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Choose your RustGuard™ bundle
Prices in USD. Free tracked shipping on 3-bottle bundles and above.
Rusted metal in, paint-ready surface out
Brush RustGuard™ over sound rust, let it cure, then paint. Images are illustrative — results depend on surface condition and preparation.
Start here
The five answers most people need: it works on rusted iron and steel only, needs loose rust removed and grease cleaned off first, goes on in two thin coats three to four hours apart, cures 24 hours before topcoating, and covers about 55 sq ft per bottle at two coats. Everything below expands on those points.
- Magnet test first — no magnet, wrong metal, wrong product
- Prep is the whole job: remove loose rust, degrease, splash test
- Two thin coats, 3–4 hrs apart; topcoat after 24 hrs
- ≈55 sq ft per bottle at two coats on weathered steel
The numbers, in one place
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Coverage per bottle | Up to 50 sq ft / 4.6 m² on smooth steel |
| Colour change | 20 minutes to 2 hours |
| Touch dry | 2–4 hours |
| Recoat with converter | After 4 hours |
| Cure before topcoat | 24 hours |
| Application temperature | 10–32 °C / 50–90 °F |
| Shelf life sealed | About 24 months |
| Guarantee | 30 days from delivery |
Before you buy
- Is your metal ferrous? A magnet sticking means yes and the product will work
- Is the metal still solid? Probe it — perforation needs welding, not coating
- Measure the area so you order the right bundle and do not stop mid-panel
- Have a topcoat ready for the day after; the converter is a primer, not a finish
- Allow a dry 24-hour window in the forecast if you are working outside
During the job
- Degrease until water sheets rather than beads — this is the step people skip
- Thin coats. Thick films skin over and trap moisture underneath
- Work into seams, folds and pitting rather than over them
- Any area still orange after curing was contaminated or missed — re-treat it
- Rinse brushes with water immediately; dried film ruins them
Quantity calculator
Area
100 sq ft
Bottles needed
3
Recommended bundle
×3 — $42
Based on up to 55 sq ft per bottle on smooth steel, adjusted for surface condition. Estimates only — measure generously.
Before you buy: the three checks
Check the metal. Hold a magnet to it. If it sticks you have iron or steel and rust chemistry applies. If it does not, you are looking at aluminium, stainless, copper or brass, and no rust converter on the market will do anything useful — those need etch primers, passivation or polish instead.
Check the depth. Press firmly with a blunt screwdriver. If the metal dents but holds, it is sound enough to treat. If it punches through, that section needs cutting out and welding, and a coating over the hole is cosmetic only.
Check the area. Measure in square feet and plan at 55 sq ft per bottle for two coats, adding 20 to 30 per cent for deep pitting, cast iron or corrugated profiles. Round up — running short mid-coat means a patchy film and a second prep session.
Quick reference
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Works on | Rusted iron, mild steel, cast iron, structural steel |
| Does not work on | Aluminium, stainless, copper, brass, bright galvanising, bare steel |
| Coverage | ≈55 sq ft per bottle at two coats |
| Coats | One on light surface rust, two on pitting |
| Recoat window | 3–4 hours |
| Topcoat after | 24 hours at 68°F, longer if cold or humid |
| Working temperature | 50–90°F, out of direct hot sun |
| Rain safe after | 4 hours minimum |
| Primer needed? | No — the cured film is the primer |
| Maximum service temperature | About 400°F |
The application sequence, condensed
- 01
Remove everything loose
Scraper and wire brush until nothing lifts under a fingernail. This step decides whether the job lasts.
- 02
Feather the paint edge
Sand lifted paint back to a sound, flush edge so water cannot get straight back underneath.
- 03
Degrease and splash test
Detergent, rinse, flick water at it. Sheeting means clean; beading means the oil is still there.
- 04
Coat one, thinly
Work into the pitting. Look for the orange-to-black change within 20 minutes to two hours.
- 05
Coat two after 3–4 hours
Essential on pitted, salted or heavily weathered steel.
- 06
Cure 24 hours
No tack anywhere before paint goes on. Longer in cold or humid air.
- 07
Topcoat, two thin coats
Enamel, acrylic, hammered, chassis paint or schutz all go straight over.
