Rust is a reaction that happens when metals combine with other molecules. Not only is rust unattractive, it also causes the slow deterioration of metal components. Shield your tools, car and other belongings made of metal now if you want to preserve their quality.
Rust is an iron oxide, usually red oxide formed by the redox reaction of iron and oxygen in the presence of water or air moisture. Several forms of rust are distinguishable both visually and by spectroscopy, and form under different circumstances. Rust consists of hydrated iron(III) oxides Fe2O3·nH2O and iron(III) oxide-hydroxide (FeO(OH), Fe(OH)3). [1]
Here are steps for preventing rust formation.
1. Protecting Your Car against Rust
Clean and wax your car on a regular basis. Give your car a good wash every two weeks to remove contaminants like road grime, dust, dirt, bird poop, dead bugs and tree sap. These contaminants can increase rust formation, and also scratch your car’s paint.
Salt is also harmful to cars. If you live in a salty place or during winter when there’s salt on the roads, wash your car once a week and focus on its underside.
You can also use silicone spray to create a shield for the car’s finish. One of the uses of this protective solution is preventing damage brought by pollution and chemicals. A lot of after-market car specialists also use a waxy paste spray treatment for rustproofing vehicles.
2. Coating Metals
Rust can be controlled if the piece of metal is separated from its environment. This is exactly why a lot of metals are painted.
When coating larger structures, a wax-based product like slushing oil may be needed to do the job. Slushing oil can be applied by injecting it into the area that’s prone to rust. This type of oil has rust inhibiting substances that produce a protective shield.
3. Gun Rust Protection
Guns aren’t safe from rust as well. Don’t allow rust to creep into your firepower. Get a cabinet or safe with the right environment for storing metal.
A new way of shielding metals from rust is called Vapor Corrosion Inhibitors or VCI. This technology gives off a vapor that forms a protective layer around metal objects. Consider getting VIC gun bags to keep rust away from guns for up to five years. Additionally, VIC is non-reactive, non-toxic, invisible and odorless.
4. Fix Rust Spots Immediately
The very moment you see the first sign of rust, you should already be fixing the affected area. Don’t wait for it to spread. This is especially important wit cars since even the slightest sign of rust on a car usually means there’s a huge unseen rust damage going on.
If you see a rust spot, scrape all the loose paint and cracks with a razor. Use warm water and soap to remove grime. To stop rust from creeping to other areas, apply a primer as well as a metal conditioner. Put touch-up paint over the affected area if applicable.
5. DIY Rustproofing at Home
Creating your very own rust prevention concoction is easy as 1, 2, 3. Just add one part of anhydrous lanolin to five parts of paint thinner. To apply the concoction, you can either use a brush or dip pieces of metal into the solution.
Alternatively, you can buy pastes and cream waxes, like Automobile Paste Wax, for your tools. Many prefer using the paste kind because cream-based products contain a considerable amount of water. Some products that displace air and moisture include Birchwood Casey Sheath, Sprayon Corrosion Supressant, Starret M1, Rustlick 631, Boeshield T9, Rust-X and WD-40.
