Removing Rust From Van Floor

[PatsyG]

So it's been a little while since I removed the nasty, dirty carpet from the floor of my van. Now I am seeing some rust. I think some of the paint must have come off too, along with the carpet and glue underneath it.
Can someone please share with me the easiest, but effective, way to remove it. Or is there something I can paint over it that will stop it.
I haven't had much luck with my searches.
Any help will be appreciated.

 

[Raven+Squid]

Sand the rusty spots maybe down to 220 grit , prime with etching primer, then paint.

 

[BradKW]

Corroseal is a great product, combines the converting attributes of Ospho with sealing action of primer.. http://m.homedepot.com/p/Corroseal-...ftYeFwbKvN4ClOj8ILWqgxoC0Dbw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[PatsyG]

Corroseal is a great product, combines the converting attributes of Ospho with sealing action of primer.. http://m.homedepot.com/p/Corroseal-...ftYeFwbKvN4ClOj8ILWqgxoC0Dbw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Thank you, they do not have it in a store near me, but I can order it. I was not looking forward to doing all that sanding.
BTW, I would love to be in your area someday but don't know that I will ever get that far.

 

[steamjam1]

The best/cheapest way I have found is to go buy some white vinegar, and mix it 1 parts to 3 parts water and use a red scotch-bright pad.

If the rust isnt severe enough to warrant cutting out and welding in new metal, spray that mixture onto the rust and let it soak for no more then 1/2 hour.. then use the scotch bright to scrub it off. Etch primer and paint.

 

[highdesertranger]

1. remove all rust scale. an Makita angle grinder with a wire wheel makes this step quick.
2. coat with a rust convertor type of product.
3. prime with a high zinc content primer.
4. paint.
highdesertranger

 

[PatsyG]

The best/cheapest way I have found is to go buy some white vinegar, and mix it 1 parts to 3 parts water and use a red scotch-bright pad.

If the rust isnt severe enough to warrant cutting out and welding in new metal, spray that mixture onto the rust and let it soak for no more then 1/2 hour.. then use the scotch bright to scrub it off. Etch primer and paint.

Thanks.  I will try this before using the Corroseal product.

 

[PatsyG]

1.  remove all rust scale.  an Makita angle grinder with a wire wheel makes this step quick.
2.  coat with a rust convertor type of product.
3.  prime with a high zinc content primer.
4.  paint.
highdesertranger

Thank you, HDR.  Do I really need to paint it if I am just going to cover the floor with plywood?

 

[Almost There]

Thank you, HDR.  Do I really need to paint it if I am just going to cover the floor with plywood?

Yes, raw metal will rust as long as air is getting at it. The plywood doesn't seal the metal just gives you a good base for attaching furniture and laying a floor covering.

 

[PatsyG]

Yes, raw metal will rust as long as air is getting at it. The plywood doesn't seal the metal just gives you a good base for attaching furniture and laying a floor covering.

Would the primer not be enough?

Are you back home yet?  Good journey?

 

[highdesertranger]

no priming alone is not good enough, it needs paint as well. primer does not seal the surface, paint does. highdesertranger

 

[Almost There]

Would the primer not be enough?

Are you back home yet?  Good journey?

I bow to HDR but for the minor surface rust I had on the floor of the van after removing the nasty rubber matting and fiber underlay that was in mine, I just used Rustoleum.

If the rust just showed up after letting the raw metal sit for a few weeks once you removed the carpet then it's just surface rust not anything serious YET! If not sealed from air contact it WILL become serious over time.

And no, I'm not back home, actually this morning I'm typing from the Flying J in Tucumcari NM...

Taking my time getting back across the continent, actually I'm dragging my heels! Don't...want...to...go...home....

 

[SternWake]

'Rustoleum'  is a well marketed product, but for actually preventing the return of rust, it is no better than any other paint.

I've used a lot of Ospho.  Ospho on a scotch brite pad is pretty good for such a task as a floor with a bunch of surface rust. 

One of those 7 in one paint scrapers used before and after ospho yields a better result, but is unnecessary as the ospho is designed to be painted after 24 hours.

I like that the ospho did not hurt the paint next to rusted steel, and that if the rust went under the paint, the paint bubbled only there, but it took overnight to do so.

After the rust turns black, one can take a scraper and scrape off the hard black iron phosphate and find brown rust underneath, and retreat it, all the way down to bare pitted steel if one wishes.  Naval Jelly is supposed to dissolve rust, but I found the ospho worked better and does not have that 'rinse liberally with water' in the directions.


