Stainless Steel Chassis - Paint Or Not..?

[Guest Ant]

I'm in no way biased, but it just makes a better class of car!

 

Seriously - All stainless will rust EVENTUALLY, but we're talking hundreds (or even thousands) of years here, not days like mild. If they've used stainless weld then apart from a bit of surface tarnishing it'll be fine.

 

Ant

[Guest mickmellors]

The iron content in the stainless used in the tubing on the 2B comes to the surface of the molten weld pool by a process referred to as 'migration'. It is this that rusts. It can be dealt with before it becomes a problem quite easily.

 

It is highly unlikely that rust will erupt on the non-welded tube. My professional involvement with stainless has shown that certain acids (eg Hydrofloric - used to 'pickle' welds on piping systems) can cause a brown dicolouration but it is highly unlikely that your car will come into contact with such acids.

 

I have the stainless chassis. The first work I did on the build was to go over every bit of every weld with an grinder fitted with a flap-wheel disk ( fantastic tool ) to smooth everything out nicely. When I was happy with the whole chassis I lifted it up onto 3 upturned milk crates and sprayed 3 light coats of aerosol laquer on each weld all the way round.

 

Admittedly i am still building and the chassis has never been out of the garage but there is absolutely no sign of rust anywhere.

 

Of course I cant get at the INSIDE of the tube to treat the welds but I estimate it will take several decades before rust reduces my chassis to an unsafe condition so I'll settle for making sure I warn my great grandchildren to keep an eye out for problems in the future when they inherit the car !

 

Mick M

[Guest Battery Bill]

Hi all

I have got some spare stainless for filling my gaps!

Its called my kinked side panel. Only £75 for that sheet.