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  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2018
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    Default Question about corrosion prevention on various metals used in bathroom/wet area

    Hello All,
    I am an amateur when it comes to metal. I hope my question is appropriate for this forum. I have completely renovated/rebuilt a bathroom and am now in the process of putting everything into service. From past experiences, I have learned that our hard water corrodes fixtures in a short amount of time.

    I wanted to be proactive and coat my metal parts to delay/prevent corrosion. Through online research I stumbled upon "Protectaclear" from Everbrite Coatings and have tried to use it. Much to my dismay, after following the regimen for preparing the metal and applying two coats, the coating comes off really fast, just from gently handling it with wet hands. The manufacturer is equally confused but is working with me to investigate the problem. They've been helpful, and I am not jumping to conclusions at this point and blame the product. However, all treatments I've attempted are failing/washing away just in the presence of water. The Protectaclear claims to be scratch resistant and durable for this kind of application for up to many years. Yet after less than two weeks of use, the coating is coming off in many places. I can even rub it off with my bare fingers.

    Here are the metal substrates I've treated:
    Delta/Kraus bathroom faucets and sink assemblies made from brass and finished to a "brushed nickel" or "stainless" finish
    solid 304 stainless hardware (tile profiles and drain assembly in the shower, escutcheon for shower mixing valve)
    various other handles and parts (all brass with "brushed nickel" or "stainless"finish).
    anodized aluminum

    Here's what I have done:
    Gently clean with barkeeper's friend, then neutralize with baking soda solution, then wash with regular dish soap and rinsed with warm water, wipe completely dry and let sit for a while, then wipe down carefully with Xylene to remove possible residue. Then I sprayed or brushed respectively (with a clean natural bristle brush) the Protectaclear coating on (two coats one hour apart). I followed the manufacturer's instruction to a T and let the coating cure for a full week.

    If you happen to know this coating, can you give me advice on what was possibly going wrong here?

    Also, short of having to wax my fixtures, can you recommend other clear coatings that might give me corrosion resistance. I am mostly concerned about the finished surfaces and not about the solid stainless elements (which I just coated to prevent water spotting).

    Thanks so much for taking the time to read this!

  2. #2
    BobL is offline Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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    Default

    With protecting stuff like brass in the fashion you describe it's a bit like "clear coating wood that is going to be located outside and hoping UV won't attack it" - there's no clear coating known that will survive even medium term especially if it is going to be handled.

    I always though protectacoat was meant for jewellery so here is minimal handling and nothing that requires force such as when closing a tap?

    I'm also not surprised that spraying does not work - spray produces a very thin finish. Even brushing just 2 coats does not deposit much paint. Remember because unlike past which has metal oxide fillers most of what is sprayed/painted on is solvent that evaporates leaving very little little final finish. Even for short term use I would be applying something like 10 coats but it may not look right after a few coats.
    I reckon instead of painting, repeated dipping might be the go but again, it may not retain the look you are after

    I'd be trying a 2 pack polyurethane clear finish as that is what is used on aircraft and flooring.
    It will be much harder than protectaclear which is only a single pack product but even bPU will eventually yellow and wear, there's nothing that can be done about that short of recoating.

    Something else worth go would be a marine grade clear coat as Cerakote. My BIL builds Al boats its his go to product that he can guarantee works.

  3. #3
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    May 2018
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    United States
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    Default

    Thanks, Bob, for your reply.

    Everbrite indeed specifies their Protectaclear for a whole bunch of applications way beyond the jewelry coating (which is what they seem to be known for). However, I am sure you're on to something with the two coats being too thin. I am going to do one test piece with 10 coats and see what happens.

    Aside from gently touching the faucet handles, I am not applying any stress on the coating. Also, the coating is supposed to protect the faucets where the corrosion usually starts, at the base or at the neck where the aerator meets the body (and where minerals are deposited).

    I don't think I can do the ceramic coating you recommended. It needs a dedicated sprayer and is also very expensive. Not worth it for a $400 worth of various fixtures in my view.

    Your idea about the two-part polyurethane sounds good. It seems like those would give me more stability. Can you recommend a brand? I don't mind recoating every so often, but certainly want my finish to last more than two weeks. I've worked with epoxies before and am familiar with the process of two-part products.

    In the future, I will go with solid stainless faucets. They are hard to find but they do exist. I have one in my kitchen now and love how mineral deposits literally just wipe off. I wished more makers would offer solid stainless. Pay a little more upfront but then enjoy worry-free performance even with hard water.

    Anyway, thanks for your time!

  4. #4
    Join Date
    May 2018
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    United States
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    Bob, thanks for your reply. I posted a reply before but it didn't show up, apparently.

    Protectaclear makes the claim that the product can be used in a wide array of applications, indoors and outdoors. I am ready to give up on it, having done a multi-layered test piece that is now showing the same quick erosion of the coating. I don't know why this happens after just a few days but it does. The company will be refunding me the money but it baffles me that the coating would fail so quickly. There is no substantial mechanical stress on the coating. Just where on gently touches the handle. Most importantly, I wanted the coating to prevent mineral buildup in the usual spots (area around the aerator and base of faucet).

    Can you recommend a particular brand of two-part polyurethane that will work better and that is available in small quantities here in the U.S.? Short of that, I might just wax those parts on a regular basis to prevent mineral buildup.

  5. #5
    BobL is offline Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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    Quote Originally Posted by coatingmetal View Post
    Can you recommend a particular brand of two-part polyurethane that will work better and that is available in small quantities here in the U.S.? Short of that, I might just wax those parts on a regular basis to prevent mineral buildup.
    Sorry I can't really recommend anything personally as I have not really tested any products on metal and don't know what's available in your area.
    I'd start with a two pack PU suitable for floors since I know that will be hard - I think you have to give it 7 days to fully harden.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
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    Healesville
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    I think that you are tackling the problem from the wrong end, a decent water filtration system and a water softener would
    solve your problems.
    cheers, shed

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