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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.
How they differ in practice
| RustGuard™ converter | Encapsulating coating | |
|---|---|---|
| Approach | Chemically converts the oxide | Seals the oxide under a hard film |
| Base | Water-based, water cleanup | Usually solvent-based, solvent cleanup |
| Prep tolerance | Handles pitting and staining | Demands a very clean, dry, de-scaled surface |
| If moisture gets under | Reacted layer is already inert | Trapped rust can keep advancing |
| Film hardness | Primer-grade, flexible | Very hard, chip-resistant |
| Repairability | Easy — scuff and recoat | Harder, needs abrading |
| Odour and ventilation | Low | High, respirator recommended |
| Typical cost per sq ft | Lower | Higher |
Which one for which job
Choose an encapsulator when abrasion resistance is the priority and you can guarantee flawless prep — a stripped floor pan, a fuel tank interior, a frame you have already blasted.
Choose a converter when the surface is realistically imperfect: pitted, partly painted, awkward to reach, or too large to prep to a laboratory standard. That describes most gates, trailers, roofs and daily-driver undersides.
You can use them together
- Convert the rust with RustGuard™ and let it cure the full 24 hours
- Spot-test the encapsulator on the cured film in an inconspicuous area
- Once adhesion checks out, apply the hard coating as your abrasion layer
- Keep the film thin on flexing panels so it does not crack at the edges
Converter coverage for your area
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.
Frequently asked questions
Is a converter weaker than an encapsulator?
It is a different job. The converter's strength is chemical stability on imperfect metal; the encapsulator's is mechanical hardness on perfect metal.
Can I put a hard coating over RustGuard™?
Usually yes, after a full 24-hour cure and a spot adhesion test. Always test on a small area first.
Which is easier for a first-timer?
The converter. It is water-based, low odour, forgiving on prep, and mistakes are easy to recoat.
Do either work on aluminium?
Converters do not — no iron oxide. Some coatings will adhere to aluminium, but that is a paint question, not a rust question.
Keep reading
- Rust converter for iron and steel that leaves a paint-ready surfaceRustGuard™ rust converter reacts with existing rust and leaves a stable, primed surface you can paint. Bundles from $24 with worldwide shipping.
- Rust converter paint: convert and prime in the same coatRustGuard™ works as a rust converter and primer in one coat — convert corrosion, then topcoat after 24 hours. Bundles from $24.
- How to choose the best rust converter for your projectSeven criteria that separate a good rust converter from a bad one — coverage, cure time, topcoat compatibility, and honest limits.
- Rust converter for carsTreat surface rust on car sills, wheel arches, floor pans and subframes with RustGuard™ — convert, prime and repaint without blasting.
- How to paint over rust properlyPainting straight over rust always fails. Here's the correct sequence — prep, convert, cure, prime, topcoat — and the paints that work over a converted surface.
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Ships from our US fulfilment partner, typically 3–7 business days. 30-day money-back guarantee.