I have had excellent results with Appliance epoxy spray paint.  Use no primer with it.  Excellent adhesion and durability, but recoat within an hour or after 7 days.

Home depot sells a product called Kleen strip prep and etch which is kind of like the poor man's ospho.

Ospho is sold at most Ace hardware stores, about 15$ a quart.

I think a main benefit of ospho is how well paint adheres to surfaces prepped with it.  I've not tried all other methods to compare which is more effective

 

[PatsyG]

I bow to HDR but for the minor surface rust I had on the floor of the van after removing the nasty rubber matting and fiber underlay that was in mine, I just used Rustoleum.

If the rust just showed up after letting the raw metal sit for a few weeks once you removed the carpet then it's just surface rust not anything serious YET! If not sealed from air contact it WILL become serious over time.

And no, I'm not back home, actually this morning I'm typing from the Flying J in Tucumcari NM...

Taking my time getting back across the continent, actually I'm dragging my heels! Don't...want...to...go...home....

Have a great trip, at least.

 

[steamjam1]

As long as the rust doesn't look like this, you'll be fine:
[img=501x281]http://oi66.tinypic.com/2ih1qtv.jpg[/img]

I ended up doing stuff like this all over the RV's floor...
[img=395x528]http://oi64.tinypic.com/59zfyp.jpg[/img]

[img=365x296]http://oi68.tinypic.com/oo57o.jpg[/img]

Then I coated the entire floor with Chassis-Saver. Its expensive stuff, but It'll outlast the rest of the van.

 

[Gary68]

nice work steamjam1

anyone ever use the rust mort type stuff?
https://www.semproducts.com/rust-and-corrosion-rust-converters-sealers/rust-morttm

i have had it recommended to me for truck beds and such but never used it

 

[PatsyG]

As long as the rust doesn't look like this, you'll be fine:
[img=501x281]http://oi66.tinypic.com/2ih1qtv.jpg[/img]

I ended up doing stuff like this all over the RV's floor...
[img=395x528]http://oi64.tinypic.com/59zfyp.jpg[/img]

[img=365x296]http://oi68.tinypic.com/oo57o.jpg[/img]

Then I coated the entire floor with Chassis-Saver. Its expensive stuff, but It'll outlast the rest of the van.

Fortunately, it doesn't look like that.  It is just surface rust.  But I looked up the chassis-saver.  It looks awesome.  Might be worth the price if it replaces the primer and paint.

 

[steamjam1]

nice work steamjam1

anyone ever use the rust mort type stuff?
https://www.semproducts.com/rust-and-corrosion-rust-converters-sealers/rust-morttm

i have had it recommended to me for truck beds and such but never used it

For truck beds, frames, or anywhere else on a vehicle that gets scratched, I use POR-15. Its also quite expensive compared to Rustoleum, but you do it once, and you never haveto think about it again. I have yet to be able to chip the POR-15 coating off my ranch truck's bed and I routinely toss heavy rocks into it.

 

[steamjam1]

Fortunately, it doesn't look like that.  It is just surface rust.  But I looked up the chassis-saver.  It looks awesome.  Might be worth the price if it replaces the primer and paint.

I tried Chassis-Saver primarily because at the time I didn't have enough money for the POR-15 I would have normally used. So far its been great stuff. Tough to scratch, as long as you sand off as much of the hard rust as possible, and clean the area with mineral spirits prior to painting. Yeah its a one-part (No mixing of hardener) paint that is primer/paint/top coat all in one. I used a house paint roller and simply rolled it on. My only complaint about the stuff is that once you open the can, because its a one-part paint, you haveto use it all because once it gets exposed to oxygen will start to harden in the can even if you put the lid back on.

This is what the stuff looks like when dry:
[img=401x301]http://oi66.tinypic.com/2ah7gig.jpg[/img]

 

[PatsyG]

I tried Chassis-Saver primarily because at the time I didn't have enough money for the POR-15 I would have normally used. So far its been great stuff. Tough to scratch, as long as you sand off as much of the hard rust as possible, and clean the area with mineral spirits prior to painting. Yeah its a one-part (No mixing of hardener) paint that is primer/paint/top coat all in one. I used a house paint roller and simply rolled it on. My only complaint about the stuff is that once you open the can, because its a one-part paint, you haveto use it all because once it gets exposed to oxygen will start to harden in the can even if you put the lid back on.

This is what the stuff looks like when dry:
[img=401x301]http://oi66.tinypic.com/2ah7gig.jpg[/img]

Where do you get it?