I submitted a questions to the Vans AirForce Forum on a back
rivet plate. I asked about cold steel vs stainless steel. I also asked how to
keep the cold steel from rusting. Everyone came back with a recommendation for
cold steel, and most said a light coating of WD-40 prevents rust. So I ordered 3/8" x 6" x 24"
cold rolled steel bar from Metal Supermarkets and picked it up on my way home
from work. Had an interesting phone conversation with the owner of Anderson
Anodizing in St. Albert. I called him looking to see what the charges might be
to have the aluminum alodined for me (I have serious concerns of my abilities
to alodine the parts at home....both during the winter time, and in safe
handling/disposal of the Alodine) His recommendations to me was that he did not
feel that the alodine was necessary. His concerns were more for the proper
cleaning of the aluminum so as to allow good adhesion of the primer. He agreed
that the 2 part epoxy was a great choice and that it would help prevent
corrosion. After reading Vans
recommendations on priming coupled with
my recent conversations. I have decided that MY best option for priming
the interior is a very careful prep and clean of aluminum parts followed by two
thin coats of epoxy primer (the overall weight of 2 part epoxy being a concern
too). I'm glad that I have finally come to a consensus on the primer....It has
been haunting me for the last week!
