Hardware Rust Prevention, or A Quest for Clean Bolts

[Rasmus]

Looking at the condition of some of the donors, I ask what method do you use to prevent further rust on steel hardware (nuts, bolts, and washers)? I know of several ways to remove the rust but how do I prevent it's formation after I go though all that work?

http://i.imgur.com/oJYU097.jpg
I've seen that our JeromeS13 sent his off to get a black oxide treatment. Nice. The process creates black rust (magnetite) on the surface of the steel then coats it in a wax or oil.

http://i.imgur.com/YxgS29h.jpg
Canadian818 (Adam) did a mixture of thinly applied POR-15 for the heads, nuts, and washers; and anti-seize for the threads.

http://i.imgur.com/qRJocdN.jpg
I saw this product on Amazon: Lps Laboratories 00316 LPS 3 Heavy-Duty Rust Inhibitor (http://www.amazon.com/Laboratories-00316-LPS-Heavy-Duty-Inhibitor/dp/B000Z34GWK/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1393693159&sr=8-5). It received good reviews from people that live in high humidity areas (e.g. South Florida).

What works well? What's inexpensive? What can you do in a home-garage?

[CHOTIS BILL]

I believe there are some DIY cad or zinc plating kits maybe at Eastwood. Black oxide looks pretty good but it does not stop rust very well. I have been trying to think of how best to prevent rust around the bolts used for ground wires after I sand the paint off to make a good connection. The only thing I have come up with to brush paint around where bear metal shows.

Bill Lomenick

[AZPete]

Move to AZ. :cool:

[DodgyTim]

Rasmus, I'm surprised your not already into DIY zinc electroplating, given your mad scientist rust removal method;)

[mrprgrmr]

Funny someone should mention that. Just last week, I got zinc electroplating working using the method described here: http://home.comcast.net/~rt66tbird/website/zincplating.html

The only part I found a little tricky is getting just the right amount of current. Too much and you get small chunks of zinc coating the part that just brush off. Too little and nothing happens.

So far, I've only tested with some spare parts and made a couple "silver pennies" to entertain my daughter. I've found that many of the bolts on my engine, only the head is rusting. The rest is still shiny yellow. In this case, I plan to attempt strip/blast the head and just electroplate the head.

By the time I got everything setup, it probably cost almost as much as the Eastwood kit, but I have what I need to setup several more batches. If you have a lot of parts to do, this is probably relatively economical. I wanted to try one of the Caswell kits, but they are even pricier.

[carlewms]

I am coating parts with SharkHide.

Carl

[RM1SepEx]

I used Eastwood's fast etch, it leaves a zinc oxide coating. I then polished them up with a wire brush

[Scargo]

What's your experience in the end? Which, if any, of the above holds up well enough to bolting together and torquing that you don't have to come back and touch it up? That's my concern with a paint or paint-like coating. Bolt plating (like zinc chromate) is wimpy enough as it is.

[metalmaker12]

New bolts were needed, clear them
Stainless hardware as much as possable
Sharkhide works well on aluminum
Etc etc

[Rasmus]

New bolts were needed, clear them
...
Etc etc

MM, could you expound on the "clear them" and "Etc etc" sections?

[longislandwrx]

Yellow chromate conversion coating imho looks the best, although I have no idea what's involved to do it at home.

[mrprgrmr]

Traditional chromate conversion requires hexavalent chromium. It is apparently some pretty nasty chemicals best not attempted at home (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromate_conversion_coating). I am considering attempting the "Yellow Chromate" on Caswell's web site, after my DIY zinc electroplating. They have other colors too. They claim better protection than standard chromate conversions. I may, however, leave my bolts plain zinc, just to save time and money. I'm already spending about half an hour per bolt and I don't plan to drive this car in the snow & salt.

[riptide motorsport]

Stainless steel also gives you the added bonus of looking really cool!

[longislandwrx]

Traditional chromate conversion requires hexavalent chromium. It is apparently some pretty nasty chemicals best not attempted at home (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromate_conversion_coating). I am considering attempting the "Yellow Chromate" on Caswell's web site, after my DIY zinc electroplating. They have other colors too. They claim better protection than standard chromate conversions. I may, however, leave my bolts plain zinc, just to save time and money. I'm already spending about half an hour per bolt and I don't plan to drive this car in the snow & salt.


That blue chromate looks awesome.