There are multiple kinds of rust. Some power transmission line towers are
rusty on purpose.
Red Rust Hydrated oxide Fe2O3•H2O
Yellow Rust Iron oxide-hydroxide FeO(OH)H2O
Brown Rust Oxide Fe2O3 (high oxygen/low moisture)
Black Rust Iron (II)oxide – Fe3O4 (limited oxygen)
I think I have the order right. Red rust can eat clear through the metal. It
produces deep flakes of cancer in the thickest of steel. If you can get the
rust to progress through to brow rust it is a permanent coating that will not
continue to deteriorate. Not sure how you make that happen. If you take a
stroll along the pedestrian walkway of the Golden Gate bridge, you will see
1/2” thick parts of the handrail that have flaked completely through. And that
is with regular scaling and painting.
You can go look at an old piece of farm machinery in a field and the steel is
really good looking. Dark brown and black rust.
From: Lewis Bergman
Sent: Thursday, November 5, 2020 6:51 AM
To: AnimalFarm Microwave Users Group
Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Stopping tower rust
Surface rust is of absolutely no consequence. I have black iron towers that
were constructed 40 years ago that have substantial surface rust. While not
pretty, it is structurally insignificant. If it looks more like discoloring
than rust, which if the galv is good is what it usually looks like, I would do
nothing. Anything you do to fix it will likely speed the rusting process up.
For instance, you could use naval jelly, which would remove all the rust. If it
is galv and not SS, the acid will eat more of the galv coating off and it will
rust faster from then on unless you paint it. Then you are stuck painting a
galv tower which is a PITA, expensive, and will eventually look even worse.
Paint, even when applied correctly with the correct prep, just doesn't adhere
to galv well.
Sleep tight, don't worry, take the do nothing decision tree.
On Thu, Nov 5, 2020 at 5:31 AM Matt Hoppes <mattli...@rivervalleyinternet.net>
wrote:
Could it be a zinc galvanized steel instead of stainless? I assumed stainless
due to the very limited rust.
On Nov 5, 2020, at 6:27 AM, Matt Hoppes <mattli...@rivervalleyinternet.net>
wrote:
Ok. So then maybe it’s not an issue. It does just appear to be surface.
On Nov 4, 2020, at 11:13 PM, Ken Hohhof <af...@kwisp.com> wrote:
Apparently regular steel and stainless steel both “rust”. But stainless forms
a thin stable protective layer of chromium oxide, while regular steel turns to
unstable iron oxide which just grows and grows.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-doesnt-stainless-stee/
From: AF <af-boun...@af.afmug.com> On Behalf Of ch...@wbmfg.com
Sent: Wednesday, November 4, 2020 9:22 PM
To: AnimalFarm Microwave Users Group <af@af.afmug.com>
Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Stopping tower rust
Certainly not stronger and twice the expense.
From: Lewis Bergman
Sent: Wednesday, November 4, 2020 8:07 PM
To: AnimalFarm Microwave Users Group
Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Stopping tower rust
I would assume this wasn't a slip of the tongue. Just surprised that anyone
would build a tower out of stainless steel. Chuck would likely know but I am
pretty sure stainless is softer than regular steel.
On Wed, Nov 4, 2020 at 8:24 AM Matt Hoppes <mattli...@rivervalleyinternet.net>
wrote:
We have a stainless steel tower that’s probably about 30 years old. Good shape.
But I noticed some minor rust developing on the surface of some cross members
and a few climbing pegs.
What’s the best way to stop this and protect the tower?
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