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Cleaning or Preventing Rust on Epoxy Floors

600SL

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I have a problem with my epoxy floor every time I power wash.

Anything that is metal in contact with the floor, benches pallet racks etc, rusts and stains and the rust stains are actually very hard to get out.

I would like to know how people are dealing with this issue.

John
 
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600SL

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Thought about the rubber. I think that might work for my pallet racks and benches that are stationary but would be a real PIA for the stuff that moves around a bit. Some of that I also plan on putting on wheels. So between rubber an wheels I may be able to cover 90 %.

Any other ideas.
 

KDXSR5

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My father mounted all of his metal benches, shelves, etc on top of oak blocks. This allowed him to level everything on his very uneven floor, and also prevented any sort of rust staining like you are having issues with. He got his blocks from heavy duty pallet scrap at work. Good luck!
 

benwah

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1. Remove surface rust on any oxidized steel in contact with floor by way of SP3 Power tool cleaning. I prefer a 4" angle grinder with a wire brush attachment.

2. After removing most of the rust, profile any areas to be coated with 60-100 grit sandpaper.

3. Apply 2 coats of your favorite epoxy 3.0-5.0 mils DFT per coat.

4. Enjoy your rust free floor.
 

Garage Flooring

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Grand Junction, CO
1. Remove surface rust on any oxidized steel in contact with floor by way of SP3 Power tool cleaning. I prefer a 4" angle grinder with a wire brush attachment.

2. After removing most of the rust, profile any areas to be coated with 60-100 grit sandpaper.

3. Apply 2 coats of your favorite epoxy 3.0-5.0 mils DFT per coat.

4. Enjoy your rust free floor.

That would work well! If your going to go that route, I wonder about using Rust Bullet for its original intended purpose... Remove any flaking rust, treat with MetalBlast, rinse well and coat with two coats of MetalBlast

http://www.rustbullet.com/technical/how-it-works
 
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benwah

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That would work well! If your going to go that route, I wonder about using Rust Bullet for its original intended purpose... Remove any flaking rust, treat with MetalBlast, rinse well and coat with two coats of MetalBlast

http://www.rustbullet.com/technical/how-it-works

Yeah I don't see why not. I would just be sure to get enough mils on there to combat abrasion between the two surfaces, even though the RB most likely cures harder than epoxy.

EDIT: Coat any areas that normally get wet while you power wash. You'll probably say something like, "Well everything gets wet!" If that is the case, at least coat 12"-24" up, if possible.
 
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600SL

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Do you have a top coat in place or is it just epoxy?

Thanks for the reply

Its a 3 coat system but as far as I know its just epoxy.

https://store.armorpoxy.com/mm5/mer...Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=A&Category_Code=AULTRA

Right now most of the rust areas I can get out buy concentrating on them with a power washer but its just going to be a PIA every time I wash it. And of course the power washer is what causes the problem in the first place.

I moved my drill press and bench today and found one area that will probably require sanding to get out.

So for the moment its not a big deal to fix it. But Unless I do something it will continue every time I wash it.
 

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600SL

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 26, 2012
Messages
1,794
Location
Connecticut
1. Remove surface rust on any oxidized steel in contact with floor by way of SP3 Power tool cleaning. I prefer a 4" angle grinder with a wire brush attachment.

2. After removing most of the rust, profile any areas to be coated with 60-100 grit sandpaper.

3. Apply 2 coats of your favorite epoxy 3.0-5.0 mils DFT per coat.

4. Enjoy your rust free floor.

OK getting rid of the rust is not the issue. Keeping it from forming in the first place is. I may have a small area that needs to be sanded but I need to focus on preventing the rust to begin with.
 

benwah

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OK getting rid of the rust is not the issue. Keeping it from forming in the first place is. I may have a small area that needs to be sanded but I need to focus on preventing the rust to begin with.

Right. That is what I am suggesting. Stopping it from happening in the first place. If you first, clean you metal that is causing the rust, then profile said metal, then coat that metal with 2-3 coats of an appropriate product, you will prevent future rust.
 
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600SL

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Right. That is what I am suggesting. Stopping it from happening in the first place. If you first, clean you metal that is causing the rust, then profile said metal, then coat that metal with 2-3 coats of an appropriate product, you will prevent future rust.

Thanks I mis-understood that.

These are things to do on the metal not the floor.

What does DFT mean

1. Remove surface rust on any oxidized steel in contact with floor by way of SP3 Power tool cleaning. I prefer a 4" angle grinder with a wire brush attachment.

2. After removing most of the rust, profile any areas to be coated with 60-100 grit sandpaper.

3. Apply 2 coats of your favorite epoxy 3.0-5.0 mils DFT per coat.

For the moment I will pass as it will mean taking down my pallet racks. But that drill press is the worst offender. Epoxy on the bottom of that might be a good idea and easy to do. For the real heavy stuff like the milling machine I will look into machine mounts.

For the moment I will try the PVC under the pallet racks and benches.
 

LegacyIndustrial

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Dry film thickness.

Por 15 has some nice rust covering/converting products. I have used some on some heavy machinery and a few cars I restored.




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