Rust, generally how to clean and best spray to keep it from rusting?

[cyclops222]

Well the Oxygen in air, rain, fresh water, salt water and chemicals in saltwater and polluted fresh water. All gang up on metals and eat them alive.
Good luck on rust prevention.

 

[SpearTub]

I like the Rustolium rusty metal primer or the Rustolium clean metal primer. These need to be covered with a topcoat of paint, as they are rather soft.

I think we have Rustolum here. There is one other popular product that is a strong rust converter/deterrent, a primer and gal paint all i one, I forget its name. But individual products may be better for sure.

 

[dingbat]

Sand blast then prime with Sherwin Williams P60G2 wash primer. Then top coat with Sherwin Williams Polane T in the color of your choosing.

The paint job will out last the trailer

 

[airshot]

Sand blast then prime with Sherwin Williams P60G2 wash primer. Then top coat with Sherwin Williams Polane T in the color of your choosing.

The paint job will out last the trailer

In the past, I have had much better results thru sand blasting then prime and top coat over anything else.

 

[dingbat]

In the past, I have had much better results thru sand blasting then prime and top coat over anything else.

What most don’t realize is that a layer of iron oxide (grey color) is produced in the steel making process.

Unless the material is pickled to remove this oxide layer in a downstream process, the layer remains intact until removed.

While iron oxide is a decent corrosion barrier in itself, it does flake and peel over time taking any protective coating with it.

Sand blasting removes the oxide layer leaving a “solid” base which to apply the protective coating

 

[SpearTub]

What is second best option if Sandblasting isnt practical/Possible? a sander or grinder etc?

Layer of rust protection THEN gal paint?

 

[Chris1956]

Galvanized paint needs to go on bare metal. It works best on metal already galvanized, but needing a touch up.

If the trailer is painted, and sandblast is not available, sanding, priming and overcoating is the next best option.

 

[dingbat]

What is second best option if Sandblasting isnt practical/Possible? a sander or grinder etc?

Layer of rust protection THEN gal paint?

Galvanize (zinc) is a sacrificial coating. It is not a rust preventative. Unless the zinc is in direct (molecular) contact with the steel, it serves no purpose. Might as well top coat with silver paint.

Done commercially, it would be pickled (dipped in hydrochloric acid) to remove any surface rust and or contaminants, then rinsed to neutralize the acid and dipped in a chromate conversion solution as a rust preventative prior to the Zinc coating being applied. .

Whatever way you go, the most important is that you remove the oxide layer and any loose coating to get to “clean” metal. A combination of grinding with a 60-80 grit soft pad then a good power brushing usually does the trick as far as prep.

 

[cyclops222]

Really correct trailer metal parts have all holes & welding done before the dipping into a hot metal plating tank. Any holes made by later people become Saltwater rust spots very quickly.

 

[JimS123]

What is second best option if Sandblasting isnt practical/Possible? a sander or grinder etc?

Layer of rust protection THEN gal paint?

You can grind and sand the crap out of it, and then prime and topcoat. But, did you remove 100% of the rust?

Wire brush wheel on a drill motor to remove loose scale, then kill the rust with Rust Reformer. Then prime and topcoat.

You can do kit hard or do it easy. That doesn't matter. What matters is how long the job will last.