Rust-Oleum rust reformer

I've been looking all over the internet and I keep getting mixed reviews. Can I apply rust reformer over my entire frame or only to the rusty spots? I applied it to the whole front half of the frame and a lot of it is still white. I assume these are the parts that were not rusted. Can I just paint over this or do I need to clean the white part off somehow first?

This is what I used

 

I used this stuff on my skid plates. Just spray over the rusty parts. You'll need a couple of coats. When it turns black, just paint right over it. Easy peasy.

 

Pics of your frame?

Specifically the mounting points for your leaf pack?

You'll just be masking any real issues you may have.

 

I don't have any real issues that I'm aware of. It's a Colorado truck. I just want to know if my paint will stick over this rust reformer.

 

If it was turning black like it was supposed to I would agree with you. Was your skid plate entirely rusted or did it still have some paint? Mine is staying greyish white.

 

My skid plates had spots of rust on it. Mostly surface rust. I only used it on those spots and waited for it to dry. It didn't really turn black like primer, it was more of a greyish brown color, but I sprayed over it anyway and came out fine. I wouldn't expect it to work miracles though. You can probably just paint over the frosted over areas on your frame with some regular primer and paint away.

 

Ok. I think I probably put it on way too thick as well so that might have something to do with it. It was super thin and hard to paint on with the foam brushes I was using. Maybe I'll just go over it with some sandpaper and then paint over it.

 

They sell the same stuff in a rattle can. That's what I used. I would probably just scuff it down with a brillo pad and be done with it.

 

Alright I'll give that a shot. Hopefully this works. Thanks for your help.

 

@GQ7227 might have some insight. He is constantly looking at/working with product. He may have experience with that one.

 

this situation may need an analysis from a chemical engineer to drill down

my inclination is that there is some weird chemical reaction with this product and the top secret frame coating formula

perhaps phosphoric acid is the culprit
what are the listed ingredients of the rust reformer (i have not tried it so idk)

OP, did you experience a 'sizzling' effect when you applied this over the top of what you are working with

 

According to the safety data sheet the ingredients are a vinyl acrylic resin, silica and dowfax2A1(less than 0.2%)

I didn't experience a sizzling effect. There were some bubbles but they appeared to just be from shaking the container first like it says to in the instructions. Not like any sort of reaction was happening.

After looking at the data sheet I definitely painted it on way too thick, so maybe I'll just scotchbrite off the white parts and see what it looks like.

 

Side note is you are doing a mighty fine job, good luck.

 

i will check the ingredients of the stuff i know turned parts of mine silver that was ''probably'' just surface rust on top of the crappy coating that had not seeped through to the metal yet, which it seems what you are working with or is all the paint on your frame in certain parts peeling off?

 

Pretty.mich everything I've done so far seemed to just be surface rust. There is a bit of more serious rust on the back part of the frame that I haven't tried to paint yet.

 

Rust reformers/converters are meant to be used only on rusty parts. A lot of people make the mistake of wire wheeling or sanding down most of the rust and then applying a reformer- that’s what leaves you with the white haze. Essentially you’re removing what the reformer needs to react (rust). It works great when used as a spot treatment but an overall coating leaves that residue that may make paint adhesion troublesome. I’d suggest sanding or scuffing any areas that didn’t react (turn black) for proper paint adhesion.


As a side note, I’ve had really good results using this: for larger items that can’t be fully submerged, you can soak rags in this stuff and then wrap them around the affected area. Then wrap all that in plastic bags or plastic wrap to keep the product from evaporating before it has a chance to work. Since it dissolves rust as opposed to chemically converting it, it has no effect on non-rusty surfaces and doesn’t leave the white residue.

 

I used a phosphoric solution (specially Ospho) on a frame and it was supposed to convert rust to a black coating, ready for prime or paint. It left a white scale instead like you’re experiencing.

I didn’t end up going further at the time but I removed it with a pressure washer and haven’t touched it since.

 

it looks like one of your lights is a halogen?
that kind of light sure makes the bad stuff sparkle, but for some reason mine looked different than yours before i took all of it off
also i wiped it down with wd40 first before the pic
or perhaps your rust has been caused by something different than mine has ... i don't notice any really crunchy paint in the far back of yours yet




i really need to get my trucks bed off like you have to get this all completely knocked out next year when the weather gets warmer
not sure how i am going to get it off though!

 

I'm about to try to wash/sand off the white parts like you said and then just prime and paint it. Wish me luck.