Technical Alternative for expensive seam sealer

I stopped by Mike's house this morning to see how his wife's 1950 Chevy convertible was coming along, he was under the car putting seam sealer on all the patch panel welds, he was complaining about how expensive the sealer was at almost 15 dollars a tube and he was going to need at least 4 more tubes before he finished, then he would be able to paint the underside of the car.

I told Mike that I had used regular acrylic black caulk I got at Ace hardware on the wagon to seal all the welds, I bought a case of caulk and had spent just under 20 bucks and it worked great and having the wagon up on the rack a couple of months ago it still looks good 8 years later.

I've used this on the Deuce pickup, wagon and the '50.

The caulk is advertised to have a 30 year life and being a acrylic it stays soft so it never gets hard or cracks. HRP

 

I bought some automotive caulk from a cheaper line. 5star
Paying 15-20+ for seam sealer is tough with a school budget.


I like it

 

I second Anthony’s suggestion, I’ve used it as well.


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That's tuff on anyone's budget, the caulk I used was less than 2 dollars a tube. HRP

 

I'm at the other end, I like the catalyzed two part sealers.......

 

Also home gutter sealer , comes in caulk gun tubes and fairly cheap. hard as rocks and wont crack.

 

I used gum.

 

Used Dap on the 32 back in 94. It's still holding fine.

 

I've used Liquid nails PL 200 on floor seams and its held up well.

 

Also, he’s gone to the trouble of replacing panels and I assume going to paint the car but he’s not willing to spend the extra $100 on seam sealer. I’m cheap but on the grand scale....


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Been in the bodyshop biz my whole life, and when i was young an old guy showed me that he used liquid nails. Every since that day that's what I've used. Same consistency and OEM stuff

 

Plus it's about $2.25 per tube, cheaper in the box

 

I agree with the Liquid Nails. Anything that makes you use fancy words when you try to remove it 10 years latter must be pretty good stuff.

 

I was offering a alternative, I used the caulking which is designed to adhere to class, wood or metal, it is designed to withstand the elements & it cost significantly less, it will last just as long as the pricey automotive labeled product and does the job.

If someone doesn't have the money for the purpose designed product the Dap caulking works just a well. HRP

 

theres no alternative to the real thing.i would not use any of your alternatives not even on a prius

 

I used to know a body man who used Roof Jack tar for seam sealer. it comes in a tube like silicon caulking. its the stuff the roofers use around the things that stick through the roof.

 

I understand all of that, I would be nervous about paint staying if I was painting over it. I know everyone says there is cheap alternatives that work as well or better, I’ll stick with products designed for the use when it comes to paint and body because of the money involved in the stuff on top of the whole mess. If it works for you and him then that’s great, I’ll be the sucker paying extra I guess.


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Paint sticks to liquid nails. Depending in the application you can use a spray bottle of water and a spreader to make it smooth, or i use a cheap paint brush cut short to duplicate the brush marks where needed. But that's me. Go buy fast and firm if that's what you want. We all do it our own way.

 

I only use this on the floor of the car, both inside and underneath, then I coat it with Restoleum I would never use it on the body. HRP

 

That’s good to know, I know I take the side of caution with body materials, I’ve had a few disasters trying to save money with incompatible materials that cost more in the long run. Just how I do it. Believe me, with three young kids I understand watching pennies.


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HRP, that makes sense, in that application I may give it a whirl.


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Nor would I use it on a prius ether. HRP

 

I always used 3M seam sealer, because it was sold on the shelf at the paint supply store. Then like i read somebody else added, they put 5 star beside of it. But i never liked fast & firm. I didn't work good for me. I like the way i do it. It's never failed me on anything from a antique car or a 2019.

 

I just did some floor pan replacement in my old Power Wagon , I did near same as HRP , hardware caulk , zink primer brushed on , second coat rustoleum top coat . Hope for the best

 

I use OSI chaulking $6 per tube it never cracks you can buy it a Lowes.

 

Five star makes a brushable seam sealer that works great, $18 a quart at my local supplier. No squeezing a caulk gun needed.

 

Was painting some bike parts on a holiday weekend. Used liquid nails to seal a weld joint underneath.
Worked great


I have never liked 3ms fast and firm.

 

I wouldn’t own a POS Prius to begin with so it’s a non issue with me

 

Just read the labels or get product data sheets , in many instances , the only thing that's different is the name , ingredients are identical , stop and consider that many products we use were developed by NASA , then applied to compatible markets ..
I installed hundreds of doors and windows , sunlight is what kills everything ,. The one caulk that was by far the most long lasting is LEXEL. absolutely the best ...

 

I'd do stuff on a Prius that I would never do on a hot rod. I care if the hot rod lasts a long time, the Prius, not so much. Gene