Restoring classic cars or tackling extensive auto body work often requires methods that go beyond simple sanding and painting. For enthusiasts and professionals alike, acid dipping car parts is a crucial step in achieving a pristine, rust-free finish. If you’re searching for “Acid Dipping Car Parts Near Me,” you’re likely looking to remove years of rust, paint, and grime to get down to the bare metal. This process not only cleans but also strengthens the metal, providing an ideal base for further restoration work, including e-coating for lasting protection.
This guide will navigate you through the process of finding reputable acid dipping services and understanding the benefits of pairing it with e-coating. We’ll also provide a directory of potential service providers to kickstart your search for “acid dipping car parts near me.”
Understanding Acid Dipping for Car Parts
Acid dipping, also known as chemical stripping, is a process where car parts, typically body panels and frames, are submerged in a chemical solution to remove rust, paint, body filler, and other contaminants. This method is far more thorough than manual methods like sandblasting, especially for intricate parts and hard-to-reach areas.
Benefits of Acid Dipping:
- Complete Rust Removal: Acid dipping reaches every nook and cranny, ensuring complete removal of rust, even in areas you can’t see or access.
- Paint and Filler Removal: Effectively strips away old paint, body filler, and sealants, leaving bare metal ready for restoration.
- Reduced Warping: Unlike abrasive methods, chemical stripping minimizes the risk of warping or damaging thin metal panels.
- Prepares for E-coating: Acid-dipped parts are perfectly clean and ready for e-coating, ensuring optimal adhesion and protection.
The Importance of E-Coating After Acid Dipping
While acid dipping cleans and prepares the metal, it leaves it bare and susceptible to flash rust. This is where e-coating (electrophoretic coating), also known as electrocoating or ecoating, becomes essential. E-coating is a process where a thin layer of paint is applied to metal parts using an electrical current. This results in a uniform, durable, and corrosion-resistant coating that reaches all surfaces, inside and out.
Benefits of E-Coating:
- Superior Corrosion Protection: E-coating provides exceptional rust protection, extending the lifespan of your restored parts.
- Uniform Coating: Ensures even coating thickness across the entire part, including complex shapes and cavities.
- Excellent Adhesion: E-coat bonds strongly to the bare metal, creating a robust and long-lasting finish.
- Ideal Primer Base: E-coating serves as a perfect primer for subsequent painting, ensuring excellent topcoat adhesion and finish quality.
Finding “Acid Dipping Car Parts Near Me”: What to Look For
Searching for “acid dipping car parts near me” can be challenging. Not all auto restoration shops offer this specialized service, and even fewer provide both acid dipping and e-coating in-house. Here’s what to consider when looking for a service provider:
- Specialization: Look for companies that specialize in automotive restoration or metal cleaning and explicitly offer acid dipping or chemical stripping for car parts.
- E-coating Availability: Ideally, find a facility that offers both acid dipping and e-coating services. This streamlines the process and ensures compatibility between the cleaning and protective coating stages. If not available at the same place, inquire about recommended e-coating facilities.
- Experience and Reputation: Check online reviews and ask for references. Experience in handling classic car bodies and delicate parts is crucial.
- Pricing and Turnaround Time: Get quotes for your specific project, considering the size and number of parts. Inquire about turnaround times, as these processes can take time, especially if e-coating is involved.
- Location and Logistics: Factor in the location and ease of transporting your car parts to the facility. “Near me” is relative, but consider travel time and transportation costs.
Local Service Directory: Acid Dipping & E-Coating Providers (Select Locations)
Based on initial research, here are some potential providers of acid dipping and related services. Please note: It is crucial to contact these businesses directly to confirm their current services, pricing, and capabilities, especially regarding e-coating. Pricing and turnaround times mentioned below may be outdated and are for initial reference only.
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Redi-Strip Indianapolis
- Address: 4020 Millersville Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46205
- Phone: (317) 545-2088
- Services: Electrolytic stripping in alkaline solution for bare car bodies and parts.
- Pricing (Approximate): Bare body $900, doors/hood/fenders/deck lids $65 each, hood $95, bare subframe $120. (Confirm current pricing)
- Turnaround: Approximately 1 week (Confirm current lead time)
- E-coating: Refers to external e-coating services in Grand Blanc, MI (potentially Body Coat or Meto Coat – further research needed for accurate names and contact information).
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Redi-Strip of Columbus (Division of US Metal Processing)
- Address: 1301 Research Rd, Columbus, OH 43230
- Phone: 614-522-0041 (Stripping Facility), 614-575-1806 (Office – ask for Jeff for e-coating info)
- Services: Stripping facility for car shells and parts. May have local e-coating recommendations.
- Pricing (Approximate): Shell $950 – $1500, hood $125, subframe $200. (Confirm current pricing, potential discounts during slow periods Jan-March).
- Turnaround: 1 week wait for stripping. (Confirm current lead time)
- E-coating: Reportedly has a local e-coating provider in Columbus, OH. Contact Jeff at 614-575-1806 for details.
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American Metal Cleaning (Cincinnati, OH)
- Address: 475 Northland Blvd, Cincinnati, OH 45240
- Phone: 513-825-1171
- Services: Stripping services for car bodies and parts.
- Pricing (Approximate): Body $1500, panels $100 each, subframe $125. (Confirm current pricing)
- Turnaround: Approximately 3 months wait (Long lead time, confirm current wait).
- E-coating: Stripping only, no e-coating offered.
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American Metal Cleaning (Toledo, OH)
- Phone: 1-888-546-2037
- Services: Stripping services for car bodies and parts.
- Pricing (Approximate): Body $1600, hood $125, subframe $285-$315. (Confirm current pricing)
- E-coating Recommendation: Recommends Mayflower Vehicle Systems for e-coating.
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Mayflower Vehicle Systems (For E-coating – Recommended by American Metal Cleaning Toledo)
- Address: 55 N. Garfield St, Norwalk, OH 44857
- Phone: 419-668-8132, ext 238 (customer service), ext 253 (John Haughian for car body e-coating)
- Services: E-coating for car bodies.
- Contact: Call to discuss e-coating services with John Haughian at ext. 253.
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Redi-Clean Stripping, Inc.
- Address: 1720 Read St, Evansville, IN 812-424-9866
- Services: Stripping services for car shells and parts.
- Pricing (Approximate): Shell $1050, panels $65 each, subframe $300-$400. (Confirm current pricing)
- Turnaround: 2 week wait. (Confirm current lead time)
- E-coating: No e-coating services available.
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Redi-Coat (Romulus, MI)
- Website: http://www.redi-coat.com/
- Services: Stripping and e-coating for bare car bodies.
- Pricing (Approximate): $2500 to strip and coat bare body. (Confirm current pricing)
Disclaimer: This directory is based on initial findings and may not be exhaustive. It is essential to conduct thorough research and directly contact each provider to verify their services, pricing, and suitability for your specific needs. Prices and availability are subject to change.
Conclusion: Taking the Next Step in Your Restoration Journey
Finding the right “acid dipping car parts near me” service is a critical step in any serious car restoration project. By understanding the benefits of acid dipping and e-coating, and by using this directory as a starting point, you can take informed steps to ensure your classic car or project vehicle receives the best possible treatment. Remember to always confirm details directly with service providers and choose a facility that meets your specific requirements for quality, price, and location. Good luck with your restoration!
