I'm working on a Brookville body that has begun to develop some surface rust in places; fingerprints, welding oxidation etc..How are you guys treating bare steel? Both as it sits around and also just prior to primer. I DO NOT want to prime it yet but would like to somehow treat the steel so the oxidation slows down a little. I have done acid washes prior to paint before but hope there is a better, cleaner, maybe simpler way. Thanks. pic is what I'm working on only after I first got it home. Way uglier now. I live in the wet PNW. Humidity is always above 80%.
Bill--I`ve used Chemfil DX 79 Metal Conditioner for all my bare metal work. I put it on with a brown Scotchbrite pad, scrub/apply then use a paper towel to wipe off the surface. Don`t forget to wear some substantial rubber gloves. You can recoat/rescrub at any time, and it washes off with Laquer/Wash thinner. I leave it on.You are supposed to be able to paint over it. I have had no complaints from painters in more than 20 years of doing this.
Kiwi...is this stuff available here in the USA? I'll do a google search as well. Thanks. Sounds like exactly what I'm looking for.
seems like the ASC rails cam rubbed down in lindseed oil. it took FOREVER for any surface rust to start. It was a little tacky to the touch, but it cleaned of pretty easily for welding and whatnot.
After reading some online info re: the PPG Chemfil DX 579 Conditioner it sounds just like DuPont Kwik-Prep 244S, which I have used in the past. I may give it a try since I still have some. Forgot all about it. Thanks. Anyone else?
Im surprised no one has reccomended Gibbs....from what I've read on here ,it's supposed to be the stuff....
Go into the kitchen and get the old lady's cooking spray. I personally like cocoanut. Cleans up with a little soap and water
if it's really just light surface rust on fresh steel I'd hit it with an abrasive (sand it) and if you're really concerned about it coming back treat it with any of the over the counter phosphorus based rust transformers--por 15 makes one, eastwood has it's line, extend is one of the name brands you should be able to get at your big box parts store they're all pretty much the same thing. it's the stuff that turns rust black.
One thing I have found over the years is when not working on the car, keep the body covered with a couple of old bed sheets. Makes a big difference.
Ospho. Available at Ace Hardware, something like $20 a gallon. A gallon is enough to do several complete roadsters. Seriously, it's thin like water so it goes a long long way. Coated a freshly-blasted '51 Chevy body a few years ago that was starting to flash rust after a week in my shop. No signs of flash rust since then. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Ditto on the Ospho. I keep some in a spray bottle. Put on some rubber gloves, spray a little on and wipe it with some of those blue paper towels. I treat all rusted surfaces before and after repairs and any new metal parts I weld in place.
I have a 30 year old container of the 244s that I use on to clean light rust on smooth metal. I like it because it dries fast and since its alcohol based, it doesn't need a water rinse. It doesn't do much on deeper rust though. Dave
Dave, I'll try the 244S and scotchbrite...see what happens. I have also heard good things about Ospho, just never tried it.
Ospho is pretty harsh compared to 244s. I would recommend diluting it down a lot before using it on light rust. When I worked up at the lazy D, we just DA'ed the bare metal stuff every couple of months. One guy was really acidic, you could always tell where he worked last.
Gibbs, and it dissolves surface rust......and the best price I could find was at Roadsters.com! Try it you will like it, and buy a case of 12, 'cause your friends will want some. I just bought my second case!
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