Taken in turn
I've used some of these more easily found treatments years ago, and probably forgotten how good or bad they each are, have some Kurust and its good stuff I'm sure.
Thing is, a couple of years ago I did a scan around to see what was the current state of play, bearing in mind what I'd seen under and around my van. Rust Encapsulator caught my eye, and maybe it was the name, their spiel and the odd comparative test (admittedly on Eastwood's site!) that made me try it.
I was looking at large areas and some that I'd be lucky to chip off heavy flakes, let alone get a wire brush anywhere near it (though I've a few magic brush extensions and even found a long curved double row one today, sitting lonesome on a peg, in the local Aladdin's cave). RE was supposed to be the business.
So I don't know if you are treating various small patches, or going thickly over several square feet, say the whole of a rear chassis rail (all 4 sides) from where it emerges from the rear cross member right to the back, and inside where you can get to it (spray can, long radiator style brush), or say, the whole inside of a Doka's lockers?
That's a few sq feet at a time, so however well it stretches, at the thickness its going on (don't spare the horses logic, we don't want yet another porous layer, rust is like a sponge!) - I couldn't get a big enough brush in most tins of Kurust, specially when I'm a*** about face, upside down trying to get a brush in a tin I 've no way of even seeing.
So as they say, I've started, so I'll finish (with it) - but I don't think I'm wasting my time or money from what I've seen so far.
== POR 15 ==
POR15 Sam... hehehe, these two, POR and Eastwood seem like very public mortal enemies
POR15 comes very highly recommended in many circles, with a lot of razzamatz, but some reasons maybe I went for an Eastwood product are:
POR seemed to require a two coat system (or 2-part?) for full protection, whereas I can choose to whack some Chassis Black over the RE - or not, its effective without a top coat, but Chassi Black makes it tougher;
Read a comparative trial on a rust bonnet on Eastwood site (independent test though) that favoured RE I(particularly if you wanted ease of use and maybe to spray it)
RE is part of a very wide range of Eastwood treatments and products, which should complement each other (Chassis Black, Detail Grey, Diamond Clear, etc.) and long standing company of repute in the US restorer's world.
The POR razzamatz probably helped make me go for the underdog in marketing volume
I've no idea which is best for our purposes, perhaps we should crawl about under one another's vans at Coney Farm, and swap rust-proofing know-how? On second thoughts, we'll probbaly both be far too busy
I've seen some weaknesses and limitations with Rust Encap, but nothing to stop me using it, as well as I can now get it here in Black.
== Safety ==
These are indeed nasty chemicals, the solvents are anyway, so when its all prepared and dry - get in there and whack a coat on - and get out!
Doesn't take to stippling after a few seconds (dries v. fast) just really needs larapping on, pasting into any gaps and crevices and brushing out in one go. Often go back 1/2 hr later and refill cracks and gaps.
I often whizz over the area with a hot-air gun now, warming it up and then immediatelylooking for tell-tale dark stains, signs of damp coming out from behind rust, underseal etc, leave it for a few minutes to dry and then paint.
Often ripping underseal open where it looks supsicious but not broken, reveals moisture and layered rust. Its hell to get it off, so I usually chip it with scraper and club hammer, or Stanley knife an area so it peels.
I always wear vinyl gloves, often 2 pairs when doing any of this sort of work, or those excellent blue but expensive nitrile rubber ones and goggles or a full face mask for wire brushing underneath. Already have eye damage from a grinding incident many years ago, got scratched again by falling rust a couple of years a ago -
don't risk it, that fine dust drifitng about is not house dust either... its rust dust, very abrasive to eyes
