How to kill rust.

[carpetmonster]

Hey folks i know this subject has been well covered and i have done a lot of reading on here. Basically my 190 lwb 1998 is solid underneath there is rust on the rear crossmember and out riggers and normal places but its all solid phew! What is the best way to rust proof and slow it down without breaking the bank and with as little mess we are staying at the in laws at the moment and don't want to wreck there drive.
Thanks for any help you can give me!

[Malc16V]

Everyone has their own approach, i've just done mine which all started out as a new exhaust. Whilst under the van a quick look around revealed it was solid but a bit crusty and in need of attention to prevent further deterioration (1999 model).

Wire brush the flakey stuff off. I use a combination of hand held wire brush, assorted wire brush attachments in an leccy drill and a knotted cip brush in an angle grinder. An old baraclava stops to shite going in your ears etc and some goggles (with vents taped up) to stops the shite going in your eyes (most of it!!).

When wire brushed, I treat with Jenolite. Then Paint with Red Oxide primer - you don't have to do a 'Da-vinci' on it, just splash the stuff on.

Then I go over the top with Hammerite Waxoyl Underseal which sticks to the red oxide primer like muck to a blanket.

Put an old tarp on your drive, wear golves cos painting upside down the paint and underseal gets all over your gloves and boiler suit and the tarp. It is a damn messy and frustrating job that is best interdispresed with frequent tea breaks.....

I'm going to try an 'old trick' that many have used (but I never have - yet) which is to load my parafin gun up with the finest 6'000 mile old fully synthetic 5W30 from the sump of my car and give the whole underside a damn good spray.

[the_big_fact_hunt]

all good tips there malc, but you forgot the laggy bands on yer sleeves to stop the paint and crap dropping in them

[sideshow_bill]

Melt a few old candles and while still warm add 3 parts or so by volume engine oil.

Re heat the mixture and pour into a spray gun.

Blow the resultant waxy mess inside any inaccessable spaces.

[sideshow_bill]

Oops - just saw the bit about the inlaws drive! - better get some plastic sheets

[Malc16V]

Home made 'wax oil' like it, very ingenious.

Did you say use fork handles ?

Ah, yes the laccy bands around the wrist. Having got fed up with red oxide and underseal in the gap between 'old glove' and 'boiler suit sleeve' a pair of old socks with foot cut off bridges the gap nice.

I've just come out from under my van, finishing off the front chassis legs. It is P****** it doen with rain, quite dry under the van but my legs were sticking out the front - a pair of waterproof leggins under the boiler suit took care of that.

Lotto floor pan on a Tranny and mine is only SWB, i'm used to small classic saloon cars so it is a bit like the fourth road bridge under the van

[Canadian Transit]

Find some phosphoric acid and cover all rusted areas with it. Make sure not to expose the acid to any painted parts. The phosphoric acid will react with the iron oxide to create a black ferric phosphate. This will actually turn the rust into a protective coating but you can still try to scrape it off. The great thing about using acid it that it seeps into every little pinhole of rust. Once it has been there long enough (even up to a day), wash it off with a 5% acid 95% water solution. Once this is done, paint it, wax it or oil it to protect it from further rust. Griding, scraping, and any other physical attempt at removing rust will fail eventually because you cannot get into small pin holes and with a slight bit of acid when rinsing is left, it will protect the metal until it is sealed from the air. Remember that this is super corrosive and you DO need to wear gloves, face shield with goggles, acid resistant gloves and some sort of protection on you body. Cover the ground as well and dispose of the materials in an environmentally appropriate way, it is not nice stuff.

[MIXA]

Its not redily available to joe public because as you say its nasty stuff it realy does work if you can get it though

[sideshow_bill]

I got some acid from my dealer. Never mind the rust Ive got goblins fighting dragons in my headlining now!

[ZeldaTheWelder]

I got some acid from my dealer. Never mind the rust Ive got goblins fighting dragons in my headlining now!

[samson]

I'm going to try an 'old trick' that many have used (but I never have - yet) which is to load my parafin gun up with the finest 6'000 mile old fully synthetic 5W30 from the sump of my car and give the whole underside a damn good spray.[/quote]
why do you think so many old ones survives today

[samson]

I'm going to try an 'old trick' that many have used (but I never have - yet) which is to load my parafin gun up with the finest 6'000 mile old fully synthetic 5W30 from the sump of my car and give the whole underside a damn good spray.

why do you think so many old ones survives today [/quote]
my first job , i had to oil the underside with the old engin oil ,