mig in a piece of steel to make a proper repair. if its had a skim of filler in (not git big chunks) I would just go with that , your gonna have to do that even if with some metal work repairs. I"m no bodywork expert though.

[sunrisemac]

Devcon also make liquid metal similar to JB Weld, but if you can lead load the panel IMHO that's the best solution

[GLscoot]

On a similar note, on last years project with the powder coat. Condensation has emerged under the powder coat coming from the seams on the Vespa and has started to rust, nothing major and should be ok for another year. My plan was to weld up the seams and get it powder coated again.

Does anyone have ideas on what to do as in welding the seams, Lead would be a nice option as would brazing, I like the fact that it would all be different, but I am worried about the heat distorting the frame.

[ducksta]

dont think you would get much distortion on the seams as it is probably the thickest part on a vespa, find a good gas welder looks great done right.

[coaster]

Loading the area with lead might be possible but brazing will need a lot of heat (cherry red) over a wide area which could cause distortion/buckling. Brass is also very hard and will take a lot of grinding. I'd be tempted to use JB weld, it is very liquid and could be brushed out.

When you say brushed in do you mean brushed into the pitting?

Yes, that's what I meant although it is slow to set unlike other epoxy mixes, several hours to 'stiffen up'. Therefore it will self level to an extent and will probably drip through any large holes so put some tape over the rear first

Lead loading would work if you can find someone to do it but sanding it smooth afterwards is likely to be VERY risky to yours and anyone else in the areas health.

I once tried brazing in a section on my LiS leggies, I was using a MAP gas torch which was capable of of getting the steel up to the temp required for the rod to melt and flow but the buckling was awful. I ended up cutting it out and mig welded another section in plus a fair bit of filler to compensate for the heat distortion If the are you want to repair is thin enough to have pinholes, it's likely that it will burn well before it is hot enough to melt the brazing rod

[mr series 2]

On a similar note, on last years project with the powder coat. Condensation has emerged under the powder coat coming from the seams on the Vespa and has started to rust, nothing major and should be ok for another year. My plan was to weld up the seams and get it powder coated again.

Does anyone have ideas on what to do as in welding the seams, Lead would be a nice option as would brazing, I like the fact that it would all be different, but I am worried about the heat distorting the frame.

I have de-seamed using lead with good results but only to paint over not sure if powder coat would take to lead

[GBCS]

Soft solder melts at 180 to 190 degrees C.
Powder coating cures at 170 to 180 degrees C.
Curing the powder could well melt the lead out.