Troubleshooting, by symptom
Patches still orange after two hours: those areas were either greasy or were not actually rusty. Degrease and reapply on the greasy spots; bare, non-rusted steel simply has nothing to react with and should be primed conventionally.
Still tacky the next day: cold, humid, no airflow, or applied too thickly. Give it more time and more ventilation — it will normally harden. Do not paint over it in the meantime.
Blisters appearing after topcoating: loose rust left underneath, grease not removed, or paint applied before the film cured. Sand back to sound material and redo that area properly rather than patching over it.
Rust returning at the same spot: the water source was never fixed. Find the blocked drain, failed seal or trapped dirt that is putting water there, or the same repair will keep failing.
How much for common jobs
| Job | Bottles |
|---|---|
| Both rear wheel arches | 1 |
| Car sills and rockers | 2 |
| Full car underside | 3–5 |
| Truck or 4x4 chassis | 5 |
| Single-axle trailer | 2 |
| Pair of driveway gates | 1–2 |
| 40 ft of railing | 3 |
| Single garage roof | 4–5 |
| Workshop tool round | 1 |
| Agricultural roof, 30×40 ft | 3 × 8-pack |
Ordering, shipping and returns
- Free US shipping on 3-packs and larger; flat rate on single and double bottles
- Same or next business day dispatch, with tracking emailed automatically
- Card payments run on a secure checkout — full card details never reach our servers
- 30-day guarantee on unopened bottles; contact support before returning
- Sealed bottles keep about two years, so a spare is not wasted
- Specific job questions get specific answers by email
Work out your quantity
Area
100 sq ft
Bottles needed
3
Recommended bundle
×3 — $42
Based on up to 55 sq ft per bottle on smooth steel, adjusted for surface condition. Estimates only — measure generously.
Where the answer is no
- Perforated or soft metal — that is a welding job
- Aluminium, stainless, copper, brass or bright galvanising
- Bare, non-rusted steel, which needs a conventional primer
- Permanent immersion or constantly wet surfaces
- Anything running above roughly 400°F
- Food contact and potable water surfaces
- Application below 50°F or with rain due within four hours
What buyers say
Rated by people who hate sanding
Saved my truck bed
Wire-brushed the loose scale, brushed a coat on and left it overnight. Next morning it was a flat black surface that took primer without fighting me.
Dale R. · Tucson, AZ
No more grinding for hours
I restore gates and railings. This cut my prep time in half on pitted sections where the grinder just polishes the rust around.
Marcus H. · Leeds, UK
Held up through the wet season
Treated the shed roof sheets and topcoated them. Two seasons of rain later the treated panels still look the way I left them.
Janine K. · Brisbane, AU
Trailer frame looks new
Frame rails were surface-rusted everywhere. Two bottles covered the whole thing with enough left over for the tongue and jack.
Tom V. · Hamilton, ON
Simple to use
Shake, brush, wait. No mixing, no strong acid smell like the jelly products I used before.
Ricardo M. · Houston, TX
Bought the 5-pack, no regrets
Fence posts, patio furniture and a mower deck off one bundle. Ordering the workshop pack was cheaper than buying singles twice.
Ellen S. · Portland, OR
Reviews shown are illustrative sample copy while we collect verified customer feedback.
Buy with confidence
Nothing to lose but the rust
Worldwide shipping
Tracked delivery to the US, UK, Canada, Australia, EU and more. Free on 3-bottle bundles and above.
Encrypted payment
Card details are captured on a secure, encrypted checkout page. We never see or store your card number.
30-day guarantee
If RustGuard™ is not right for your project, contact support within 30 days for a refund of the product price.
No grinder needed
Brush-on chemistry designed for pitted, hard-to-reach rust where abrasives cannot get a bite.
Secure checkout
Order your RustGuard™ bundle
Pick a bundle, tap checkout — that's it. No account, no forms to fight. Your delivery address and payment are collected on the secure checkout page.
Step 1 — Choose your bundle
One bottle covers about 55 sq ft. Treating a whole vehicle, trailer or roof section? Most people need 3 or more.
Free tracked shipping unlocked
Most projects use more than they expect — the ×8 pack drops you to $9.00/bottle (you pay $11.00 now).
