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Paying for rust repairs? Cost?

Started by _dansedgli_ , Feb 16 2006 07:46 PM

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22 replies to this topic

#1 _dansedgli_

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Posted 16 February 2006 - 07:46 PM

hi guys,

Im getting over working on my car at the moment.

I have taken the lower panels back to bare metal to reveal rust holes in the front bumper panel, both side panels behind the front wheel arches and sills and both panels behind the back wheels.

My floor pans are also out at the moment. I can probably do these myself, carpet covers crappy welding

Does anyone have a rough ballpark figure as to what a panel shop would charge to fix these problems properly and not bog them?

Edited by dansedgli, 16 February 2006 - 07:46 PM.

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#2 _CHOPPER_

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Posted 16 February 2006 - 08:31 PM

Might be best to posts some pics.

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#3 _Herne_

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Posted 16 February 2006 - 09:29 PM

You could try asking forum member CHEVED for a quote, he lives in Shepparton and can fix any amount of rust. I am not sure how interested CHEVED would be but it's worth sending him some photo's and asking, he diid a tremendous job on my sons hatch which I have since inherited...

Cheers
Herne

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#4 _Pete_

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Posted 16 February 2006 - 10:03 PM

The shop i work for refuses to take on rust work nowadays, its only ever done as a favour to either really long term customers (our shop has been in business 40+yrs) or people who we trade with (ie. mechanics,steering specialist etc).

From what i know of shops who do take on rust work, up here in QLD majority charge a flat rate of $50/hr for however long it takes. Its hard as a customer who has to fork out the money at the end as its impossible to know how long it will take because.

1. rust is almost always worse than it first appears

2. How fast the tradesman decides to work that day (most enjoy a good bludge)

3. how far do you go?

The best advice is to either do it yourself, find someone willing to take it on who comes recommended (like herne recommended Chev) or place your trust in someone who tells you they can do it for a price you like.

If you do find a shop willing to take it on i think the best way to avoid the cost being blown out is to try and see if they're happy for you to strip the paint or remove the panel so everyone has a good idea of whats involved and it has more chance of being quoted properly.

Try and remember workshops arent in business to make friends with people by spending 2 days doing a $80 rust repair so that it can be guaranteed, and the shops that typically take on rust/restoration work really love the customers who arent afraid to shell out the big bucks with no questions asked.

It sucks, thats why the best way will be to try and rejuvenate yourself and be prepared to tackle the job yourself, enrol in a TAFE course to enhance your skills and also buy some nice tools.

At least you'll know its done properly!!!!

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#5 _CHOPPER_

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Posted 16 February 2006 - 10:11 PM

I remember with my HZ, there was a very small rust spot near the windscreen that wouldn't pass RWC. So I decide to do it myself. What started as a 5 cent size hole, became a $100 note size hole very quickly.

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#6 _gstar_

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Posted 16 February 2006 - 10:20 PM

This is something i am going to give a go in the near future. what sort of power do i want to use on the stick welder? before i warp steel and make big holes

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#7 _CHOPPER_

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Posted 16 February 2006 - 10:25 PM

If you don't know how to set up the welder, go to TAFE and learn everything they teach you.

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#8 _Pete_

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Posted 16 February 2006 - 10:36 PM

Theres really no way a Stick (ARC welder) is going to be able to weld panel steel without creating bigger holes.

Most convenient is using a MIG welder, or a Oxy to weld the patch in place if your familiar welding with one, or if you have a nice little inverter TIG welder and some talent they produce a nice weld too.

If your a little bit inexperienced welding thin stuff then use a MIG.

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#9 _gstar_

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Posted 16 February 2006 - 10:43 PM

If you don't know how to set up the welder, go to TAFE and learn everything they teach you.

pfft, im not going to tafe, why not anytime someone asks for advise on a engine or whatever, you tell them to "go to tafe". or "go see a mehanic" :finger:

Edited by gstar, 16 February 2006 - 10:46 PM.

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#10 _gstar_

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Posted 16 February 2006 - 10:45 PM

cheers pete, ill borrow a mig

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#11 lakeside

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Name:Col
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Posted 17 February 2006 - 02:31 PM

$1000 dollar every second day. I'm a sparky and can do it. floor inner inner 2 front window floor 2 front window 2 firewall, heater gone firewall under in 2pak inside 2pak prime rear window

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#12 lakeside

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Posted 17 February 2006 - 02:57 PM

$1000 dollar every second day. I'm a sparky and can do it. My work is better than a panel beaters
floor
inner
front window
inner
rear window
front window 2
under car
inside
heater gone. This a car with 80,000 on it. Hard to find this good. It owes me $5000 rolling with 9inch, Pay $2000 drove home. My mates is doing dents next week. Three days, and he hates bog. Had one 50cent hole front guard, only rust in panels

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#13 _Yella SLuR_

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Posted 17 February 2006 - 03:11 PM

If you don't know how to set up the welder, go to TAFE and learn everything they teach you.
pfft, im not going to tafe, why not anytime someone asks for advise on a engine or whatever, you tell them to "go to tafe". or "go see a mehanic" :finger:

Unfortunately it can't be learn't by osmosis.

TAFE (Adult Education) usually have really good Car Restoration courses, which include panel/rust repair and welding as an added bonus. Best course I ever did. Total commitment for both modules is like 10 weeks, one night a week, no assessment.

