Klean Strip Rust Converter

[Old Rattle Flat]

In the near future, I am going to have to deal with a black Curt Mfg. trailer hitch assembly that is mounted on a Honda CR-V, that is quite rusted for being only 18 months old. It's the hitch that is rusted, not the car. I've never delt with rust before, and would appreciate any suggestions or guidance.



My local Wal-Mart has some Klean Strip Rust Converter. The bottle reads as though it might be what I want as far as cleaning up the rust in preparation for detailing the hitch. Does anyone any pros or cons on Klean Strip Rust Converter?



Once the rust is cleaned up, what does one use to prevent future rusting, and keep the hitch assembly looking up to standards? Rust-o-leum spray paint?? I not very handy with spray can paint...



Thanks much for any suggestions.

 

[Accumulator]

Old Rattle Flat- I haven't tried that particular rust converter, but I've used others.



Most don't do nearly as good a job as one might like. Ditto for all "rust remover" products.



What I do in cases like that is to mechanically remove as much rust as possible (scraping, sanding, wire brushing, etc.). Then apply the rust converter. Then use Eastwood's Rust Encapsulator for the primer (or even just apply a few coats and let it be the paint too). No way I can exaggerate how well the Rust Encapsulator works (far better than POR-15, for instance), it's become a no-brainer for me when I have jobs like this. I used some on very rusted parts of my Blazer's undercarriage (did minimal prep, I really did a half-@$$ed job of it ) last summer and after this winter's salt/ect. things are still looking great. The Rust Encapsulator brushes on pretty easily and it flows-out great...really surprised me how nice it looked for something applied with a brush. You could always top it with Rustoleum if you like, I experimented with that and the Rustoleum bonds to the Rust Encapsulator just fine. The Rustoleum looks OK if brushed on too.



Link to Eastwood: Eastwood Company Home Page . Check out their various product offerings and see what's right for you, I can vouch for how good their stuff is, no question at all.