Rant: That 'rust converter' spray I laughed at actually saved my old truck's frame

I was dead set on cutting out a rusted section of my 1997 F-150's frame near the rear axle in Austin last month, but the guy at the parts counter talked me into trying a $12 can of Rust-Oleum rust converter instead. I wire-brushed it down, sprayed it on, and after three days it hardened into this black coating that actually feels solid and isn't flaking. Has anyone else had this stuff hold up long term, or am I just delaying the inevitable here?

2 comments

2 Comments

paigem4522d ago

Three days is nothing. Check it again in six months when Austin humidity and road salt from a single winter storm hit it. That stuff is basically paint with some chemical reaction that only works on clean surface rust, not the deep rot already eating through your frame rails. If the metal was already flaky or had pinholes, you just painted over a ticking clock. I've seen guys use that on trailer hitches and it buys them a year tops before it starts bubbling from the backside. The parts counter guy sold you a bandaid so you'd leave happy instead of spending real money on cutting and welding. Plan on replacing that section eventually, or at least keep a fire extinguisher in the cab.

grant_hart22d ago

Man @paigem45 nailed it. That stuff is basically fancy paint that hides the real problem until it's too late. I had a buddy use it on his Tacoma frame, thought he was good for a couple years. Six months later he went to jack it up to change a tire and the jack punched right through the frame rail. Rust was still eating from the inside out, the coating just sealed moisture in. You're better off drilling weep holes and using fluid film every fall if you can't afford the weld job yet.