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Made in the USA · Terra Care Certified
2-in-1 Rust Converter & Metal Primer
- Covers 4X more area. Up to 1,000 sq ft* per gallon.
- Water based. Applies to damp metal and does not trap moisture.
- Converter and primer in one step. Low VOC, under 1 percent. No topcoat needed.
- Bonds with rust and cures hard as cement. No scraping, no sandblasting.
- Expands and contracts with the metal. Lab tested to 300F.
- UV and hydrogen sulfide resistant. No lead, no heavy metals.
Free shipping · Easy returns · Money back guarantee · Ships from Florida
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*A gallon covers about 1,000 sq ft brushed or rolled on smooth steel. A spray gun loses some to drift, and pitting or heavy scale drinks more, down to about 530 sq ft per gallon.
What it does
Rust in. Primed steel out. One coat.
It is a phosphating coating. It reacts with the iron oxide on the surface, turns it into iron phosphate, and cures into a hard primer layer in the same pass. Here is what that means on a real job.
Goes on damp metal
The bond forms in the presence of moisture, so this is the only rust converter for metal that can be applied to a damp surface. It does not trap moisture under the coating. A wet morning, dew on a trailer, a hull that just came out of the water: you can start.
Damp is not the same as cold, though. Stay above 50F, and allow longer drying than you would on a dry day, because humidity, airflow and sun all set the pace.
It is not a moisture cured product. It is a water based emulsion that cures by evaporation, which is why it has held up in saltwater and brackish water work as well as in the yard.
Converter and primer in one coat
Most products make you convert, then prime, then paint. This one converts the rust and primes the metal in one step, and no topcoat is required. It bonds with the rust and cures hard as cement, then expands and contracts with the metal from 30F to 300F, which is what holds adhesion through a hard freeze and a summer roof alike.
Leave the tight rust where it is: wire brush the loose flakes off and stop there, because the coating bonds to rust rather than to bare steel. It works on clean ferrous metal too, so one can primes a new bracket and treats a rusted crossmember.
Ten years on the market, in maritime, automotive and farm work.
Accepts all topcoats, not just oil based
If you do want a color, or extra armor for a harsh spot, wait until it is fully cured and use the paint you already own. The cured layer takes water based and solvent based finishes alike: urethane, epoxy, oil and water based enamel, alkyd, bitumen and chlorinated rubber. Most rust coatings accept oil based paint only.
Give it 24 to 48 hours, longer when the air is humid or cold, and after that there is no deadline. You can topcoat weeks later if the job runs long. On steel hulls it has shown strong adhesion under an epoxy primer.
Cleanup is water
It is water based, so brushes, rollers and spray guns rinse out under the tap. No lacquer thinner, no solvent bucket, no flashpoint.
Thin it with water too, up to 15 percent by volume, whether you brush, roll or spray, and strain the thinned mix before it reaches a gun, because this is a high solids product and a fine tip will clog. Water is the only solvent it takes: it was built as a water based emulsion precisely to keep the high VOC solvents out.
Store it above freezing. A can that has frozen solid should be replaced rather than risked on the job.
How to apply
Wire brush. Wipe. Stir. Paint.
Surface prep. The surface must be free of oil, grease and loose or peeling paint. Remove loose rust by mechanical agitation to a minimum cleanliness of SSPC SP 3. The coating bonds best to a rusty surface, so do not brush down to bare metal. Do not apply to a surface hotter than 100F. Mix until uniform and apply to 0.5 to 1.0 mil dry film thickness (0.8 to 1.6 mil wet). Recommended for iron, steel and stainless steel.
- Wire brush the surface.
Remove all loose, flaky rust. Do not brush down to bare metal. The product bonds best to a rusty surface.
- Wipe away the debris.
Use a cloth, a paintbrush or air pressure. All grease and oil must be completely removed, then rinse thoroughly.
- Stir it well.
Stir until the product is smooth and even all the way through.
- Brush, roll or spray one coat.
Make sure the metal is uniformly covered. Thin with no more than 15 percent water by volume and aim for 0.5 to 1 mil dry film thickness. Do not apply below 50F.
- If you plan a topcoat, wait 48 hours.
Let the coating dry completely before any topcoat goes on, and use only one coat of product underneath it.
