Power Kite Forum

waterproofing a buggy

shortlineflyer - 20-6-2010 at 10:57 AM

right now i am living at the beach for the summer. therefore when i buggy i end up going in the ocean alot. It turtns out that stainless stell will rust some in salt water. the other day i had an idea about how i could waterproof a buggy.

use large diameter heat shring over the metal tubes. then seal the ends with silicone or something else that is a good water sealant.

then use grease that is meant for boating to grease the bolts nuts and bearings on the buggy so that the inside of the axel wont rust and so that the bolts and bearings wont rust.

let me know what you think.
i have not tried this out yet.

indigo_wolf - 20-6-2010 at 01:02 PM

Any condensation that forms underneath the heat shrink tubing will still cause rust it will just be that you won't be able to see it.

It will also make it hard for you to spot any structurual damage that the buggy might sustain.

If the buggy is stainless, I think Angus said that rust is forming due to impurities in the steel and is best dealt with WD-40 and fine steel wool.

The grease treatment of the bolts, nuts, and axle sounds fine.

ATB,
Sam

acampbell - 20-6-2010 at 01:36 PM

Uh huh, what Sam said. Stainless will corrode badly when covered like that. Sounds like you have a Peter Lynn Buggy. They are fine but the SS they use is not completely homogeneous and has small ferrous inclusions that will cause rust splotches over time. This is only cosmetic and not structural. Bobby here taught me the WD-40 and fine steel wool (000 or 0000) trick. Works like a champ.

Just spray the whole buggy with fresh water hose once in a while and then when dry, shoot the outside of the bearings with Teflon spray from the bike shop

If you have to leave it out, most damage will come from the UV light on the seat, destroying it faster than you would think, so get a cheap plastic opaque tarp and bungees and cover it .

action jackson - 20-6-2010 at 03:18 PM

Stay out of the water! A handfull of sand will remove the rust..........aj

WELDNGOD - 20-6-2010 at 03:50 PM

the nickel in 316L attracts the iron in seawater to it (on a molecular level causing rusty stains on it. It is not corrosion per say, more a coating that is easily removed. If you want to plasticize your buggy ,just get it powdercoated.

shortlineflyer - 20-6-2010 at 04:30 PM

can i powdercoat it myself or do i need to take it somewhere

WELDNGOD - 20-6-2010 at 04:36 PM

how big is your oven?

rocfighter - 21-6-2010 at 04:57 AM

I have said it before. I lack favorability( is that a word?) for powder coating. We see it go bad so often in the trucking buisness. On small crack or chip and all hell breaks out under it. It is a plastic type coating and will do the same thing as shrink wrap. I say WD40 after water dipping. It is a known disperser and we use it when off roading when we get water in the cap and rotor. Yeah we go that deep!!!

KYTE SLINGER - 21-6-2010 at 06:02 AM

polish up the frame to were all the little imperfections scratches tend to be the first place that surface rust will show up....... i haven't cleaned up one of my buggys in over 2 years and just a small amount of rust is visible just under the foot pegs

that or you can duracoat the frame ...the same stuff that they use to seal up the back of pickup beds.... easy to use just roll it on and ta-da.......... great stuff for the home made steal frames .....we use it on all the lumber racks at work

popeyethewelder - 21-6-2010 at 10:49 AM

Stainless, is exactly that....it will stain less...but eventually it will rust...316 stainless is the marine grade and will stand up to salt water better than 304....but the cost of 316 is much higher.

All my buggies are made with 304 and I 99.99% of the time use beaches...just get into the habit of power washing the buggy after each beach session...make it part and parcel of your buggy trip....it takes less than a minute to do, then get an old towel and dry it, this will remove any water marks and keep your buggy in top condition.

arkay - 21-6-2010 at 11:30 AM

Dip the buggy in this stuff?



I just wash mine off with fresh water

indigo_wolf - 22-6-2010 at 05:22 AM

Not sure how tongue in cheek Arkay's response was, but early morning propellor beanie spinning... ;)

If Plasti-Dip, Plasti-Dip UV not the regular stuff. Use Plasti-Dip Primer first. For a buggy, spray would probably work better than dip or brush. Due to viscosity a pressure pot is recommeneded (siphon cup not recommended) when spraying.

Details here.

Personal preference is for bare finishes where possible and matte is even better.

ATB,
Sam

bigben91682 - 22-6-2010 at 02:47 PM

What about Line-X?

It's usually used as a spray on truck bed-liner but it can be sprayed on anything, and there are shops all over the place.

silvereaglekiter - 22-6-2010 at 02:53 PM

Line-x + round stock = $$$$$$$$$$$
I had the same thoughts but Line-x figures cost by materiel sprayed including over spray

indigo_wolf - 22-6-2010 at 02:57 PM

I assume Line-X is like Rhino (which is now apparently available in 3 flavors)?

Not sure what they would charge you or if you would have to wait for a response until the recovered from shock/a case of the giggles.

ATB,
Sam

WELDNGOD - 22-6-2010 at 03:34 PM

They get asked to line-x all kinds of stuff, so they would be laughing.But ,what Nick said is true. It would be several hunderd bucks fo sho

indigo_wolf - 22-6-2010 at 04:28 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by WELDNGOD
It would be several hunderd bucks fo sho


:o And then suddenly it hits <* insert thwacking sound... palm to forehead *>....

That's NOT rust!!! That's natural abstract buggy decoration from the water gods.

Hundreds saved :thumbup:

Unbeknowst to you, the universe was conspiring with you on your next kite purchase.

Twofur!!! Time to send to dog to fetch a six pack to celebrate...woo hoo.

The neighbors see you dancing in your underwear through the window and immediately call the authorities knowing that you have finally lost it and fearing for their lives.

You dog, knowing where things are headed... hides underneath the bed.... he's not suffering another prison meal on your account. Man's best friend is all well and good, but there are limits...

ATB,
Sam

WELDNGOD - 22-6-2010 at 04:34 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by indigo_wolf
Quote:
Originally posted by WELDNGOD
It would be several hunderd bucks fo sho




That's NOT rust!!! That's natural abstract buggy decoration from the water gods.
:thumbup:




thats PATINA, people pay extra for that kind of artsy farsty kind of stuff