The Best Rust Converter For a Car That You Should Buy in 2020
Cars are made of metals. Just like in most metals, the cars are likely to develop some rust if not taken care of properly. However, if this is realized early enough, then just a small application of a rust remover will be enough to take care of the problem. At times, it takes too long for one to recognize the presence of rust on the car up to the point that its removal is next to impossible.
The best rust converter for a car is what you need in such a situation. It normally combines with the rust to form a new compound. This compound is always dark in color and very hard. This compound removes the rust, protects the car from rust as well as laying a good foundation for future treatments such as the application of oil-based or water-based paints.
How a Rust Converter Operates
Rust is chemically known as iron oxide. It is a compound that comes about as a result of the reaction between moisture and metals made of iron or its compounds. It becomes so ugly on your car if not removed in time. Balancing and controlling cars with sway control can become difficult if these rusts are allowed to form in large amounts to the extent of increasing the car’s weight.
Rust converters are made from tannic acid that reacts with the rust to chemically convert it to iron tannate. This resulting product is always a stable material that is dark in color. The resulting dark material is a polymeric coating that acts as a primer for both the oil-based and water-based paints. It protects your car from future corrosion and rust.
Types of rust converters
Rust converters are majorly divided into two depending on the form in which they come in. These are the gel and liquid forms. These types of rust converters have their own different features, merits and demerits.
Of the two mentioned types of rust converters, the choice will depend on the nature of the metal surface that is to be worked on. A good example being the time taken to spread the gel types on flat surfaces as compared to the liquid ones.
One advantage that the gel kinds have over their liquid counterparts is that they do not spill so often. The choice between the two is always a matter of preference from the buyer.
Features to Consider Before Buying Rust Converter for Your Car
Rust converters are used specifically on rust and not bare metals. This means that it works best on metals with iron in them. Steel and any other iron alloys are some of the other materials that the rust converter can be applied.
However, there are currently some brands that produce an advanced formula that can be used as primers for the metal surface. The only problem that comes with these formulas is that they will not provide the desired future protection. Medium and heavy rusts are what you should use the converter on, but if the rust is too heavy, then you first need to grind and sand it to become smooth. Here are the key factors to consider.
1. Durability
After the application and curing of rust converter, other activities such as sealing, painting and metal treatment follow. There are currently some rust converters that do not require any form of treatment after they have been applied. They double up as protection from future corrosion. These kinds of rust converters last longer.
The more viscous types of rust converters have been found to be more durable compared to the thinner ones. There is no known standard of measuring the durability of rust converters, but you can gauge this when rust has been converted.
2. Application
Rust converters are thin liquids. They can be applied using a brush or even spray. There are however more advanced brands that come as an aerosol. They are more expensive though. The aerosol types ensure even distribution as well as helping save on the rust converter.
The rust converters have different levels of viscosity since others are thick while others are much thinner. Thinner rust converters are easier to spray compared to their thicker counterparts. The nature of surface you are working on also matters a lot.
It is, for example, easier to spray a long pole than trying to paint it. The thinner rust converters always drip a lot after application and will, therefore, require more coats on the corroded surface before the best result is obtained.
On the other hand, the thicker ones are difficult to apply through spraying, but they stick on the surface without much dripping. This makes them work with just fewer coats. The viscous level of the rust converter and the nature of the surface to be worked on are what will determine the mode of application to use.
3. Ease of cleaning
Cleanup depends on the rust converter’s active agent. Most of them are however made from phosphoric acid-base plus other compounds. These rust converters are the most difficult ones to clean. The surface from which you are cleaning it from also matters a lot.
Based on the surface from which you are cleaning it from, the most difficult to clean rust converters become the easiest if on stone-based driveways. A different scenario is what may occur when the rust converter spills on your clothes or hands.
In this case, the stain will last forever in your cloth and hands until the skin naturally sheds off. There are however some brands that their formulas can be tweaked so that they become easy to clean with just water and soap.
4. Drying time
Generally, rust converters should take between 24 and 48 hours to dry. There are some brands that can just take an hour or two, and you will be able to do some treatment or even painting without any effects on that rust conversion, paint adherence or priming action.
The weather pattern of the area you live in also plays a key role on the drying time of a rust converter to buy. The converters that take less time to dry up are most suitable for areas that are humid or experience rainy conditions.
5. Side effects
Being that most rust converters are made from phosphoric acid, be assured of some unwanted effects. Direct contact between these rust converters and the skin will in most instances cause inflammation, discomfort and irritation. It is therefore advisable that you use gloves when applying them.
Some rust converters contain some additives that make them non-flammable such as those made from phosphoric acid. However, aerosols are highly flammable due to their compression.
A Review of Five of The Best Rust Converter For Car Available on The Market 2018
Image | Product Name | Price | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | $ | 93 /100 | ||
 | $$ | 90 /100 | ||
 | $ | 96 /100 | ||
 | $ | 89 /100 | ||
 | Permatex 81849 Rust Treatment Aerosol Can | $$ | 87 /100 |
To get some hint on some of the best products available, here is a review round up of the best five products. You can choose to consider some of these, if not all of them. You can as well opt to do further research and pick a product that you feel is appropriate for your car.
