
The time left on the white rust depends on the severity of oxidation. The solution is directly spread over the area and allowed to stand for 30 seconds to 30 minutes. This cleaner is a powder that is mixed with water. One of the two products is called “ICC-258”. Of the numerous products that claim to do the job, two have actually been tested by a manufacturer of galvanized steel and discovered to be successful in removing heavier white rust residue. Products such as Bon-Ami or Ajax will usually work on the white rust oxidation and the panel should be restored to the original finish of the galvanized coating.Īs mentioned above, heavier white rust will need a stronger treatment to remove the oxidation. Removing light rust from a galvanized steel panel before painting can usually be done by scrubbing the panel with household cleaner. The abrasion may be done by motorized equipment or chemical scouring. White rust is a type of oxidation and will involve some scraping to remove a heavy layer. Removing heavier white rust will probably need a more intense treatment which usually results in some loss of the galvanized coating. If this rust is light it may be removed without too much loss of the zinc coating on the galvanized steel panel. The panels may have accumulated “white rust” that will need to be removed before painting. This may be done by using the steps below:ġ. Unpainted galvanized steel panels may need to be painted after being placed in the field. FIELD PAINTING UNPAINTED GALVANIZED STEEL Continue on with Steps three through five. (It is not necessary to pre-treat aluminum that has been out in the open after six months or more.) After Step 1 above, the aluminum will have a sufficient amount of self-etching to insure good paint adhesion. Use the same procedure as described in Section “A” excluding Step 2. Aluminum Exposed to the Elements for Six (6) Months or More Confirm compatibility of the two with the paint provider. The finish coat should be compatible with the primer that was used in Step #4. Finish off with a coat of a quality exterior paint. (Do not use primer that contains lead pigments.) Aluminum paints that are made for metal are outstanding when used as primers.ĥ. When aluminum panels are completely dry a coat of any good metal primer may be applied. Be sure to wear protective clothing such as safety goggles and rubber gloves.Ĥ. After approximately three to five minutes the panels should be rinsed off completely with clear water.ĬAUTION: When using any acidic mixture, such as the one described above, precautions must be taken to shields skin, eyes, face, and any other exposed parts of the body. Apply the mixture above onto the aluminum panels with a cloth or brush. A second option to buying the commercial pre-treatment is to prepare your own solution using the following ingredients and portions:ģ. The manufacturer’s instructions, found on the label, should be carefully followed when a commercial pre-treatment is used. A pre-mixed solution of this type can be found in most paint stores under the name “Aluma-Prep” made by Amchem. Apply a cold water and phosphoric acid mixture to prepare the aluminum surfaces to accept and cling to paint. After cleaning the panels, they should be rinsed completely with clean water. This would be a mild detergent such as Gain or Tide. Prepare panels that need painting by cleaning with a common household laundry detergent. Aluminum Exposed to the Elements for Less Than Six (6) Monthsġ.

The following instructions should answer these questions using one of the procedures below: A.

Often customers need to know the correct way to paint a plain unpainted panel application in the field, such as the aluminum siding or roof.
