Rust Treatment

[Arthur Marshall]

I've just FerTan-ed the bilge and engine bay of the boat - in the past I've always used VacTan on the grounds that it was a lot cheaper than anything else - does anyone know if there's any great difference between these treatments? They all seem to turn the rust black and into something solid.

[Quinafloat]

There most certainly is. Fertan converts the rust but does nothing for any bare clean metal. Vactan converts rust and puts a polymer coating over everywhere it has been used. I find it best to use Fertan on old, deep rust as you can irrigate it into the rust with water. Vactan is better on surface rust.

 

Once treated with Vactan, the polymer coating tends to prevent rust forming where it has been use for weeks or months. Fertan offers less in the way of protection and needs to be primered much quicker.