Overview
The FDC rust converter is a primer and surface conditioner that yields a polymeric coating that acts a protective layer. It seals out moisture, therefore, preventing future corrosion and rust. The primer coating is good for applying oil-based paints.
Above all, it is easy to use. It protects your car against adverse weather conditions. Before applying it, use sandpaper or wire brush to remove large scales and rust. After which you need to clean the surface well to remove dust, grease and dirt.
This product is ready to use, and there is no need of thinning. Use a brush or a pump sprayer to apply it. One gallon is enough to spray 500 square feet of a smooth and non-porous surface. It dries to finish in 20 minutes after which you can add a second coat.
Allow curing to take place in 48 hours then apply the paint coat. Two coats of oil-based paints of high quality, when used to seal the rust converter, make it long-lasting. You will not need any primer. Use water and soap to clean the application equipment once you are done.
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Note that this rust converter should not be applied on surfaces with temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. You should store it in cool and dry environments preferably with temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit to protect it from freezing.
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Overview
If you want to eliminate the rusts on your car, you need to find the best rust converter that will perform to your expectations. The VHT SP229 rust converter is sprayed directly on the rust. A black coat is then formed that can prevent future rust. Its application on the car is a very straightforward process.
It can be applied on fiberglass, metal and body fillers. Curing takes 24 hours after which you can now apply top coat. This rust converter is flameproof and can withstand temperatures of up to 2000 degrees Fahrenheit. It is therefore ideal for turbo housings, headers, and exhaust systems. This product is however prohibited in the Catalina Island.
What’s more, using this rust converter always results in a smooth and even end product that is very attractive. It will also eliminate the chances of rust forming on the same spot in the future. The only drawback associated with this product is that its nozzle is somehow defective and can break quite easily.
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The Corroseal 82331 rust converter is useful in removing rust from all types of vehicles. It converts the rust which is usually iron oxide into magnetite which is a stable very stable substance. It is a multi-purpose converter that acts as rust converter, paint and a primer at the same time covering the metal surface with high-quality latex.
It is eco-friendly as compared to sandblasting. It is easy to apply and hence time-saving. With this rust converter, all your rust elimination and priming have been taken care of. This product boasts of over twenty-five years of experience in the harshest of environments such as in the marine industry.
Apart from its use in the automobile industry, it is also very useful in the industrial, household and marine as already mentioned above. Being water-based, this formula is easy to clean up. Water and soap are all you need for this. If you worry about your safety when using this product, it is some great news to learn that it is non-corrosive.
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This rust converter is also non-flammable and will protect your car against future rust without any further special treatment. One gallon can cover between 200 and 250 square feet.
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Overview
This is yet another one of the best rust converters for cars. The PlastiKote 624 rust converter uses organic properties to convert rust to a paintable surface without any foaming or bubbling. Being that it is non-toxic and non-flammable, this product is environmentally friendly.
It does not contain hazardous chemicals, and therefore there is no staining experienced the subsequent paints applied. This product’s operation mechanism involves converting rust into a hard iron with a surface that can be painted. It only weighs 1.2 pounds and can, therefore, be easily carried around as you use it around your car.
What’s more, this rust converter has no effects on subsequently applied paints, and this will make sure that your car remains looking attractive. The only issue to be worried about when using this product is that it can only be used to convert small sized rusts. It also performs poorly when used under higher temperatures.
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Overview
The Permatex 81849 Rust Treatment is another great product that will get rid of rust in your car very easily. This product will make sure that the old rust in your car is taken care of while it will also prevent the formation of new rust in your car.
All you’ll be needed to do is just brushing or spraying it on your car and a black durable polymer coating will replace the rust. This rust converter has been specially formulated so that it can be used with fiberglass and body fillers. This also allows it to be used in temperatures ranging from 10°C and 32°C.
This rust converter can be applied in all automotive applications. These applications include trucks, tractors, bulkheads, agricultural equipment among others. What’s more, it weighs only 11.1 pounds which makes it light enough to be used easily when removing rust on your car.
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Conclusion
Rust often give cars an ugly look and can cost you a lot if control is not done at an earlier stage. If you manage to keep the rust off your car, then be sure that it will retain its new look which will increase its value when doing a resale or during a trade-in. A first impression of how your car looks like can be used to gauge the kind of person the owner is, so try always to keep your ride in the best shape possible.
Thanks to rust converters as you can use them to get rid of rust with a lot of ease as well as protect your car against any future rust and corrosion. Of the five reviewed products, the Corroseal 82331 Rust Converter stands out to be the best rust converter for a car.
This product has almost all the features that an ideal rust converter should possess. And these are ease of application, non-toxicity, non-flammability, and ease of cleaning being that it is water based just but to mention a few. We would, therefore, like to recommend it for you.
Having used the above-recommended product for a long time now, I can confidently assure you that it will give you the best results as far as elimination of rust from your car is concerned. You can as well try the rest of the products discussed above.
Do you have any questions, suggestions or comments to make? We value your feedback.
