Well...the unthinkable happened. The POR-15 I applied to my Sub-Frame has failed. A couple days ago I noticed what looked like rust on the surface of paint. Upon closer inspection my worst fears were confirmed, the mild surface rust I painted over is bleeding through the paint. I'm not sure how this could have happened other than I received a bad can from them. I followed their instructions to a tee and handled the stuff like it was nitroglycerin, being very careful not to contaminate it with any foriegn substances. I always closed the can immediately after extracting the needed amount and kept the can in my basement where the temperature is maintainted at 75 degrees all year round. The surface was chemical stripped and then power washed to remove all acid residue. Some spots had gotten a little surface rust on them while I worked on some repairs to the Sub-Frame. When finished I sanded the loose surface rust off and used a water-based cleaner to wash off any grease that may have gotten on the frame while I worked on it. Once competely dry I painted it with 2 coats of the POR-15 (with a brush) which the manufacturer recommends. So I'm not sure what I cold have done wrong. I've spoken to POR-15 and they are telling me that there's NO WAY that there product could have failed and that it's most likely something I did wrong. They've agreed to refund my money if I fax them a copy of my reciept, but they steadfastly refused to believe that I might have received a bad can. I will not turn my back on them however, I truly feel that it was just bad luck on my part.

Too clean maybe? That stuff likes crud to grab onto and grip. Did you use their etching cleaner and metal ready before the paint? So far mine has not let go on any areas I did but I used their preps too. I didnt sand blast either, just roughed up with drill brush grinder or scotch brite pads.
Not sure what to say but maybe if you didnt use their 2 preps, and cleaned the surface to good?

Stories like these is making me believe even more in the Rustbullet. I did try it last week, and thats not enough time to make a good analysis, but so far it is holding up great. The car even got wet when it was outside the garage and a quick thundershower came up... no rust yet.. Time will tell. Im curious how long it was since you noticed the rust after using the POR 15? Kevin

Hey Infamous,

Do your self a favor and order a small pint of Rust Bullet before you buy some more Por-15. I think you might be impressed. If you look on previous threds here at Team Camaro you'll find that a lot of people have had the same problem as you. So I dought it was a bad can. Or even a mix up in the app. process. Good luck!

Infamous, A couple things come to mind after reading your post....It is VERY important to use the por product with the metal ready and the etch stuff first (marine clean). I used marine clean in a spray bottle and followed the directions, then used the metal ready, then I add the step of using a heat gun to evaporate the metal ready. This helps aid in the zinc residue buildup. Then you can paint the por on the parts. The other thing that comes to mind is
that it is sometimes difficult to get por paint to "wrap" around a sharp edge (as on a frame for example) I have used the stuff on 8 or 10 projects now and it still looks great. i have not tried the rust bullet product. but have heard mostly good comments about it. If you want, feel free to email me and I can maybe give you a hand over the computer? Good luck!


Dano graemlins/beers.gif

Thanks for the reply's guys. I opted not to use the Metal Ready on the frame because after it's chemical stripping it already had a rough surface for the paint to bond too. What I'm planning on doing (in the distant future) is to pull the front suspension apart again. Then I'm going to have the frame bead blasted. Also, I think I want to re-do the Guldstrand modification buy re-locating the mount as opposed to drilling the new holes. Some re-welding of seams and then I'm going to filler prime the frame and sand it down to get it smooth. Then I'll probably have it powder-coated.

This 'Rust Bullet' product....does anyone have a link?

Thanks!

http://www.eastwoodco.com/

Search for 'Rust Bullet'

Infamous,

I HATE hearing that. But the first thing that popped out at me when I read your post also, was the lack of using Metal Ready.
I have a part that I painted with POR over a year ago that all I did was blast it and paint. It was painted within a couple of days after blasting the part totally clean. I read your post yesterday and went to check it out. Now I see rust coming up through the POR. :rolleyes:
It was untreated first.

I've got many more parts that I've followed POR's directions on and they are as smooth as the day I painted them. I suppose only time will tell on the properly treated parts. Maybe it'll take a couple years longer to show rust. Maybe they never will.

Although you'd think that POR paint would "encapsulate" the metal and prevent rust from starting on a totally bare piece of blasted metal, but obviously without treating it first causes rust to start. Don't ask me how it could possibly rust under the paint where there never was rust to begin with.

But if rust can begin on a piece of metal under POR paint, it stands to reason that rust will come up through ANY paint if the metal isn't treated properly to begin with. It just makes sense.

I'm not selling POR paint short. Rust is rust and steel is steel. It's just like women.... ya gotta treat it right if ya want it to be around for a while.
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next time use oxysolve and rust encapsulator
from eastwoods!
works great tested against por 15 and rust bullet.

Heres a link to rust bullet site.

http://www.stoprust.net/