slowing and or stopping rust

Hi metal heads

I have to attempt to repair a steel frame that covers a pool. The frame consists of 24 4" steel posts sitting on concrete pads. Each post has a 1/2" thick steel plate welded to the bottom that are bolted to the concrete pads. They're starting to rust and I need to slow or stop it.

What do you guys think of this possible solution. Do you have any other suggestions.

I was thinking of attacking the rust with an acid to convert it and then paint on a heavy coat of rust kill (zink paint) and then seal them in a good quality paint.

As an added feature to slow the rust I was thinking of the sacrifical anodes that they put on boats. I thought maybe boltng one at the base of each post maybe a good way of keeping the rust at bay also.

Both those might work. I'd try to lift the posts, clean all around with a wire wheel on an angle grinder, then paint with a moisture curing polyurethane like POR13.

The trouble with an anode is it works like a battery and thus need a circuit. On a boat it's easy as the salt water flows all around, with galvanising it's easy because the zinc is all over the surface. With a discreet anode on a post in air it may or may not work.

I think you would do better cleaning down loose rust, using a rust converter and then a zinc rich primer.

2c.

toolin,
hammerite is the answer to your problem, I used it on ungalvanised security grilles and have not had any rust appear after 3 years.
The australian distributor is a good bloke and he will despatch it next day. dont worry too much about the xylene based thinners, any paint store will supply you with a suitable solvent.
He is not a rel. or even a friend and I am not connected in any way, except as an occasional customer.
regards,
joe

I'll give that a go - cheers

Hi
Something that was worked very well for me is insulating the steel. In my case I had a steel frame screwed to a copper arsenic treted pine batten fence.It rusted like blazes even with paint on it. I have no doubt that was electrolytic corrosion was the prime cause of the rust.

I placed some plastic insulators ( actually scrap acrylic from school) under the base plate and re screwed the lot with 316 stainless steel.

From that time the rust was stopped in its tracks.

I can't guarantee it would work in the pool area but it should be cost effective to give it a go.

Cheers
Grahame

Re the remarks that suggested placing plates of acrylic under the posts send me a pm if you live somewhere near Canberra I may have access to some acrylic to do that job, I have a contact where I can get pieces.

Peter:2tsup:

MY vote goes with POR15 great stuff not cheap but brilliant.

I would remove the posts and grind/wire brush off as much rust as possible, treat them with POR then paint them (POR is not UV stable) and away you go.

I have been happy in the past with a rust converter on first and then a coat of hammerite.For me this has worked and worked well. Thanks for listening Matt