Tried a new rust converter on a frame rail and it bubbled up overnight

Working on a 2002 Silverado from upstate New York, I hit a frame rail with a product called 'Rust-Stop Gel' after wire wheeling it down. The can said to leave it for 24 hours, but by morning the whole area had this weird white, bubbly crust. I scraped some off and the metal underneath was still dark, not the black phosphate coating it promised. I think the gel reacted with something I missed, maybe an old undercoating. What's your go-to method for dealing with crusty frame rust that won't mess up?

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2 Comments

christopher9525mo ago

That bubbling is a bad sign. Did you use any degreaser or soap on the rail before applying the gel?

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verac405mo ago

Actually, some bubbling can be normal with certain gel formulas as they cure. I used RailZip cleaner on my last build and still got a few tiny bubbles along the edges. They usually settle out if you apply a thin, even coat.

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