Hello everyone,

I'm currently working on my truck. I'm using a grinder to remove rust on the bottom of my doors. My question is that are the sparks that fly everywhere dangerous? I really don't want a fire.

 

Probably not. However, if you are concerned about the possibility of a fire, cover the area or parts that are in line with the flying sparks with a wet towel. That should take care of any flying sparks.

 

Other than plastic and skin, normally not. Of course you are staying away from fuel lines.

 

Just to explain this in detail, I am grinding off the bottom of my doors from the inside. Thus, sparks fly everywhere in the cab and under the truck. I am just a little worried here. Don't want to burn my seats.

So, I guess I will be laying a damp towel on the seats and such to cover the sensitive areas.

Also, what kind of putty would you guys recommend? I have a few unequal areas on the bottom of my doors. I also have to fix a hole 0n my sister's Hyundai. The rust ate right thru the sideskirts and it is nasty. I would like to fix this for her so that her car stays in one piece. Lol.

 

Throwing filler in a rust hole is nothing but a shoddy temporary fix. It will keep rotting out around it, and the filler will just fall out after a while.

 

Watch the sparks on the glass!!! Grinder sparks will seriously pit glass.

 

Use Eye Protection!!!!!


Also, if you aren't going to replace the metal, then at least check out POR15 from Restomotive Labs. Good stuff and it does work.

 

To answer your question, yes, the sparks can damage anything that is flammable, and some parts that are not (as in the glass previously noted). Flammable items can burn or melt. If you've ever felt this stuff on your skin, you'll understand. Protect anything you're concerned about.

 

Allright, I will protect the stuff around with damp towels. I am not really worried about the chassis and stuff. That can survive heat.

And yes I got those pesky sparks on me. They burn.

The goal here is to remove ALL the rust. Then, fill holes and cracks with putty.

 

watch the fuel tank , keep the fuel cap on and watch the fuel lines and brake lines ! keep a squirt bottle of water handy or a fire extinguisher just in case ! ALSO WHEN YOU ARE DONE AT NIGHT CHECK ON IT FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS AFTER YOUR FINISHED JUST TO MAKE SURE NOTHING HAS SMOLDERED FOR A WHILE BEFORE BED TIME ! you dont want to wake up in the middle of the night with a burning truck out side your front door !

 

I will difinetly do that.

 

Yes you have to remove all the rust, but, you need to use a rust inhibitor before you start with the putty, and for large areas, you don't want to use the putty. Putty is only good for small holes and blemishes. For larger areas, you need to apply a new panel. You can get new sheet metal and form if to the right shape then bond it with a glue made for the purpose. Also most often the rust started because water got trapped either inside the panel or it got behind the paint. Find out how the water get in, and make sure that if it does get in, that it can drain back out.

 

True story, yesterday I was grinding on a stripped bolt on my motorcycle. I had the carbs off and a terry cloth rag stuffed into the intakes for the motor. It caught one of the rags on fire. So in short, yes, be careful!