Dent Filler from Alvin helps refurbish caboose at Chatham Railroad Museum

A corrosion problem on the Chatham, Massachusetts Railroad Museum caboose was solved with an aluminum-filled metal repair and patching compound manufactured just two hours away in Lawrence, Mass. Alvin Products’ Lab-metal was the dent filler of choice for the badly rusting spots on its hand rails. Chatham’s Choo-Choo got its facelift earlier this year. Volunteers report that the metal repair job was easy and inexpensive. Refurbishing the damaged metal was done in three steps:

The rusted areas, 1/8 inch to 1/4 inch deep, were thoroughly sanded with a power sander and then washed (by cloth) with Lab-solvent (thinner for Lab-metal and metal cleaner).

The Lab-metal was applied with a putty knife and allowed to dry for 24 hours. (This was to ensure complete hardening; very thin layers of Lab-metal dry in just an hour or two.)

Next, the Lab-metal was sanded smooth (by hand with sand paper), and a finish coat of Lab-metal was applied.

Lab-metal application news
Application tips: Lab-solvent is used to thin Lab-metal and Hi-Temp
Lab-metal; to clean the application surface; and to extend the shelf life of the repair putties.
When applying Lab-metal, keep the applicator moist with Lab-solvent to enhance spreadability. This is especially helpful when using Lab-metal as a body filler.

At the Chatham Railroad Museum, Alvin Products’ Lab-metal was used to fill and patch areas pitted by corrosion.

For more information on Lab-metal or Hi-Temp Lab-metal, please contact the manufacturer:
After allowing the second layer of Lab-metal to harden, the rails were sanded and a new coat of yellow paint was applied.

“The Lab-metal repair was by far the least expensive, most durable patching job we could have done,” commented one Volunteer Railroad Committee member. Other Committee members were excited about the repair, and pointed out other areas of the caboose they intend to restore with Lab-metal. The old New York Central caboose that sits behind the historic Chatham Railroad complex will continue todelight young and old, from Cape Cod.