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Chip in cast iron tub - Help!

15 years ago

Hi there,

Despite our best efforts to protect our new cast iron bathtub while we finished the tiling and plumbing during the remodel, something got dropped and there's a small chip on the top edge of the tub. It's a pretty minor chip - less than 1/4" - but it's driving me nuts because the tub is new.

I ordered a repair kit like the one linked below and we applied the filler according to instuctions but the filler popped right out several days later when I was cleaning the tub.

Now that our guests have left and the bathroom won't be used for a couple of weeks we want to attempt the fix again.

Can anyone recommend anything to increase our chances for success?

Or, should I go straight to the phone book and hire a professional?

Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer,

Laura

Here is a link that might be useful: Our bathtub repair kit

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Comment (1)

live_wire_oak
15 years ago
Only a two part epoxy type substance will have a prayer of holding, and even that is not a permanant solution. Porcelain over cast iron is basically glass that's sprayed on in powder form and then heated to liquify. When it cools, it's a solid glass coating over the steel. Glass, although strong, is brittle, as you've discovered. And, glass is very very difficult to bond anything to. Once the porcelain chips and the iron has come into contact with air and water, it's gonna rust and eventually that repair is gonna come out. The good news is that it takes a really long time for a cast iron tub to rust enough to become a leak issue. The bad news is that spot will be ugly (and expand) the whole time until you can't stand it anymore and replace it.
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