I'm prepping bare metal on my 43 Chevy panel roof. First I used Metal Blast phosphoric treatment and it said to wash it off after so I did and got flash rust. Next I tried Metal Prep phosphoric and it said no need to wash after. I keep getting a white foam residue that is a little sticky all over my roof. I'm trying to clean it off so the paint will stick but I don't want to get it wet again. I just cant see paint sticking to the white streaks that feel sticky slimey. I could try and wipe the whole thing with denatured alcohol.... I'm going to put down Rust Bullet for my first coat as soon as I get it clean enough.
I don't have your answer, but I like the alcohol idea (if it does not have toxic results with that product) I recently had a rough time trying to acid clean a gas tank in very humid days. It would flash rust after rinse, but I could never get all the micro droplets of water out, and next morning it looked worse each day I tried. Rust got heavier, and darker. Then I looked for alcohol at hardware store but only found drygas. (it's used in cold climates for keeping gas lines from freezing) Two bottles sloshed in the tank after another acid and water rinse. The drygas when drained, took out all moisture, ...then I used air for 2 minutes, and the tank had never been that dry....like the desert. I think drygas is alcohol or methanol
Wiped the whole roof down with denatured alcohol. Feels pretty good now.... I guess I'm ready to roll a coat on.
I use a product called "Phix" [phosphoric acid] and use a damp cloth to wipe it off before it dries. I then wipe it dry with a clean cloth and it fends off rust for a few years.