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Gear On Test - FLAG Rust Converter £6.94 for 250ml - Recommended Sailing Today Just before launching last spring. I used FLAG rust converter to paint the short length of anchor chain that lies across the deck between the stock and the chain pipe (when the anchor is stowed on deck), because the links had lost a lot of galvanizing and were looking a touch rusty and unsightly. Their strength was in no way affected, but it didn't look too good. The immediate effect was a much improved appearance for the chain with a smooth, satin black coating. It's a water-based coating that keys into the rust, neutralises it and forms what really does appear to be a rather smart finish. Being water based, the paint washes out of the brush with plain water, so cleaning up afterwards was very easy without resorting to messy or unpleasant solvents. If you don't like the black colour, just allow it to dry and then paint over it. Coverage for the Rust Converter is quoted as 2-3 m. sq. per 250ml tub. Frankly, I was using so little, even for a couple of coats, that I can't give any opinion as to the accuracy of the coverage claim, but I've also no reason to doubt it. The paint dried in an hour or so after application on a normal mild spring day, but the instructions say that you should not overcoat it within 4-6 hours and I didn't put a second coat on until some days later. A third coat would have been good, because it was being used on anchor chain, which gets a lot of wear, but I decided to see how two coats worked and put more on this spring. In fact, looking at the cable when the boat came ashore at the end of the season, there was no sign of wear or damage, so further coats would be purely precautionary. The lack of wear has been helped by anchoring mainly in mud, rather than on sand, rock or shell, which would scrub at the paint, but it was still encouraging. I would certainly use the Rust Converter on any other patches that pop up and actually touched up a 'ding' on the black car's bodywork to ensure rust didn't set in. Colin Jarman CONTACT Bainbridge International Tel: 01489 776000 or WE LIKE Water based for easy clean up Simple, effective WE DON’T LIKE Big tub for small job Verdict: 4 Stars It's very easy to use and appears to be hard wearing and effective. Good stuff.
Page 50 Sailing Today March 2008 |
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