Do It Yourself Rust Proofing System

Do it yourself rust proofing system FARM SHOP Maintenance 16-2-22 After getting two of his vehicles rust-proofed by commercial shops and then tearing the vehicles down to see what kind of job was done, mechanics instructor Simon Higginson of Terrace, British Columbia, decided he could do a better job himself. "I had my GMC Surburban treated by a reputable auto body shop but when I looked the vehicle over later, I found large dry patches in critical areas inside the doors, fenders, etc. Later I had a Chevy Blazer treated by a different shop and they neglected to spray inside the door posts and inside the rocker panel boxes under the doorsteps, which is a very vulnerable place for rust on GM trucks. These experiences made me realize that a rust control system is only as good as the man who applies it," says Higginson, who figured he could do a better job at less cost by himself. He experimented with rust prevention solutions and came up with a couple he says work surprisingly well. In some cases, he simply uses used filtered motor oil. Used oil works particularly well for "mothballing" farm equipment in storage, he notes. Higginson also made up several different spraying systems which he has been selling to local maintenance shops and farmers. He uses 1/4 or 3/16-in. steel brake line tubing for the wands, mounted on air-powered paint guns. He also makes a low-budget sprayer that uses a parts cleaning blow gun, instead of a paint gun, and a 1/4-in. shut-off valve. He inserts the wand into doors, fenders and reaches beneath vehicles, delivering an atomized spray at high pressure. "I leave the sprayer set up in the shop all the time. That way I can do annual respraying whenever it's convenient for me. I keep three tanks - 20-lb. propane tanks - containing different rust control solutions. One is a `dry up' solution that I spray into car trunks and into engine compartments, the other remains liquid and seeps into seams and joints, and the third is filtered engine oil," says Higginson, adding that rust control also lubricates door hinges, door latches, window mechanisms and lock assemblies. "Leaf springs flex more smoothly when lubricated and chassis bolts don't seize up due to rusting." Higginson sells an illustrated booklet for $24.95 with plans for making your own rust control system. Contact FARM SHOW Followup, Simon Higginson, G.N. Enterprises, P.O. Box 706, Terrace, B.C. Canada V8G 4B8 (ph 604 6381865).

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