Thread: what clear coat for rusty metal

Clear matt epoxy will work although it will eventually turn yellowish in time.

I was in an antique /junk shop yesterday and their entire stock had been painted with shellac. Certainly stops the rust from rubbing off.

Have a look at a product called Penetrol from the Flood company.

it will cover the rust and prevent further rusting but it will be like wet rust. Not sure if it is this or the orange type colour you are wanting.

Make the legs from corten steel. It should be available from most sheet metal suppliers.

It has a stable oxide coating that doesn't rub off.

Other than that, I'd spray normal-but-rusty metal with a car paint clearcoat.

Both car clear coat and shellac will have a glossy finish and may not look all that natural.
Like epoxy both will also yellow with time.
Some clear coats are epoxies and some are polyurethanes (PU). if you can get PU in a matt finish then that is an alternative to matt epoxy.
There are all sorts of claims made about the differences, harder, more flexible, less susceptible to UV etc but they probably don't matter in your case.

I use a mixture of turps, penetrol, linseed oil and a bit of bees wax. I've used this on many rusty furniture items. You just paint it on and let it dry. A couple days later buff off any oiliness with a clean rag.

There is an excellent commercial product for this, Xtroll rust conqueror.

Quoting from the manufacture's description:

"Rust Conqueror UV is a powerful rust penetrating, moisture repelling clear varnish like coating. It penetrates the rust layers while impregnating the underlying metal surfaces, creating a 99% pore free isolating film. It embeds rust in its substance and bonds the rust back to the surface. It will stop further under film corrosion".

Items painted with Xtroll 10 years ago and hanging in my shed are still in the condition they were when first coated.

There are alls sorts of clear coats that will work.

Anything from wax to funku space age coatings.

BUT one thing...make sure the rusty surface is more or less sound, clean and realy dry before you start.

As it say on most jars.....rub as much loose rust off as you can...that may be just a coarse rag or even a scotch brite.....as you plan a good scrub with thinner will get any oils, contaminants or salts out of the surface.
I would sugest then getting the metal good and warm..leav it out in the hot sun or some such.

Clean dry rust is far more stable to start with..and being clean and dry what ever you coat it with will work better.

cheers

Thanks chaps, there is always great advice.


Pappy