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Help with antique galvanized bathtub restoration

Quickstart:
     Vintage bath tubs were "hot dip galvanized", which means they were dipped into molten zinc in a galvanizing kettle, similar to dipping strawberries into melted chocolate. Where the zinc has worn through over the decades, the exposed iron is prone to rusting. Re-galvanizing is best, but the cost & logistics of re-dipping can be impractical.
     Anything from waxing (very short lived) to lacquering or other clear-coating can be attempted. The simplest thing to do, although not authentic, and the look will not be perfect, is to apply 'cold galvanizing compound' (paint very rich in zinc).

Primer for Aluminum
and Galvanized Metal

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Q. How do you refinish a galvanized old bathtub and do you put any thing on the inside and what if you have rust inside, what can I do to fix it. I do want to use the bathtub. Help, please.

Cold Galvanizing Compund
(avail. in spray or brush-on)


on Amazon or eBay
(affil link)

A. Hi Deb. If it's rusted inside it's probably best to paint the inside. Scrub off whatever rust and scum you can with a scrub brush ⇦ on eBay or Amazon [affil link] and Spic and Span ⇦ on eBay or Amazon [affil link] or other strong detergent, and maybe a little powdered pumice ⇦ on eBay or Amazon [affil link] , then a primer designed for galvanized metal ⇨
then whatever color paint you want ... or leave it aluminum gray by 'painting' with cold galvanizing compound ⇨

Luck & Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Need quick confidential answers? $25
Need project assistance? $100/hr.

RFQ: Hello,

I have an antique zinc bathtub that has holes in the bottom of it. I am looking for anyone who can lead me in the right direction to get it repaired. I live in California but am willing to send it anywhere and pick it up.

Any help would greatly be appreciated.

Ed. note: This RFQ is outdated, but technical replies are welcome, and readers are encouraged to post their own RFQs. But no public commercial suggestions please ( huh? why?).

Q. I also have an antique galvanized bathtub on cast iron legs that needs refinishing, and would like to know the best way to approach restoration.
Also would like to trade photos of my tub with others.

Jim Lanier "World Famous Plumber"
Plumber - Tulsa, Oklahoma USA
2003

Ed. note: We'd be delighted to post your photos here, Jim! ... and anyone else's as well! Please attach them to email to <pics for posting> for all interested parties to view.

Q. We too have an old galvanized bathtub on legs. It has peeling white paint on it. Thought an auto body repair shop might strip it and repaint it...might be very cool.
Does anyone know the era of these tubs?
Thanks,

Q. I hope you can help me from making a mistake. I am in the process of restoring my grandmother's farm house (built in 1868) and have questions and need answers. I would like to install an antique cowboy galvanized bathtub (with an oak rim) which is a little rusted. How do I arrest the rust with out discoloring the galvanized metal? I've read "lemon" will discolor the metal. Do I use Naval Jelly? I have also found out that the tub will continue to put off (on the surface) a dusty powder to the touch, can I eliminate this discharge? the original tub(s) were left with the galvanized metal exposed. Would it be a mistake to paint the surface, and what kind of primer and paint do I use? I thought of using "auto" paint, applied by a auto body shop, ya or na? My last question is if the seams leak how do I repair this problem and with what materials?

Looking forward to hear your advise.

A. Try 5-10% ammonium citrate solution (50-100 gm citric acid ⇦ on eBay or Amazon [affil link] /1 lit water+add some ammonia ⇦ on eBay or Amazon [affil link] +pH must be 3,5 for rusted spots, or 7 for galvanized surface).Solution for iron must be used on iron and second solution must be used on galvanized parts.Instead that you can use WD40 ⇦ on eBay or Amazon [affil link] or Balistol (oil based rust removers)+lot of elbow grease.Hope it helps and good luck!

Goran Budija
- Cerovski vrh Croatia

A. If you can separate the tub from any other components (wooden trim etc), then I suggest you get it re-galvanized.
This will arrest the rust, and likely seal any leaky seams (unless gross gaps), and you'll end up with a newly galvanized finish. If you want to accelerate the aging after this (it'll be shiny zinc initially), there are ways to do that explained elsewhere on this forum.

Geoff Crowley
Crithwood Ltd.
Westfield, Scotland, UK

SUGGESTED GALVANIZING BOOKS
for Engineers, Shops, Specifiers

"Hot Dip Galvanizing of Steel Structures" by Kuklik & Kudlacek (2016)
avail from eBay, AbeBooks, or Amazon

"Handbook of Hot Dip Galvanization" by Maass & Peissker (2011)
avail from eBay, AbeBooks, or Amazon

"Galvanized Steel Reinforcement in Concrete" by Stephen Yeomans (2004)
avail from eBay, AbeBooks, or Amazon

"Hot Dip Galvanizing -- A Guide to Process Selection & Galvanizing Practice" by M. J. Hornsby (1995)
avail from eBay, AbeBooks, or Amazon

"Faults in Hot-Dip Galvanizing" by Dietrich Horstmann (in English, French & German)
avail from Amazon

"User's Guide to Hot Dip Galvanizing for Corrosion Protection in Atmospheric Service" by NACE (1997 only rarely avail.)
avail from AbeBooks, or Amazon

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RFQ: Does anyone know of a re-galvanizing company/person in the area of South Dakota, Nebraska and west of these states? I would appreciate feed back ASAP

Ed. note: This RFQ is outdated, but technical replies are welcome, and readers are encouraged to post their own RFQs. But no public commercial suggestions please ( huh? why?).

RFQ: Is there anyone near the Kansas City, MO area that can repair an antique 1800's galvanized cowboy bathtub? The fixture is newer, but the drain is original. There is a large 1'x1' fiberglassed patch job on the bottom and in order to cover up the rust and patch job they painted the outside of the tub and glazed the inside. The cast iron feet, drain, and oak trim are in excellent condition.

Ed. note: This RFQ is outdated, but technical replies are welcome, and readers are encouraged to post their own RFQs. But no public commercial suggestions please ( huh? why?).

RFQ: Wondering if you found anyone in the KC area as I just acquired one of these tubs that needs some attention as well.

Ed. note: This RFQ is outdated, but technical replies are welcome, and readers are encouraged to post their own RFQs. But no public commercial suggestions please ( huh? why?).

Assortment of old enamel bathroom appliances in Sardinia
Etan J. Tal, CC BY-SA 4.0, creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Q. I've got an old metal baby bathtub with white enamel that is chipped in various places. What is the best way to resurface this so it will be durable and long lasting?

Appliance Touch-up Enamel

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A. Hi Teresa. The original finish was probably vitreous enamel (porcelain enamel) which is much closer to a coating of melted glass than to paint, and something a consumer won't be able to do. Unless you can afford a professional restoration, then preparation and priming, followed by an appliance enamel ⇨
is probably the best you can do. It's won't be perfect, and won't last decades, but the chips will be less obvious.

Luck & Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Need quick confidential answers? $25
Need project assistance? $100/hr.

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