Rust preventatives are designed for specific processes and environments, whether water-based, emulsifiable, water-displacing, or built for long-term outdoor use. Work with the technicians at Seacole to choose the right chemistry to protect your metal from costly corrosion.
Finding the right rust preventative protects metal surfaces and influences downstream operations, such as painting, plating, and coating. The Metal Guard line from Hubbard-Hall illustrates how different preventatives offer different solutions for protection, finish, and washability. Let’s dig into the basics of rust prevention and take a look at a few of our favorite Hubbard-Hall Metal Guard products.
Rust prevention is critical in the metal finishing and manufacturing, from in-process handling to storage and final assembly. The Seacole team can help you choose the right rust preventative for your specific process.
Rust Prevention Basics
Rust prevention chemistries can be broken down into four main types: water-based, water-soluble or emulsifiable, water-displacing, and thixotropic liquids for outdoor use. All preventatives create a film on your parts that acts as a protective barrier against moisture. Some, such as water-based preventatives, are designed to provide short-term rust prevention during the surface finishing process. Others, such as water-displacing and thixotropic chemistries, provide longer-term rust prevention.
Our Favorite Hubbard Hall Metal Guard Rust Preventatives
At Seacole, we carry many options for rust prevention and corrosion resistance. One of our most trusted distribution partners is top-rated Hubbard-Hall. Hubbard-Hall’s Metal Guard line of rust preventatives contains chemistries for all surface finishing needs. Let’s dive deeper into several of our favorites.
Metal Guard 320 Rust Preventative
Metal Guard 320 is one of Hubbard-Hall’s water-soluble rust preventatives. When mixed with warm water and heated to around 145 degrees, it leaves a corrosion-resistant, semi-dry film on treated parts. It is ideal for dry-to-touch finish requirements, such as those in the automotive and military industries, as well as black oxide and bare steel surfaces.
Metal Guard 560 Rust Preventative
Metal Guard 560 is a water-displacing rust preventative. It is designed as a final finish for engineered black oxide coatings. It can provide 150 to 200 hours of salt spray resistance and is ideal for automobile parts, firearms, fasteners, small gasoline engines, machine tools, dies, and other fixtures.
Metal Guard 800-D Rust Preventative
If you are looking for a water-based rust preventative, Hubbard-Hall’s Metal Guard 800-D may fit the bill. It’s a clear, non-flammable liquid that protects ferrous metals in process. It provides excellent short-term rust prevention without leaving a powdery residue behind.
Metal Guard 900 Rust Preventative
Need superior protection against corrosion on interior or exterior bare metal surfaces? The Seacole team may recommend Metal Guard 900. It’s a solvent-based preventative that forms a water-resistant film that protects metal surfaces, even those exposed to the elements outdoors.
Choosing the Right Rust Preventative
These are just a few of the rust preventative chemistries Seacole offers. The experts on Seacole’s surface finishing technical team can help you determine which rust preventative is right for your specific process.
During the consultation process, we may ask you a few questions to help guide our recommendations, including:
- Do you require temporary or long-term corrosion prevention?
- Will parts be stored indoors, outdoors, or in humid conditions?
- What kind of finish is required (dry-to-touch, somewhat oily, heavy oil)?
- Will the preventative be applied with spray, brush, or immersion?
- Do downstream processes require minimally oiled surfaces?
Rust prevention is rarely one-size-fits-all. From quick-clean, water-based formulations to heavy outdoor films, Seacole offers a spectrum of solutions that balance protection, finish aesthetics, ease of removal, and cost. We understand how each type performs, so we can recommend the right product for your environment, storage time, and downstream finishing needs.
Ready to find the right rust preventative for your application? Bring us your surface finishing challenges, and we’ll deliver solutions. Get in touch with us today to get started.
Rust Preventative FAQs
What’s the difference between water-based rust preventatives and water-displacing oils?
Water-based preventatives are best for short-term, in-process protection with easy cleanup, while water-displacing oils leave an oily film for longer indoor protection against humidity.
Can rust preventatives interfere with painting or plating?
Yes. Heavier oils may need to be cleaned off before finishing. Water-based preventatives are often preferred when downstream paint or plating adhesion is critical.
How long do outdoor rust preventatives last?
Heavy outdoor preventatives, like those in the Metal Guard 900 series, can protect steel for up to two months outdoors under normal conditions.
How do I choose the right rust preventative?
Consider the storage environment (indoor vs. outdoor), required protection time, finish appearance (dry or oily), and downstream finishing steps like painting or plating.
