Rust removal

[Richard Murray]

Richard,

I am using the Poly-Fiber epoxy, but am cleaning the metal with EzEtch to phosphatize it first. This is supposed to prevent rust from forming on the metal beneath the epoxy primer.

Richard @ CQA

[Jerry Jackson]

I have rust showing beneath Poly-Fiber epoxy that IS top-coated. It is on the clevis fitings for the tail-feather wires and on the tie-down rings on the upper wing strut fittings. I figure that I was too skimpy on the paint thickness---I don't have any other explanation.

[Richard Murray]

Jerry,

I have been told that steel starts to rust as soon as you get it cleaned, and unless you take steps to inhibit the formation right away any paint applied over the top will eventually have rust come through. The auto-body people too seem to want to pre-coat their steel and that is where I learned of phosphatizing the steel. Stewarts make a product for doing this and I found a car product at eastwood.com that does the same thing.

Richard

[brink]

This is kinda old, as far posts go,but still a real issue with restoration, I just did my 7AC Champ. My experience leads me to believe don’t blast to clean out steel tubing, it will rust, oxidation is the culprit and it’s hard to see, if you paint over it, It will rust. EP 430 epoxy prime will do a nice job, but will still rust thru, Zinc Oxide is my best bet, I’ve used Rustolem as a finish coat and I think it works well, but I don’t know about long term, not the rattle can,I use the quart cans,and use my touch up gun,and thin with mineral spirits. On a Champ, a standard way to enter the cockpit is grab those bars, the oil and acid off your hands will cause rust, I used the Rustolem black did this years ago, and to this day the corrosion has not returned. Hey my 2 cents, have a nice holiday.