Protect Vespa from rust and preserve it properly

Hardly a Vespa owner who will not sooner or later wonder how the Vespa can be protected from rust and how existing rust should be treated in order to preserve the condition of the Vespa as best as possible and to keep the sheet metal condition in good condition for as long as possible.

This post shows the different corrosion levels of rust, the common methods of rust removal, and also the best methods for preserving rust-free metal. So that the joy of the Vespa lasts a long time. From personal experience...

The Formation of Rust

Rust occurs when iron reacts with water in the presence of oxygen from the air. This reaction is called oxidation. A very precise explanation can be found on www.chemie.de. Rust also occurs when a less noble metal such as the steel sheet frame comes into contact with a more noble metal such as a stainless steel screw from a chemical point of view. This process is called galvanic corrosion.

Assessment of the Strength of Rust

To get rid of rust and develop appropriate strategies for successful preservation, a correct assessment of rust infestation is necessary. Rust infestation can be classified into three corrosion levels.

Surface Rust

Surface rust of corrosion level 1 is sometimes also referred to as surface rust. With this corrosion level, the rust can be easily removed by rubbing or sanding. The sheet metal shows no scarring after rust removal.

Advanced Rust

With advanced corrosion of grade 2, the surface structure of the metal is already noticeably affected. Rust nests make rust removal more difficult. However, there are no through-rusts after rust removal.

Severe Rust

With severe corrosion of grade 3, the metal has severe scarring. The sheet metal flakes off, and in some cases, there are even through-rusts. Here, the affected sheet metal must be replaced on a large scale.

The Different Methods of Rust Removal

Mechanical Rust Removal

Rust can also be removed with mechanical and chemical methods. Below you will learn why mechanical rust removal is preferable to chemical rust removal.

Safety note: When using acids and alkalis, the safety regulations of the respective products must be observed. Disposal note: The waste from working with chemical products must be disposed of properly. Almost every city has a collection point for waste products that accepts them free of charge and disposes of them properly. In many cities, there is a hazardous waste collection vehicle that accepts waste in all districts at least once a month.

Rust Removal with Sandblasting

The most effective mechanical method of rust removal is sandblasting. When choosing a sandblasting company, make sure that the company has experience with sheet metal bodies. Some sandblasters have no experience with the thin sheet metal of Vespa frames and usually only work on containers with thick sheet metal. The result can be imagined...

Rust Removal with Sandpaper

Rust removal with sandpaper only makes sense for corrosion level 1. The sanding pad can be a good alternative to sandpaper on curves because it conforms better to curves such as those in the flutes. For advanced rust, even sandpaper attached to a drill may not be sufficient.

Rust Removal with Wire Brush

The wire brush attachment mounted on an angle grinder is a commonly used means of rust removal. The removal rate is quite high. Due to its robustness, the wire brush is particularly suitable for processing edges.

Rust Removal with the CSD Disc

The CSD disc is a carbon fiber disc glued with epoxy, which is also sold as "Grauholz Vario Disc". The disc is particularly suitable for removing thick layers of paint and rust from large areas, such as in the inner area of the frame and side panel. The CSD disc is best used with an angle grinder at about 800 revolutions per minute.

Chemical Rust Removal

There are also various chemicals for rust removal. Phosphoric acid, for example, is used to remove rust. However, acids attack the sheet metal as well as the rust. Therefore, the rust removal with acids is not recommended. Especially not for Vespa frames with thin sheet metal.

With very strong rust, it may happen that the sheet metal is largely eaten away by the rust. In this case, the rust can no longer be removed. The Vespa sheet metal must then be replaced over a large area. Depending on the model, the corresponding spare parts are available in the shop.

In most cases, chemical rust removal is not necessary. Mechanical rust removal is usually sufficient.

Preservation of the Metal

To prevent rust from forming again, the metal must be preserved immediately after rust removal. The metal surface should be painted as soon as possible after rust removal. A clean and grease-free metal surface is important for the paint to hold. At the Shop, there are original colors available as touch-up paint in spray cans. In addition, special two-component fillers can be used to fill in deep pits in the sheet metal.

Conclusion

Rust removal is not rocket science, but it requires some understanding and the right tools. A sheet metal body can be freed from rust with mechanical methods. The metal surface must be painted immediately after rust removal. In this way, the sheet metal of the Vespa can be preserved in the best possible way and the joy of the Vespa can last for many years.