Protecting freshly cut steel after the vehicle has been cleaned.
After drilling and cutting, every exposed edge needs suitable protection before the lock is finally assembled.
After the clean-down and before the locks are permanently fitted, every bare metal edge created during drilling or cutting should be protected with a rust inhibitor such as Waxoyl, cavity wax, primer or suitable paint.
This is the best opportunity to protect surfaces that may become difficult or impossible to reach after final assembly. The lock itself should not be relied upon to seal and protect the cut edge.
This is the best opportunity to protect surfaces that may become difficult or impossible to reach after final assembly. The lock itself should not be relied upon to seal and protect the cut edge.
This extract is from a genuine five-star Google review describing exactly this stage of the fitting process.
★★★★★"Really went the extra mile with cleaning, sealing and lubricating all the cut parts of the door before fitting the locks to prevent corrosion."
Edward Warrington · Google review, September 2026
★★★★★"Matt had also cleaned up some light surface rust on the door rail and a fair amount of small metal shavings which must have been the result of the window installation."
Chris Adams · Google review, February 2022
★★★★★"They showed me how the locks work and how to maintain them, and even left me a lubricant to help me keep them in good condition."
Darren Roberts · Google review, November 2020
Review wording has been lightly shortened for display without changing its meaning. Full reviews remain available on the Sussex Installations Google Business Profile.
Every bare metal edge created during drilling or cutting needs protecting with a rust inhibitor such as Waxoyl, cavity wax, primer or suitable paint, because this is the best opportunity to protect surfaces that may become difficult or impossible to reach after final assembly.
The lock only covers the aperture; it does not seal or treat the bare metal beneath it, so any edge left untreated before final assembly stays vulnerable to corrosion for as long as the lock is fitted.
After the clean-down and before the locks are permanently fitted, once every bare metal edge created during drilling or cutting has been cleared of swarf and is ready to be treated.
A real example of metal filings left on painted bodywork, showing why swarf removal and corrosion protection are essential parts of professional fitting.
Open the video page →
Here we show what effort we put into doing a quality installation, we go further than most would in order to keep the rust away from your van body work!
Open video and transcript →