Garage Door Rust: Rust Converter or Rustomatic

[Kelena]

I am blessed to have a garage. Thank you, Pedro most exalted one. It is starting to rust now and needs to be painted. The rust is mostly on the edges of the panel inlays (those little rectangular design features).

I had a painter out to look at it and he suggested the following solution: 1)Sand the rusty spots, 2) Paint with Rustomatic (???!!) and then 3) Paint.

I thought you were supposed to use some kinds of rust converter first. Or is Rustomatic a rust converter?

How would you go about painting a rusting (but not rusted) metal garage door?

[Carey]

Kelena, there was a very popular Steelcaster steel guitar that was dubbed "Rustomatic", but I think that "Rustoleum" was the name that the painter meant... ("Rustomatic" makes me think of a product that makes rust, not remove it... but that is just me - why am I thinking about the "Bass-o-Matic" scene???)

The basics are still sound, remove as much of the surface rust (phosho, navel jelly & other acid based products "convert" iron oxide -rust- and are a part of cleaning the metal of all rust. Products with phosphoric acid leave a thin layer of iron phosphate that creates a good adhesion surface for primer & paint),
Prime the metal - treating with a primer with rust inhibitor is good to do - Rustoleum & many other metal primers have some inhibitor - some will also use a cold galvanizing coat on previously galvanized metal - remember, primer & cold galvanizing must have a top coat of paint....
Paint with a good quality paint & cover the primer/cold galvanizing layer

I also like to topcoat, with a clear coat or wax....just cause...

[Kelena]

Oh, thanks, Carey. I'm familiar with Rustoleum but he just kept repeating Rustomatic over and over. I would repeat it to him, puzzled, and he would repeat it back to me as if I weren't too bright (I worry he might have a point sometimes). He kept repeating everything over and over in an endless loop, to be honest with you, and I, of course, was in a hurry. [Added]: just called him. He insists on Rustomatic. What-evah.

Okay, so this does sound like as pretty good plan then. I left something out: he is going to put primer on it.

I wonder if what's happening to the garage door might be happening to me, maybe while I sleep? : ) I think I need a nice good shot of Rustomatic.

[rainyjim]

Hi Kelena, I've had that same experience when trying to communicate with people here! The rinse / repeat method apparently worked well for them in the past eh? Anyways, I will vouch for phosphoric acid that stuff knocks the pants right off your rust!

Cheers

rainyjim