rust reformer

[n1ps]

In the past I used a product I believe by 3M called Rust Reformer or something like that.  It is or was a painted on product, not an aerosol.  It worked great in that I used it on occasion to treat rust in some steel cabinets and around the house. 

Anyway I was looking for the product recently and it seems to have disappeared from the market.  Is there a similar product out there?  Everything I find seems to be aerosol based. 

Peter

[K5WLF]

Peter,

l remember that Devcon made something like that in the past, but haven't had occasion to check for it recently.

GL,
ldb

[k4kyv]

Rustoleum makes a product called "rusty metal primer".  You knock off any loose scaly rust, then paint over the surface rust (it comes both in aerosol and brush-on).  They claim it works by the surface rust soaking up the primer by capillary action, sort of like a paper towel soaking up water.  Then it hardens into a solid, and the surface rust acts as an adhesive to permanently bond it to the surface.  Then you paint over that with the top coat of your choice.

I think oil-based aluminium paint works the same way, except you don't need to add a top coat.  I'm not sure about the cold-galv stuff. I never had much luck with it in aerosol; the (brushed on) aluminium stuff works better for me, but some have claimed good results with cold-galv when it is brushed on, not sprayed on. 

[ke7trp]

Your local auto body repair supply house has what you are looking for.  You are likely near one.  Every city seems to have a supply house.  I am away from the can right now. I dont remember the brand.  You brush it on and it reacts with the rust and stops it cold.

C

In the past I used a product I believe by 3M called Rust Reformer or something like that.  It is or was a painted on product, not an aerosol.  It worked great in that I used it on occasion to treat rust in some steel cabinets and around the house. 

Anyway I was looking for the product recently and it seems to have disappeared from the market.  Is there a similar product out there?  Everything I find seems to be aerosol based. 

Peter

[W7TFO]

POR (paint over rust) is another such product.

73GD

[N7BDY]

Phosphoric acid works good too ,  you can buy it by the gallon at home Depot cheaply  .  Prep and Etch .  Same drill , you clean off the loose rust and apply , soak and wash off .  Apparently it converts the rust chemically to somethng that prevents rusting in the future but I havnt verified that part .  I wouldnt be surprised if POR and those other more expensive sauces have phosphoric acid in them .   The nice thing about the liquid is you can soak small delicate parts in it and it strips the rust off .  POR is good , lots of car restoration people use it , but more expensive . 

For what its worth they say soaking rusty parts in Coca Cola will strip the rust off too ....... imagine what it does to your teeth 

n7bdy 

[K3ZS]

There is or was a product called "Extend".  You painted on rusty steel and it chemically combined with the rust and formed a black finish.   It was expensive but I bought a large bottle of it when a local hardware store went out of business.
It is sold now by Interstateproducts as a one step rust killer.

[K3YA]

I believe Rust reformer is phosphoric acid plus some other ingredients.  Permatex has a similar product.  POR 15 and rusty metal primer are good products, but work differently by sealing the rust rather then getting rid of it.  Looking for a "Rust Converter" at the auto body/paint supply shop is a good suggestion. 

[WA1GFZ]

POR15 has 2 products. 1 is phosphoric acid and the other is a sealer.

[The Slab Bacon]

POR15 has 2 products. 1 is phosphoric acid and the other is a sealer.

Phosphoric acid, sometimes better known as "Naval Jelly" has been around for many years. It used to be available at most better auto parts stores. It worked pretty well on small parts, but I couldn't even imagine doing a whole fender with it. They also made one specifically for aluminum called "Aluminum Jelly" that also worked very well. I usually use it every spring to clean up the corrosion from the cases on my bike after setting all winter. Just be sure to rinse well!

I can only inagine the nasty navel that they have to get that stuff out of    

[K7EDL]

our local walmart has or did have it in there automotive section around the auto paint. I think they had the brush on.

Eric

[W8EJO]

I've done a lot of de-rusting on old motorcycles including the inside of gas tanks.

I use 3 different methods depending on where rust is, how bad it is & how fast you want to work.

1) Electrolysis. Extremely cheap, works good but takes a while. Good for large pieces.
2) Phosphoric acid. It leaves a coating which can be painted. Its the ingredient in many commercial formulas. Takes quite a bit longer to work than muriatic acid.
3) Muriatic acid - best & fastest for badly rusted items but it will "flash rust" when removed if not immediately dried & painted/coated. I usually follow immediately with phosphoric acid to avoid this.

The acids are fairly nasty to deal with so always where rubber gloves & goggles. They do make a "safe" version of muriatic acid that's called Acid Magic & is available at Lowes & HD.

BTW, any acid will work if you give it enough time (days/weeks) which is why Coca-cola works (has small amount of phosphoric acid)

[n1ps]

TNX all.  Yes what I am after is a rust converter.  The 3M product worked really well and it was a surprise to discover it went away. 

As I understand it, some of the rust converter products use a tannic acid and a polymer.  I had tried a rustoleum product with less than desirable results. 

p

[W0BTU]

In the past I used a product I believe by 3M called Rust Reformer ...

I just Googled "rust reformer" (with the quotation marks) and Rust Reformer appears to be very much alive, well and available. :-)

It is not made by 3M, but by Rustoleum. It actually converts the rust to a hard, paintable surface.

I painted the rusty spots on a tilt-over tower at a previous QTH with Rust Reformer, then painted the entire tower with aluminum paint. It never rusted after that, at least before I moved.

[KE6DF]

I checked at the local ACE hardware and they had Rustoleum Rust Reformer in the paint section with the other Rustoleum products.

$6.99 per spray can.

[K7EDL]

Amazon has the 3m version by the quart.  I googled "3m rust fighter" to find it

Eric

[Rob K2CU]

Permatex has a great product available in either spray can or bottle. Goes on clear with only prep being to remove loose scale. Converts rust to a hard, black, paintable surface. You know when you have done the deed by color change. Sometimes a second, spot application is required. I have used this product for years, especially on cars.