- If you skip the topcoat, a second coat is optional.
Apply it within 2 to 4 hours, before the first coat has fully dried.
- Topcoat the harsh spots.
A topcoat is recommended for highly acidic, corrosive or abrasive environments such as sea air and water, strong acid or salt brine.
How it compares
Against a typical solvent based rust coating
The figures on the right are from the product data sheet for a common solvent based rust coating. We have left the brand names out. The chart shows the wider field.
| XionLab 2 in 1 | Typical solvent based coating | |
|---|---|---|
| VOC | Under 1 percent | 27 to 33 percent |
| Flashpoint | None | 106F |
| Cleanup | Water | Lacquer thinner |
| Thinning for spray | Water, up to 15 percent | Solvent, up to 5 percent |
| Minimum coats | 1 | 2 |
| Coverage per gallon | 530 to 1,000 sq ft* | Up to 350 sq ft |
| Extra primer coat | No | Yes |
| Applies to a damp surface | Yes | No |
*A gallon covers about 1,000 sq ft brushed or rolled on smooth steel. A spray gun loses some to drift, and pitting or heavy scale drinks more, down to about 530 sq ft per gallon.
Real jobs
Real jobs. Real customers.
Photos sent in by people who used one coat on their own metal. Truck frames, trailers, fences, vehicle floors, roofs and a boat hull.
Customer photos are shared from real reviews. Send yours to [email protected] and we will add it here.
What people say
People who used it
A few we hear most often, in their own words.
It works wonders, just as promised. I applied it to an exhaust manifold and it converted rust plus it won't peel off. I then applied it to the chassis and painted it. No other product has done that.
This was amazing! I have used a lot of different primers & undercoating in over 46 + year most claim something, and most fail at part of the claim. This product delivers all on claims. Ease of use. Kills & seals rust. clean up is simple. Have rust? use this you will not be disappointed!
Very easy to apply. If you are spraying it on you can just use water to dilute it. It is like a maroon color not black but looks very good. Makes it so much easier so you don't have to clean metal all the way down to bare metal just knock off loose rust scales and apply.
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Also from our lab
Also from our lab
Before you order
Questions we get
These answers come from our own support desk, word for word.
- Read every question we have answered
- Money back guarantee on every order, with easy returns.
Still stuck?
Tell us the metal, the size of the job and how you plan to put it on. A person who knows the chemistry answers, and the answer goes on this page for the next person.
Write to usWhat is a rust converter?
A rust converter is a coating that reacts with rust and changes it into a stable compound. Ours turns iron oxide into black iron phosphate. Instead of stripping rust off, you turn the rust itself into a hard layer you can paint.
Do I need to remove all the rust first?
No. Knock off loose flakes with a wire brush, wipe away dust, and remove any grease or oil. Leave the firm rust in place. The formula bonds best to rusted steel. Do not brush down to bare metal.
Can I paint over it?
Yes. After 48 hours of cure time you can apply urethanes, epoxies, enamels in oil or water base, alkyd, bitumen, or chlorinated rubber. Most competing products only accept oil based paint.
Do I even need a topcoat?
No. The converted layer is also a primer and a sealer. We only suggest a topcoat in brutal spots like sea air, salt brine, or strong acid environments.
Will it work on a damp surface?
Yes. It is water based, it will not trap moisture, and it is the only rust converter for metal that applies to damp surfaces.
What metals is it for?
Iron, steel, and stainless steel. Think truck frames, trailers, exhaust manifolds, fences, railings, equipment, and structural steel.
How hot can it get?
Once cured, the coating held up to 300F for 2,160 hours in lab tests with no loss of adhesion, and it expands and contracts with the metal down to 30F. That is what the finished coating survives. Applying it is different: do not paint below 50F.
How do I apply it?
Wire brush, wipe clean, stir well, then brush, roll, or spray one thin coat at 0.5 to 1.0 mil dry film. Thin with no more than 15 percent water. Work above 50F. Wait 48 hours before any topcoat. The full steps are above.
Free shipping on every size
Pick a size. Fix it this weekend.
Ships free from Orlando, Florida. Easy returns. If it does not do what we say on this page, send it back and we refund you.
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