Recondition Underside Braces - Powdercoat or Bilt Hamber?

Technical Area Body, Interior & Styling
1

Afternoon all,

Need some advice as I’m in the process of treating and protecting my 2009 NC2 (33k miles). I’m using Aqua Steel to convert the rust, then using Bilt Hamber (or potentially Dinitrol).

I was dreading removing them, but they came off really easily and the braces are solid, so pleased with that. Would you recommend powder coating them or treat them? I’ve had mixed results in the past with powder coating, but also never used Bilt Hamber to know how durable it’ll be.

I guess the other option is to to treat them with Aqua Steel, then powder coat?

Also, can anyone advise how many S50 and UB aerosols I’ll need? I’m thinking 4x & 6x respectively?

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2

I’m all for the aqua steel, I’ve had great results in the past using it.

Used quite often in the marine industry.
I’d give them a sound powered wire brushing beforehand.

I’m not sure how powder coating would stand upto debris hitting it at speed ?

I’d go with a rust encapsulator (buzzweld or the likes) before a several coats of tough paint.
Then a final covering of dinitrol.

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Thanks for the tip on rust encapsulator. I better understand the difference and most crucially - " For the best protection, we suggest applying rust encapsulator over the converter and then applying the top coat."

4

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So this is Buzzweld rust encapsulator on my subframe.
This was applied after a stripping down to bare steel and aqua steel treatment.

Buzzweld I believe claim upto 10yr protection if correct prep has been carried out.

I then top coated with several coats of chassis or engine enamel paint , followed by dinitrol 4941.

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5

That looks really good, thanks for sharing.

Did you buy the 400ml aerosols? How many? I’d like to use Buzzweld on the sills and braces.

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Yeah I used the 400ml aerosols.
Think I bought 4 / 5 in total.
I did rear subframe, sills , rear arms, underside of boot and some front end work, inside of boot and floorpan inside of cabin.
That was three years back, the cans came with adjustable nozzle as well as spare nozzles.
I wasn’t shy on my coatings , got it on nice and heavy.
Buy a couple see how far it goes.
Untimatly it depends on how heavy a coating you want to apply.