Help with rust removal

[aussieflash]

G'day all,
Got a single axle trailer in good condition,except for the axle which has heavy surface rust.What's the best way to tidy up,and should I paint it after clean up?

 

[bigdee]

Re: Help with rust removal

Easiest: Apply a rust converter ( brush it directly over the rusted axle) allow time to turn black then spray paint with aerosol paint.

 

[wifisher]

Re: Help with rust removal

Angle grinder with a wire cup brush. Will zip the rust off in no time, then a shot of your favorite paint.

 

[aussieflash]

Re: Help with rust removal

Thanks guys,I'll give the grinding a go.Do I need to wear mask for this job.

 

[wifisher]

Re: Help with rust removal

Thanks guys,I'll give the grinding a go.Do I need to wear mask for this job.

A mask would be a good idea. Inhaling paint chips is probably not the healthiest thing in the world. I'll admit that I usually do not wear one. Face shield and leather gloves are a must. The most hazardous thing will be the flying particles of rust, and the occasional wire that breaks off of the brush.

 

[ajgraz]

Re: Help with rust removal

Agreed with wifisher, maybe also a coat of rust-buster primer before the paint.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Help with rust removal

Suggest an angle grinder and a flap sander disc.

Eye protection is a must! Experience speaks. 2 years ago while grinding my old trailer I had a speck of rust fly up under my saftey glasses and get embedded in my eye. Went to the ER and was promptly sent to an Optimologest to get it removed. Big bucks and very painful!

 

[Bustedknuckle84]

Re: Help with rust removal

agree with bonz_d x2 , had this happen to me bout 6 months ago. amazin how little the piece was but it sure did irratate the crap outta my eye.

 

[bigdee]

Re: Help with rust removal

Don't make life hard....you do not need to grind off the rust if you use a converter......great stuff and will last alot longer than new metal and primer. The only drawback is the finish won't be smooth but on an axle who cares.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Help with rust removal

"heavy" rust needs to be removed before any product is applied..... and the mask is a must.... just in case you wondered when a spinning wire brush sheds wires and the lodge in your face, it hurts. At a bare minimum wear goggles... too much can get around just glasses... I had a wire lodged in my eye years ago, went past my glasses and right through my eyelid... I also had a piece of metal removed by the eye doc.... it hurt and the scar took me from 20/15 to 20/25 in my right eye.... I count myself as VERY lucky..... sorta...........

 

[bigdee]

Re: Help with rust removal

"heavy" rust needs to be removed before any product is applied..... and the mask is a must.... just in case you wondered when a spinning wire brush sheds wires and the lodge in your face, it hurts. At a bare minimum wear goggles... too much can get around just glasses... I had a wire lodged in my eye years ago, went past my glasses and right through my eyelid... I also had a piece of metal removed by the eye doc.... it hurt and the scar took me from 20/15 to 20/25 in my right eye.... I count myself as VERY lucky..... sorta...........

Rust converter will not work if rust is removed. Large flaky rust should be knocked loose but not totally removed. I have used rust converters on every imaginable situation and it works!

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Help with rust removal

Rust converter will not work if rust is removed. Large flaky rust should be knocked loose but not totally removed. I have used rust converters on every imaginable situation and it works!

like we said... the heavy rust ie scale must be removed.... I've used converters before too.... mainly in places where I couldn't reasonably clean and paint or on stuff that I didn't care enough to put in the effort for a better job.....

honestly though if the axle actually does have what I would call heavy rust I'd say it might be worth the $130 to just replace it.... On the other hand if it is actually light surface rust then bandaid it and go

 

[Art Bernard]

Re: Help with rust removal

Use a stiff wire brush or wire wheel and remove all loose scale, than coat with rust converter such as osspho (dunno if i spelled that right), after converter dries, pain it with a good oil based paint (black rustoleum works good).

Art