How to protect bare steel for just one trip to the playa, or not?

[sparr]

I've made something out of mild steel to attach to my vehicle.

I don't have the time/funds to powdercoat it before the burn. I can bring it bare and let it rust and spend money/time on sandblasting it after, or coat it in something (paint, other?) and then sandblast that off after. Any suggestions on which way to go, and which product to use in the second case? My impulse is to just bring it bare and deal with rust; I think that I've got a decent idea how much trouble that will be. A few people are suggesting a coat of paint to be removed later, but that feels like a lot more work now and later.

I'd appreciate hearing from anyone who has dealt with rust from a single playa trip, cleaned up shortly afterwards, or about any coatings that will resist the playa dust but not be prohibitively difficult to sandblast off afterwards.

[Jackass]

Beat yourself over the head with this mild steel before you leave, that should take care of that...

[Savannah]

I would probably bring it as-is, and clean it later. If you don't put it away dirty for a whole year, it will probably hold up reasonably well.

[Dr Helix]

! week on the playa isn't gong to do much. May a spot or two but not much. If you are worried put a coat of clear coat on it. You can buy it in a spray. Keeps the oxidation from getting in.

[Sham]

I would use a rusty metal primer on the item and then spray it with a shiny gloss paint. As long as the paint is put on evenly and not cracked, the metal surface should be fine.
What type of item is being brought to the playa?

[Captain Goddammit]

That's missing the point. It's apparently getting powdercoated later and painting it now will make that a pain in the ass.

[Sham]

That's missing the point. It's apparently getting powdercoated later and painting it now will make that a pain in the ass.

Ah, I missed the powder coating later point.
I go so far as to prime and paint my rebar. The top section gets a fluorescent orange, then the whole thing gets clear coated. I honestly don't know why I do it, since it gets the crap beaten out of it anyway.

[GreyCoyote]

Dont bring it. Duh...

[GreyCoyote]

Now I'm going to give you a serious answer, and its available at Walmart or any auto parts store:

http://www.walmart.com/ip/46891798?wmls ... 3=&veh=sem

This is a peel-off paint by Rustoleum. I use it all the time. Sandblasting is not necessary, just a wire wheel on low speed and light pressure.

They also make a version designed for street rims. Same stuff. Google it.

[BBadger]

As mentioned above, you'll probably be fine with one trip to the playa and then cleaning it off immediately after you return to civilization. Usually if something isn't outright broken by the trip, the rust appears when something is "rode hard and put away wet" so to speak. Even my rusting (but still usable) lag bolts probably would've been in great condition if I had bothered to scrub them down after the trip -- and they were planted in the ground where there was moisture.

[Token]

As long as it stays dry, as in not pounded into the Playa, bare steel will be fine.

You could just spray with a lube that can be later washed away.

When you return, easiest way to prep your steel is an acid bath to remove any oxidation.

[EGAZ]

If you are in fact going to powder coat it after BM. You don't need to do anything. The Powder Coat shop will sand blast it anyway.

You can leave it as is...
You can paint it....
Primer and paint it....
Or dip it in FlexSeal! -- Hot Tip -- The Powder shop will love you for this as it keeps the metal fresh and stain free for PC.

Source: Ive had a lot of PC done over the years.

[ygmir]

agree with bring it bare, if indeed you are going to powder coat it. it won't rust much, if at all. and if it does, a light wire wheel, as suggested above, and you can get phosphoric acid (I forget the name and brand "metal etch"?) it reacts with any oxidation, and stabilizes it into FePh04 (IIRC) which will act as a primer, and or be solid for primer to stick to.

[Token]

agree with bring it bare, if indeed you are going to powder coat it. it won't rust much, if at all. and if it does, a light wire wheel, as suggested above, and you can get phosphoric acid (I forget the name and brand "metal etch"?) it reacts with any oxidation, and stabilizes it into FePh04 (IIRC) which will act as a primer, and or be solid for primer to stick to.

And BONUS: The acid dip smells like rotten eggs farts.

A man cave dream come true.