We have a metal bathtub with porcelain coating that has developed a hole. This started out a few years back as cracked and then missing porcelain. We painted over it with some kind of repair paint, but it didn't really work too well.

Fast forward to last week when we discovered that it had rusted through.

Is there a good way to patch this hole, or is the tub going to have to be replaced?

Thanks,
Brian

 

You may want to try JBWeld. It is used to patch casings on machines that crack or break. After sanding smooth, you would need some type of enamel paint to cover it. May be able to use an appliance paint. The stores usually carry touch-up paint in small containers. This would buy you some time before having to replace the tub. If it is rusted through, it probably is a larger area than what you see now and will keep deteriorating. This is meant as a temporary thing, nothing permanent. Good luck.

 

How big is the hole and where is it?

 

The hole is smaller than a dime right now, but I know if I start poking around it will get much bigger. It is close to the top of the tub right below where it starts to radius onto the top. This is right above the drain lever at the foot end of the tub.

 

You need to poke around and get rid of all the loose stuff and rust. Sand away as much rust as you can and then us a rust cunverter to nuetralize what is left.prime both sides with an epoxty primer

If you have access to the back of the tub you could use the JBweld from the back with some fiberglass tape[drywall tape] to give you a "back" to keep the JBweld from going through when you put it in from the front.

Jb Weld is a good product to use as a foundation but as you build up the hole you should use something a little more sandable, like Bondo or Marine Tex from the autobody store.

After you get a foundation tape off around the hole and add the bondo or whatever and sand as required.

There is another way to get a permanent color that is better than trying to paint it if you want and that is by filling in the very top layer with some fiberglass repair from a kit they sell in the auto or boat places[not expensive].They give you colors to mix that will get you very close to a decent match and it will be shiny[you can dull it with scotch brite pad if the tub is dull]. It will withstand the water much better than any paint you can put on it.

What color is the tub?

 

The tub is an off white, I guess it is ivory or something. I can make the repair like on a car, but where would I buy the paint at?

 

The closest thing to what the pros use that you can but is boat paint [interlux] but it is expensive, You could use it with a prevail sprayer and get exellent results

. Go to this site and see if it helps. They have kits that you can do the repai with and color match the paint. You will need to use good paint unless you want to have it keep wearing off. Pretty quickly at the spot you nw=eed repaired.

http://bathwizard.com/faq.asp#BATH%2...0REPAIR%20KITS.