Porcelain / Enamel repair kits

[Zanne]

As you know I've been working on my bathroom and one thing that bugs me is the scrape the tenants left on my tub. The tub is either cast iron or steel. No rust seems to be showing, but there is a large scrape-- at least 2" long. I want to repair it so it won't rust and so it won't look quite as ugly.

The little chip repair kit I had dried out so it is no good. So, I'm looking at my current options.

I've seen ones that spread on like putty, ones that are painted on like nail polish, and even one that cures with a blue light. They range from around $15 to $45 (before tax). Although, I've seen some of the repair kits that are more expensive but those are for larger jobs.

A lot of the things have bad reviews so I'm seeking advice/suggestions.

1. There's this product that says it is "Waterproof and resistant to running water when completely dry". https://www.amazon.com/Endhokn-Porcelain-Fiberglass-Pedestal-Scratches/dp/B09WMMXKM9/

2. This one that says "Water resistant and stop leaks." https://www.amazon.com/Fiberglass-Porcelain-Biscuit-Odorless-Bathtub/dp/B07VR1RR86/

3. This one that cures in 20 seconds with a blue light but is ~$45 https://www.amazon.com/Multi-Color-Surface-Repair-Kit-Countertops/dp/B07N2WP448/

4. Another version of that in "white"- same price: https://www.amazon.com/White-Surface-Repair-Kit-Countertops/dp/B07N2KBDH3/

Images of the scrape:


I'm thinking of testing something out on a spot that will be hidden by cement board first to see how it looks, but I am wondering if anyone has used these products. The reviews aren't exactly encouraging.

It doesn't have to be perfect, but I don't want to waste my $. I don't want something that will peel off or stain from hard water.

So, any thoughts?

 

[havasu]

I've used those touch up porcelain paint kits, but found them to look more like a bright white wad of bubble gum. I wonder if you can find a spray can to coat the entire surface, so the color matches? I only had a professional come in and commercially sprayed my shower and tub. The work was flawless, but was pricy.

 

[Zanne]

The rest of the tub is in decent shape. There's a little bit of the metal showing through on the edge near the scrape but it is very light and there is a scratch on the flange. I'm thinking I could test out on the flange first. Sort of leaning toward the one that cures in 20 seconds instead of 3 days. My mother liked that idea, but I'm still debating. Doesn't have to be perfect. Worst case scenario I can put some kind of bath sticker over it. LOL. Rubber ducky sticker, octopus, seashell, starfish, dolphin or something. LOL.

 

[havasu]

Or, just glue one of your 14 cats over the chip?

 

[breplum]

the tub is steel, not C.I.
Bootz five ft. tubs are $200.

 

[Zanne]

The tub is still heavy and not moving. I'd rather salvage it if I can. I think it may be set in a mortar bed but I'm not sure. Have to open up the wall in the closet to see. The tubs that size are over $600 when I looked for them.

 

[BlueSkyHigh]

I've used this in the past and can recommend it but with reservations:

https://www.amazon.com/Porc-Fix-Tou...prefix=porcelain+repair,industrial,65&sr=1-12
The reservations being that the color will never match perfectly, if you're OCD like me your eyes will always go to the repair when getting in and out of the tub, and it will eventually fail and have to be reapplied. That's a really big area and would be a challenge regardless of the approach you took. What I think I might do is to try and get a little bottle of Testor's model paint in as close a color match as possible, paint it and then cover it with a patch of clear Racer's Edge Surface Guard Tape and wait for your ship to come in and you can replace the tub or put in a shower instead of a tub.

https://www.amazon.com/ISC-Helicopt...acers+edge+surface+guard,industrial,77&sr=1-5
Or, As havasu recommended, glue a donor patch over the bad spot taken from one of your cats who is willing to donate to the cause.

 

[sawguy]

Could use one of those anti slip decorative flowers for a tub bottom ( if you can still find them). Put one on both sides to match.

 

[Zanne]

They have all sorts of those nonslip stickers-- fish, seashells, crabs, nautilus, and all sorts of cool stuff. My mother decided she wanted me to get the stuff with the blue light to try. I have the perfect spot to test it out where it won't be visible once the surround is installed.

I seriously considered a new Bootz tub but they only seemed to have 60x30 and not 60x32 and with the way the wall is bumped out, it will need a 32". I do wish I could get it to pivot just a teeny bit to be straight in the alcove. That would fix some of the alignment issues (the holes the spout and showerhead are slightly off to the left of the overflow).

I found they have Maui Plus and stuff like that but they are Out of Stock. And the price was under $400 for that one (it didn't come up in my first search).

 

[BlueSkyHigh]

My mother decided she wanted me to get the stuff with the blue light to try.

DON'T GO INTO THE (BLUE) LIGHT!!! When I was in Amsterdam as a kid, I went with the red light.

 

[havasu]

When I was in Amsterdam as a kid, I went with the red light.

I'm guessing that once you opened the package, many were, um, not what you ordered?

 

[Zanne]

LOL. I thought of red pill or blue pill. Purple! I choose purple! It's Nexium!

Don't mind me. I'm a bit giddy because I'm happy we will be getting AC on Monday.

 

[Zanne]

If anyone was curious, I went with the Stowsen repair kit. None of the colors really matched and I had to sand down the first application because I didn't do it quite right. Had to mix some colors together to get close to the existing tub color. If I had better coordination it probably would have turned out better. It's still lumpy and visible, but not as obvious as the exposed black metal.

My ultimate solution was to put a little caddy over it. So now I don't have to see it. LOL. The caddy is actually mounted to the wall with suction cups so it doesn't rest directly on top of the repair.


I'm relatively happy with the results. If I can figure out where the kit went in the jumbled mess I will repair a chip inside the sink.