Alternatively, you can get the Gregory's Panel Repair book ($25ish) from Supercheap. Has all the theory, but none of the practice which you need to do a good job.

Edited by Yella SLuR, 17 February 2006 - 03:12 PM.

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#14 surfmaster

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Posted 17 February 2006 - 03:47 PM

If you don't know how to set up the welder, go to TAFE and learn everything they teach you.
pfft, im not going to tafe, why not anytime someone asks for advise on a engine or whatever, you tell them to "go to tafe". or "go see a mehanic" :finger:
Unfortunately it can't be learn't by osmosis.

TAFE (Adult Education) usually have really good Car Restoration courses, which include panel/rust repair and welding as an added bonus. Best course I ever did. Total commitment for both modules is like 10 weeks, one night a week, no assessment.

Alternatively, you can get the Gregory's Panel Repair book ($25ish) from Supercheap. Has all the theory, but none of the practice which you need to do a good job.

Its good advice, spending a little cash to learn the skills needed for restroing cars could save you a lot of time and money down the track........

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#15 _gstar_

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Posted 17 February 2006 - 10:47 PM

Unfortunately it can't be learn't by osmosis.

TAFE (Adult Education)

osmosis, wtf? isnt that when you listen to hypnotysim tapes while you sleep?

AH so thats what tafe is! thanks yella, i have been living in a cave so i never new hahaha

Seriously, i have had some welding exp. mostley stick welding on bulky shit. after a bit of practice, trial and error, i shouldnt have a problem doing it.

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#16 lakeside

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Name:Col
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Posted 18 February 2006 - 12:20 AM

Get in the shed and starting welding, only way to learn. I'm lucky, I know 10 very good welder, they all are very good at different aways. I do 50% of my work fixing roofing machines, folders, gilos, etc. Anyday I can get something folded, cut or welded spot-on, stuff it start again. The only time I let a panelbeat near my car, he stuffed it and i was watch him do it. He done it near 2yrs ago and i'm still pissed with him. I tell every week panel beater are rough as, he thinks i'm joking.

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#17 _JBird_

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Posted 18 February 2006 - 09:49 PM

Hey Yella how much is that car resto course!?

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#18 _Yella SLuR_

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Posted 18 February 2006 - 10:06 PM

$270-320 per module. There's two modules.

First one you make a hubcap, learn to oxy weld, and make a wheel chock.

Second module you get a door, and they hit it with sledge hammers, run a chisel through it, cut corners off to simulate rust repair, etc.

First one establishes the basic skills, second unit puts em into practice with real life examples, oh and MIG welding.

Doing the course gives you the confidence to tackle things like this:- http://www.canberrat...ges/xu1/xu1.htm

I believe he did a similar course. He had no previous industry or panel beating experience. Redslur will correct me if I'm wrong on that.

Edited by Yella SLuR, 18 February 2006 - 10:11 PM.

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#19 _Yella SLuR_

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Posted 18 February 2006 - 10:08 PM

Seriously, i have had some welding exp. mostley stick welding on bulky shit. after a bit of practice, trial and error, i shouldnt have a problem doing it.

Hehehehe, that's what I thought. Sheet metal is totally different, nowhere near as tolerant. I didn't know how to weld for shit before I did the course.

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#20 _dansedgli_

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Posted 19 February 2006 - 03:53 PM

Thanks for all the advice and offers guys. I have taken a few days off and regained my motivation.

Im going to repair the rust panels myself and take the car to a panel beater to have the door pins removed.

My spare LJ has nearly perfect panels in all the areas where mine have been repaired in a half assed way so it shouldnt be too much of a drama to fix.

So hopefully in a weeks time all the panels are sorted and the panel to bog ratio is much better than before.

I already hacked up the kick panel, sill and right front guard panel. The 4 door is going to look a little worse for wear but thats what it is for!

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#21 _JBird_

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Posted 20 February 2006 - 11:08 AM

good on ya dan
post up pics in the projects section during or afterwards!

looks like ill be signing up for one of these welding courses =D

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#22 _SSkid_

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Posted 25 February 2006 - 03:55 PM

$1000 dollar every second day. I'm a sparky and can do it.

i had a sparky dodgy up my wiring i can do it better myself... a sparky will never touch my wires again they are rough.... those pictures aren't anything special thats what panel beaters do everyday... and i could pick some faults in the work to

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#23 lakeside

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Name:Col
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Posted 25 February 2006 - 10:43 PM

$1000 dollar every second day. I'm a sparky and can do it.
i had a sparky dodgy up my wiring i can do it better myself... a sparky will never touch my wires again they are rough.... those pictures aren't anything special thats what panel beaters do everyday... and i could pick some faults in the work to

It will cost u $10-50,000 to play with your own wiring. Your right 99% of electrians are rough and have no idea. Most of them should stick to wiring powerpoints, and it's to hard for some. Most people don't even know they are rough, they have no idea. It's just life, if the person who is the teacher has no idea, how do the kids learn the right way. I was lucky, had a very smart boss. If your 20yrs old and good at a trade, you will be worth a gold mine in years to come.

My car, if it was hard I would do it. I cut and tack the bit in, not hard with the right tools sometimes. Can't panel beat or paint, so I don't do it, going soon I hope. The wifes, ss hatchback is going to her friend, he is as good as they come, and will cost.