rust removal

[nightvision]

Hi all,
I'm working on a travel trailer and noticed I have slight to moderate rust on the bottom frame. Now what is the best way to deal with this situation. I took a wire wheel and started grinding the rust and paint and it worked well. However, It will take me forever to do this and in some area I can't get the wire wheel into. I tried to use a wire brush in this area and it does remove some of the lose rust.

Here is my question. I'm opting to go the easy route and use a wire brush to remove the lose rust and go as deep as I can. Then a apply a rush inhibitor to nuetralize the rust. Then paint and prime. Would this work?

thanks.

 

[xtraham]

Re: rust removal

if you have access to a sand blaster that is the best way, if not a sanding disc on a grinder then brush with a "brass" wire brush, the brass brush will transfer brass from the brush to the steel and slow the re-rusting, then coat with what ever rust inhibitor you prefer and paint,

 

[tommays]

Re: rust removal

I use rust neutralizer and it does work BUT i dont find it to be a great primer even when they claim

" Chemically converts existing rust into primed surface. Creates strong, waterproof undercoating."


I find there are allways littel pin holes ready to start rusting again

So how long you need this trailer to last decides on how much work you need to do to save the frame


Tommays

 

[Windykid]

Re: rust removal

It is cheap enough these days to take it to a media blaster and have the whole trailer done quick and correctly!

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: rust removal

Rent a sand blaster from your big box store of choice. It will save you lots of time and you'll have a better result.

 

[burroak]

Re: rust removal

Rent a sand blaster from your big box store of choice. It will save you lots of time and you'll have a better result.

The rental and associated costs are nearly the same as media blasting.

The rental units are usually small. Unless you have a large capacity compressor, it is a slow and tedious process, plus nasty. The protective gear just ups the ante. With small volume compressors, media consumption is much greater. You will have to find an area to do this blasting; definitely don't do it in your work area - you'll regret that! I can rattle on and on about air driers, condensation, and media clogging, etc. You'd think I have been there, eh?

Bite the bullet and have it done; you may even get them to shoot the primer.

 

[Coors]

Re: rust removal

The rental and associated costs are nearly the same as media blasting.

The rental units are usually small. Unless you have a large capacity compressor, it is a slow and tedious process, plus nasty. The protective gear just ups the ante. With small volume compressors, media consumption is much greater. You will have to find an area to do this blasting; definitely don't do it in your work area - you'll regret that! I can rattle on and on about air driers, condensation, and media clogging, etc. You'd think I have been there, eh?

Bite the bullet and have it done; you may even get them to shoot the primer.

Lol, I bought a Harbor Freight one- wife has to shake the unit while I blast, to keep the sand feeding, and I have driers, etc.

 

[burroak]

Re: rust removal

The real snafu is deciding to blast outside, a natural thing to do considering the mess of blasting inside. If the outdoor temperature is much colder than you compressor source, or the sun is going down, the moisture will condense in the hose that is exposed to the cold and the nozzle will clog. The newb will shake or tap the nozzle to free it up; of course, it does not clear right away. It will clear just as you are looking straight down the nozzle. Which will provoke language that Mark Twain said gave relief denied even unto prayer.

Shot story---have it blasted.

 

[ziggy]

Re: rust removal

i'm with tommays. rust inhibitor. i used the product called extend. my boat trailer had horrible surface rust. bad engough that the bottom of the cross beams had been eatin thru. hired me a welder to resupport my cross beams with new steel. wire wheeled the whole trailer. used 3 bottle of extend on the whole trailer. rustoleum brand rusty metal primer + rustoleum rusty metal paint. the trailer's in the back yard now. has been for 2 years. not to much rust reappereaing at all. considering this was a backyard project. i felt it came out ok....