How do I fix a rusting galvanised steel trailer?

Question

I have a galvanised steel trailer for our boat which has seen better days. I dont have the thousand odd pounds to buy an new one so i need to carry out some repairs. Most of the rust seems to be superficial, rather than eating through the box beams.

Should i take off the excess rust with a wire brush and then paint it with hammerite, or is there a paint that is similar to the zinc allready coating the beams? Should i prime it first then (and if so, what with), or use rust eater or would i be better off and try and build myself a new trailer?

Does anyone have the plans for building boat trailers, or know how much it would cost to dip a whole trailer. The trailer is about 12 foot long and about 5 foot wide?

Thanks in advance...

Answer 1

First of all, for safety sake, you must ensure that the rust is only superficial, hit the structure with a hammer, this will show up any weaknesses. Any holes should be repaired by grinding the galvanised steel back to bright steel and welding mild steel plate over the holes. If the section is too bad you may have to cut and sleeve a section.

Wire brushes merely polishes the rust, use a angle grinder with a grinding disc on it to cut back the rust to bright metal.

Then apply Jenolite in accordance with the manufacturers instructions, prime and paint or just paint with Hammerite.

Hope that helps, email me if you need clarification

Answer 2

Galvanised Steel Rust

Answer 3

1

Answer 4

IF the rust is superficial, then use that wire brush and some sandpaper to get it down to the metal.
Then use a good metal primer on the entire trailer. Go right over the paint that is already there. Give it two days to really dry well.

Then use an EPOXY-based paint. Or, if you can find the facility that does it, go to a powder application epoxy facility, and get it powder-coated with epoxy. But in either case, use an epoxy based paint. Allow a week for complete setup of the paint, and you will have a trailer that will never rust again!! Enjoy!!

Answer 5

Best thing to do is get a wire brush or rotary sander attachment for a power drill and remove the excess oxidized iron. Then go to the hardware store and purchase soemthing like Rustoleum's RUST REFORMER or similiar formula. It was invented for the NAVY and is use to chemically treat the rust itself to stop the oxidation. It doesn't just cover, nor does it require that ALL of the rust be gone. Instead it changes the remaining rust into a protective surface which chemically will not oxidize again. It actually penetrates the rust and transforms all that it reaches into a chemically inert material. If you get most of the rust off first, then it will penetarte down to the good iron material below.

Once that is dry, a simple PRIME and then PAINT coat on top and you are done!

Answer 6

I'd recommend KBS Coatings' RustSeal over the old standard POR15 for your rust repair. There are some important differences. KBS's advanced formulation provides better adhesion & rust sealing powers. RustSeal seeps deep down into the rusted metal pores and blocks all access to water & oxygen.RustSeal's pigments are also richer and better dispersed which account for a higher level of UV stability. POR on the other hand chalks within 2 weeks of UV exposure and rubs off on your hands like soot within a month. RustSeal is also easier to sand. It doesn't gum up like POR.

A sandblasted surface is the ideal surface for RustSeal. If you choose to wirebrush the loose flaky rust, however, then wash with AquaKlean and treat with RustBlast before sealing with RustSeal. You can topcoat RustSeal with any Paint system if you choose.

Answer 7

Thats odd that a galvanized trailer is rusting.......But if there is a hardware store around there see if they have some Navel Jelly or other type of rust inhibitor . In the U.S. there are all kinds of inhibitors on the market. if there is none available you can wire brush it but use an electric wire wheel to do the job, not only is it faster & easier but it's cleaner too.then coat it with a good rust inhibiting paint. That should do it. OH ! don't forget to wear your saftey glasses when you do the work.

Answer 8

either use naval jelly rust remover, to save some wire brushing. or in your case it would be easy and not to expensive to take it somewhere and have it sand blasted.
As the one answer says there are some paints (such as Krylon which bond with flat surface rust.
and, if you have that kind of rust (i assume from backing trailer into water)
look to your wheel bearings and hubs.
P.S. If you get frame stripped ,ask about electro-painting, a process for painting metals which uses a light current to draw the paint over surfaces.

Answer 9

Remove the flaking rust and use a product called POR-15

POR-15® is a high-tech, high performance rust-preventive coating designed for application directly on rusted or seasoned metal surfaces. It dries to an incredible rock-hard, non-porous finish that won't chip, crack, or peel, and it prevents rust from recurring by protecting metal from further exposure to moisture.

Use it to coat rusty frames, floor pans, farm equipment, marine equipment, or even a heavily corroded battery tray.

POR-15® is sensitive to UV light (sun) and must be topcoated for prolonged exposure to sunlight.
Topcoating is not required for areas not exposed to sunlight.


PINT - $26.00
QUART - $38.75
GALLON - $123.75
5 GALLON - $529.25

Answer 10

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