Step 2 — Checkout securely
Apple Pay, Google Pay and all major cards are accepted on the secure Shopify checkout — address, payment and confirmation, all in one place.
- 1Tap checkoutYour bundle is reserved in a secure cart.
- 2Pay your wayCard, Apple Pay or Google Pay — under a minute.
- 3Tracked dispatchConfirmation email instantly, packed in 1 business day.
“Ordered the 5-pack, treated the whole trailer frame and still had a bottle spare.”
Tom V. · Hamilton, ON
“Arrived tracked in five days and the brush kit saved me a trip to the store.”
Dale R. · Tucson, AZ
Reviews are illustrative while verified feedback is collected.
Frequently asked questions
What is a rust converter?
A coating that chemically reacts with iron oxide to form a stable, paintable film, so rusted metal can be painted without being stripped to bare steel.
Does it remove rust?
No. It converts rust in place. A remover strips rust and leaves bare metal — a different product for a different job.
Which metals does it work on?
Steel, cast iron and wrought iron, plus red rust patches on failed galvanising. Not aluminium, stainless, copper or brass.
Do I need to sand first?
Only to remove loose scale and lifting paint. The converter needs rust to react with.
How long before I can paint over it?
24 hours, and ideally within about a week while the surface is still clean.
Do I need a separate primer?
Usually not — the cured film primes the surface for most standard topcoats.
Will it fix a rust hole?
No. Perforated metal needs cutting out and welding.
Can I use it in the cold?
Not below about 10 °C / 50 °F. The reaction stalls and the film will not cure properly.
Is it safe to use indoors?
Yes, with ventilation. It is water-based and low odour.
How much do I need?
About one bottle per 50 sq ft / 4.6 m² on smooth steel, less on heavy pitting. Use the calculator on this page.
Can I spray it?
Yes, though expect to use 20 to 40 per cent more because of overspray, and wear a mist-rated respirator.
What if it does not turn black?
There was no reachable rust, or the surface was contaminated. Degrease, wire brush and re-apply.
How long does the treatment last?
Years when topcoated and maintained. Bare converted film in an exposed spot lasts considerably less.
Is shipping free?
Free tracked shipping on bundles of 3 bottles and above.
What is the return window?
30 days from delivery on unopened bottles.
Does rust converter really work?
On rusted iron and steel that is still structurally sound, yes — it reacts with iron oxide to form a stable black film that takes paint directly. It cannot restore metal that has already been consumed.
Do I have to remove the rust first?
Remove everything loose or flaking. Firmly attached rust is what the product reacts with and should stay.
Do I need a primer afterwards?
No. The cured film is a primer, so your topcoat goes straight over it.
How many coats?
One on light surface rust, two on pitted or heavily weathered steel, three to four hours apart.
Can I use it on galvanised steel?
Only on areas where red rust has broken through. Bright, intact zinc needs nothing.
What temperature can I apply it at?
Between 50 and 90°F, out of direct hot sun, with no rain due for four hours.
Will it work on a rusted-through panel?
No. If a blunt screwdriver goes through, that section needs cutting out and welding.
How long does an opened bottle last?
Use it within a few months once opened, kept tightly capped. Sealed bottles keep about two years.
Is it safe to use at home?
Yes, with nitrile gloves, eye protection and ventilation. It is water-based, low odour and non-flammable.
Keep reading
- Rust converter for iron and steel that leaves a paint-ready surfaceBrush RustGuard™ onto rusted iron or steel, convert the corrosion and topcoat in 24 hours. Bundles from $24, free shipping on 3+.
- How to use rust converter, step by stepThe full method for applying a rust converter: preparation, degreasing, coats, cure time and topcoating. Written for RustGuard™ but valid for any converter.
- Rust converter drying and cure timeColour change, touch dry, recoat and topcoat windows for rust converter — plus how temperature and humidity change every one of them.
- Rust converter coverage calculatorWork out exactly how many bottles of RustGuard™ your job needs. Enter your area or pick a common job and get a bundle recommendation.
- Does rust converter actually work?What a rust converter genuinely does, where it outperforms sanding, and the four situations where it will not help at all.
Last step
Ready to stop the rust?
Ships from our US fulfilment partner, typically 3–7 business days. 30-day money-back guarantee.