How to Prevent Rust on Heavy Equipment
Keeping your heavy machines in top operating condition is critical to the success of your business, and it requires regular maintenance to minimize breakdowns, downtime, and repair costs.
What makes the situation more difficult is that most types of heavy equipment are exposed to harsh conditions, like mud, rain, and snow. If the right steps aren't taken, these conditions can cause corrosion and rust, which weakens equipment and can eventually lead to total failure.
To help keep that from happening, we've put together a list of several tips and best practices you can start doing now to prevent rust on your machines.
What is rust?
When iron is exposed to moisture and oxygen, the oxygen atoms fuse with the metal, leading to a reaction called oxidizing. This reaction creates a new compound called iron oxide or rust. Rust can develop on all iron surfaces, even if it's painted, causing the surface to puff out and bubble up before flaking off.
Over time, the rust will expand and cause your equipment to be corroded and weakened. Eventually, the metal on your machines can completely rust through and lead to dangerous operating conditions.
Top ways to prevent rust
There are several measures you can take to protect your machines and your business from the dangers of heavy equipment rust.
- Keep your machines clean – Dirt and moisture are the enemy of your heavy equipment. Sticking to a regular cleaning schedule will help keep dust, dirt, moisture, and other forms of contamination from accumulating and leading to rust and corrosion.
- Put heavy equipment inside when not working – Even better than a protective layer of wax is a protective structure around your machines. Be sure to install a dehumidifier in the storage space to remove moisture from the air and keep your equipment dry and rust free.
- Use high quality rust prevention products – Rust inhibitors or paint that includes rust inhibitors give metal surfaces on your equipment a protective layer of oil or film that prevents moisture from reaching the machine.
Remove rust immediately when you see it
Sometimes, you simply can't prevent rust on your equipment. In those cases, you can still keep the rust from causing major damage by removing it as soon as you see it. You can remove small areas of rust with specialized chemicals, just be sure to always wear gloves, safety goggles, and respirators when using acid based rust removers.
If you don't want to use chemicals, you can use grinding and sanding equipment. Grinders are great for heavy duty rust removal, while sanders are better for small scale removal jobs. Taking off the rust quickly will help avoid pitting and structural damage to your equipment. If you use a grinder or sander for mechanical rust removal, you have to repaint it with either spray paint or a paint brush, or it will rust again fast. You can find high quality equipment touch up paint in our supplies department!
If you have any questions about how to prevent rust on your equipment, contact our team today!