Quick question - rust in an ammo box

[810wmb]

ok, i got an old ammo box from my pop the other day. it has some mild rust in it. it has not rusted through the box. it will be kept in my garage from here on out.

question - spray paint the areas? or rub some oil on the rust?

just for the cool factor :roll: i would rather not spray paint if i can keep from it.

stupid, i know, but that's my life!

which way to go?

 

[810wmb]

8)

well, damn, i know it's not the greatest question, but somebody say anything...at this point i don't care if you know what you are talking about or not!

 

[slippingaway]

Get some sandpaper, emery cloth, or even steel wool, and get rid of the rust. If you leave it on there, it will just keep eating away whether you put oil or paint over it. Once you get the rust off, you'll need to either keep it oiled, spray some primer or paint over it, or spray a clearcoat over it.

 

[wixedmords]

I have to agree with SA 810, the rust will just continue its cancerous journey at the expense of the box.

How about carefully restoring the box? Test some paint out to match, try to blend it in. I believe you could do that.

 

[sourdough44]

I got some old ammo cans a while back. They only had a touch of rust in some areas. I 1st cleaned the cans with soapy water, like while washing the car. After they were dry I went over them with an oily cloth & lubed the hinge points some, gun oil, household oil, whatever. With what they were, the amount of rust, & the rate of progression I though my methods were plenty.

 

[810wmb]

thanks for the replies, just what i was needing

i had washed it out with soap and water. i had also used some choir boy and a paint scraper. i have no idea why i didn't think of sandpaper.

i just hit it a few licks, and it's cleaning the rust up pretty good. i'll work on it some more in the morning.

thanks!

 

[JWhitmore44]

Use navel jelly or Rusteco for removing what rust you can. There is also some primer that "converts" rust to a primed surface. I have had good luck using this on small pieces (old motorcycle parts). If you have quite a few boxes to do you could use the motorcycle tank kit from POR15.

 

[revhigh]

Geez guys they're just ammo cans ... even totally neglected they'll probably last 10,000 years !!

REV

 

[810wmb]

Geez guys they're just ammo cans ... even totally neglected they'll probably last 10,000 years !!

REV

:lol: heheheh...i know...my dad has had this one around since i was a kid, never taken care of at all...just a little rust.

that is part of the reason i was kinda wanting it to stay as is. i bought some flat paint today...gonna do the inside where the rust is (was) leave the outside as is.

 

[nn]

use some naval jelly, then paint it.

 

[Rick Courtright]

Geez guys they're just ammo cans ... even totally neglected they'll probably last 10,000 years !!

Hi,

Out here where it's pretty dry, that's probably an understatement!

A shot of WD-40 or whatever oil one likes, allowed to penetrate a couple of minutes, then wiped down, is all the care I've seen given to even the ugliest of ammo cans and they just keep on going...

Dunno about you guys in more humid climes. You might need a bit more care? Rustoleum has a "rusty metal" primer I've used w/ success on automotive metal left rusty by battery acid damage. And, if rust is a serious problem where you are and you want to match the paint, an enterprising soul could probably custom mix some green and yellow or white Rustoleum to match the original OD color. A client builds model boats and paints 'em all w/ Rustoleum, mixing quite a variety of colors. Works great...

In the mean time, as Rev says, they're just ammo cans...

Rick C