Replies

1. 
   Matt | Oct 02, 2006 02:08pm | #1

   My plumber told me that they can't be fixed in a manner that looks like anything other than a repaired chip.

   
   

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   Edited 10/2/2006 7:33 am ET by Matt

1. 
   mallardmillwork | Oct 02, 2006 09:40pm | #11

   I'd have to disagree with ya...

   I've got a repair guy that does miraculous work. It's not cheap... his price for fixing a fiberglass unit isn't a whole lot less than what a new tub would cost, but the repairs are invisible. (money well spent, IMO, as it's a lot easier than  ripping a whole unit out at the end of the project. As far as cast iron, it's pretty good as well. He uses epoxy that he tints, and you really can't even see it unless you get a bright light right on top of it. I've asked him about it, but he's always a little evasive about how he does it (job security, I guess.) Anyhow, it can be done, you just have to find the right guy. I, and everyone else, I'm sure, have seen plenty of repairs that look like Fido's ####.

    

    

2. 
   PaulBinCT | Oct 02, 2006 02:42pm | #2

   As far as I've ever heard, there's no good looking long lasting cure without major effort (bondo, then reshooting entire tub is one suggestion). Even then the long term results are iffy. If it's a very small chip and you're not realllllll fussy they do sell "Porcelein" paint at HD that sort of works fairly well for very small chips in basic white or ivory.

1. 
   PeteDraganic | Oct 02, 2006 04:49pm | #3

   can a painted reir be wet-sanded and buffed to look right?

   The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits. -Albert Einstein

   No event in American history is more misunderstood than the Vietnam War. It was misreported then, and it is misremembered now. --Richard M. Nixon, 1985

    

1. 
   PaulBinCT | Oct 02, 2006 07:38pm | #6

   Ummm... a painted reir Pete?

   I'd never let a sander near my reir but... in theory I guess.

    

2. 
   CAGIV | Oct 02, 2006 09:01pm | #7

   You sure about that paul?

   We've chipped numerous enamel or porcelien tubs over the years and had them patched. 

   I looke at one that was patched 5 years ago just the other day and looked as good as it did the day after it was patched.

   What are the long term affects, and what is long term in your book?

    

1. 
   PaulBinCT | Oct 02, 2006 09:09pm | #8

   I'd say long term for a cast iron tub is 10+ years... but I suppose it's a matter of how often you want to replace em ;)

   I spent a lot of time helping a friend with some apts in NYC and every tub that had been patched (more than a few, and by pros), the tub started to rust under the epoxy and showed a thin line, or otherwise betrayed the patch. 

   The porcelain paint of course is even worse, but it will cost him 2 bucks...

    

   Edited 10/2/2006 2:11 pm ET by PaulBinCT

1. 
   CAGIV | Oct 02, 2006 09:21pm | #9

   I don't ever want to replace a cast iron tub... I don't like moving them in the first place, I'll be damned if I want to replace the same tub ;)

   The place our plumber uses/recommends out here has a lifetime guarantee on their patch work, so I guess if I see one starting to look bad I'd call them.  

    

1. 
   PaulBinCT | Oct 02, 2006 09:30pm | #10

   Maybe it's a matter also of the tub age and condition when the chip occurs? These were older tubs that had been patched to extend the service life, and they all looked pretty mangey.

2. 
   CAGIV | Oct 02, 2006 09:41pm | #12

   could be...?  I don't know enough about it, other then if I make a phone call it's taken care of..

    

   ;)

3. 
   PaulBinCT | Oct 02, 2006 09:45pm | #13

   LOL... Isn't that how all problems are solved? (sighhhhhhhhhhhhhh)

4. 
   gb93433 | Oct 02, 2006 09:50pm | #14

   They repair windshields all the time. They go through cold and hot temperatures, and driving rain and snow.

5. 
   PaulBinCT | Oct 02, 2006 09:52pm | #15

   But glass doesn't rust under the patch ;)

6. 
   gb93433 | Oct 02, 2006 10:36pm | #16

   You are right. But I have never seen the patch on glass lift off either. So apparently it sticks good enough. It would seem that if the patch took on water then it would appear cloudy due to bacteria.

7. 
   CAGIV | Oct 02, 2006 11:51pm | #18

   the bitch of it is, most of the time those are incoming phone calls for me instead of out-bound

8. 
   PaulBinCT | Oct 03, 2006 01:23am | #20

   We must share a party line (probably dating myself...)

9. 
   Heck | Oct 03, 2006 01:34am | #21

   (probably dating myself...)

   not that there's anything wrong with that.

   Blind date?_______________________________________________________________

   anyone seen my tagline?

10. 
    PeteDraganic | Oct 03, 2006 05:17pm | #23

    (probably dating myself...)

    not that there's anything wrong with that.

    Blind date?

    _______________________________________________________________

     

    You now what they say... if you "date" yourself too much, you'll GO blind

    The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits. -Albert Einstein

    No event in American history is more misunderstood than the Vietnam War. It was misreported then, and it is misremembered now. --Richard M. Nixon, 1985

     

11. 
    PaulBinCT | Oct 03, 2006 06:54pm | #24

    Problem is when I switch hands, I feel like I'm cheating on myself...

12. 
    BillHartmann | Oct 02, 2006 10:54pm | #17

    I have a very small chip on my CI sink.I fixed it with a couple of coats of the touch up paint. You can see it, but you really need to look for it. And that was maybe 15-20 years ago.I am not sure, but I don' think that it was down to the CI.

3. 
   Karl | Oct 02, 2006 05:08pm | #4

   Call a reputable plumbing supply house and ask who in the area does chip repair. I was installing countertops in a home and noticed two substantial chips in a tub. Much to my surprise the tile setter was continuing to tile the tub surround. I kept my mouth shut and stayed out of it. I came back two days later and the chips were gone. I was so surprised at that point I had to ask and the tile contractor gave me a business card for the local chip repair guy. Apparently they have epoxy tinted to the precise color different bath fixtures come in.

   Even thought the repair was honestly invisible I think it would work best to just get it fixed and say nothing to the homeowner. Once someone knows there is a potential flaw they are going to work awfully hard to nitpick a good quality repair.

   Good luck
   Karl

1. 
   aimless | Oct 02, 2006 06:52pm | #5

   I had similar results to you, except I'm the homeowner.  Shortly after they had installed the new tub I noticed a chip and a scratch in the tub. The contractor brought in his chip repair guy and the defects are invisible.  Not a cheap repair by any means, but cheaper than a new tub. I'm fairly confident that it will hold since the damage was to the apron rather than the inside where it gets wet every day.

4. 
   mantas | Oct 03, 2006 12:01am | #19

   If there is a bathtub refinisher in your area, you can a touch up kit from them.

   I had my 1895 claw foot tub and a 1895 child sized corner sink redone by a refinisher and was able to get a touch up kit. Worked great, cannot see repair, I dropped wrench in tub.....stupid, I know.

5. 
   Ray | Oct 03, 2006 03:07am | #22

   If you're in a DIY mode, get the porcelain paint, put several coats on the chip (allowing to dry between coats), then sand it down flush with really fine wet or dry sandpaper.  You can get 1000+ grit sandpaper at an auto paint store.  I have to admit, our tub is a 100 year old clawfoot tub and the porcelain paint was an excellent color match. 

   There are kits available with tints available, but my eyes aren't that good any more.  I went with the basic white.