An anti-corrosion experiment. (early stage)

bluegoatwoods

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I've always used Armor-all as a corrosion fighter on my bikes. I just spray it everywhere. It keeps the bike clean and non-rusting.

The only problem is that I'm all the time running out to get another quart. The cost is not exactly a killer, it's mostly the need to go to the store. But if I could get costs down, too, that'd be good.

So yesterday I tried something new. I mixed a couple of ounces of liquid auto wax (the green stuff) with an equal amount of paint thinner in a small spray bottle. My hope was that the paint thinner would evaporate leaving a thin coating of wax behind.

It seems to have worked; my test pieces were a piece of iron and a 2 x 4. In both cases, checking this morning, they seem dry with a light green haze.

I might try rubbing alcohol as the dispersant next.

Of course, they market spray-on wax, but it's not all that cheap. And this concoction might not be a lot less expensive than Armor-all. But if it leaves a "hard shell finish" particularly in, say, cable sheath ends and the bottom of chain stays and places like that it'll be worth it.

It might be useful for making any jacket or gloves, etc., water resistant. Though if it doesn't breathe, then it'll still be warm. But your choices of what to wear have just expanded a great deal.

I'll come back if any further observations seem worth reporting.
 
been doing this for a few years on forklift booms. does work ok. there is some surface rust that does appear. but thats just due to the constant use of the forklift. havent seen anything on the bottom o0f the lift booms were they dont get hit by the forks.

im talking about rough terrain forklift or tele handlers by the way. used on building sites or farms.

found that spray on stuff is just wax or waxoil misxed with spirit to make sure it travels through the spray gun. you shouldnt have any problem doing this. but interested in seing the long term effects.
 
Results so far a, literally, a bit spotty.

I've tested on a piece of iron, wood and plastic. It looks as though I have full coverage, but with obvious buildup in some spots over others. But the wax I used was some old stuff that had been frozen during the winter. I came out of the bottle kind of thick and lumpy. I'm gonna try it with some fresh stuff and see what comes of it.

It might not really be superior to Armor-All as a bike preservative. It might not be much less expensive and looks as though there will be a small "hassle" factor, what with mixing and all.

But I'm beginning to think that it might be an excellent fabric water-proofer (jackets, gloves, saddlebags, etc) and sun protector. It should work great if I can get thin, even coverage.
 
Results not terribly impressive so far.

With an even 1:1 ratio of wax and rubbing alcohol, it'll spray from a bottle. But coverage is a bit too thick and rather spotty. If I double the alcohol maybe it'll work better. But I might not even bother.

This has gotten me to thinking; Armor-All is just fine for the bike itself. It's really not all that expensive.

And for waterproofing clothing, gloves, saddlebags, etc., maybe I'll try Rain-X or spray on car wax. That stuff is just a bit price-y, but it shouldn't take all that much. It probably won't break the bank.

A water-proofed cotton jacket is bound to be more comfortable than a vinyl rain jacket, even if breathability is lessened.
 
Hey, good experimenting Blue.:bowdown: I'll be following the findings. Has to be an improvement over the coating of Alaska my bikes usually sport. :poop:
 
I just tried a 2 parts alcohol to 1 part wax mixture. Results encouraging. Tried it on my wife's bike. It's drying right now. It spread nicely. Right now it looks about like a windshield that you've sprayed Rain-X on, but before the buffing. A nice, thin haze.

Buffing off the tubes and relatively straight areas will be no problem, of course. The nooks and crannies can keep their coating of wax, for all I care.

And at a ratio of 2:1, alcohol to wax, this will be quite cheap. I'll be able to spray it all over a couple of times a week and never notice the cost. I still might not bother, though, with the bike itself; Armor-All is cheap enough and it makes the bike look great without any buffing.

But I'll still keep on experimenting with this as clothing waterproofer. Maybe one of the white waxes (as opposed to the green stuff I'm using now).
 
As far as a Rust preventative, I use Fluid Film. It resists water wash off and when used in a dry location it lasts for years and years. I am going on 14 years on one item, a highly polished high carbon steel sword. One application 14 years ago and not one rust spot yet. It also can be used as a leather preservative as it is not oil based but lanolin based. It does not attract dirt and dust as bad as oil either.

Good luck with your experiment, I will be looking forward to your reports.
 
Fluid Film, huh? Thanks for the head's up. I don't think I recognize it. Though maybe it's distantly familiar. But it sounds like good stuff.
 
Fluid Film does look good (if you can believe the website!!!)
Fluid-Film said:
has been used for over fifty years in the highly corrosive marine environment of ships and offshore drilling rigs.

contains "wool wax" (lanolin?) with petroleum distillates as a carrier/penetrant.
 
"Marine environment", huh? I know people involved in ship maintenance. I'll ask around about "Fluid Film".

It sounds a bit like the concoction that I'm working on. I might as well throw in an update while I'm here.

A ratio of 2 parts alcohol to one part wax seems to be too heavy with wax. I tried this on an old windbreaker that I'll never use again. (Good thing I didn't use a coat that I still want to wear...)

The alcohol evaporated away, naturally. The wax that's left behind is far too thick. Thicker in some places than others. It looks as though I smeared margarine all over the jacket. But I'll bet it's water proof.

I'll have to find some other junk jackets and experiment with a ratio of 4 or 5 alcohol to 1 wax.
 
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