APPLICATION INFORMATION

Rustlok Steel Primer may be applied by brush, roller or spray. A minimum of three coats of Rustlok is recommended to achieve good, long-term corrosion protection. Four or more coats of Rustlok will yield excellent long-term results. Rustlok reacts with ambient moisture. To avoid gelation of the paint, keep containers tightly sealed when not in use. Thinning is not normally required and is not recommended. Follow the recommended dry time and recoat guidelines carefully. Once fully cured, Rustlok forms an extremely hard surface which is very difficult for other coatings to adhere to. If the dry to recoat time is exceeded, heavy sanding with 80 grit sandpaper is mandatory to achieve proper adhesion of subsequent coats of paint. To eliminate the labor of sanding, plan your work carefully so that each coat of Rustlok and the first application of topcoat (antifouling or topside enamel) will be done before the previous coat dries hard.

SURFACE PREPARATION

Coating performance, in general, is proportional to the degree of surface preparation. Follow recommendations carefully, avoiding shortcuts. Inadequate preparation of surfaces will virtually assure inadequate coating performance.

SYSTEMS

New Steel: Disc sand with 80 grit sandpaper or sandblast to clean bright metal. Wipe clean with Pettit T-10 (aka 120) Brushing Thinner and immediately apply at least three coats of Rustlok following the recoat instructions carefully. Finish with antifouling bottom paint or topside system.

Rusted Steel: Clean the surface by wire brushing, wire wheeling, or light sandblasting. All loose rust must be removed. Firmly attached rust does not have to be removed. Wipe the surface clean with Pettit T-10 (aka 120) Brushing Thinner and apply a minimum of three coats of Rustlok. Finish with an appropriate antifouling bottom paint or topside system.

Galvanized Steel: Galvanized steel must be clean and free of oil or grease before it is painted. Thoroughly clean the surface with Pettit T-10 (aka 120) Brushing Thinner and plenty of clean rags to ensure complete removal of contaminants. Then apply a minimum of three coats of Rustlok. Finish with antifouling bottom paint or topside system.

Stainless Steel: Follow the "New Steel" system above.

TOPCOATS

Antifouling Bottom Paint: All Pettit antifouling bottom paints may be applied directly over Rustlok Steel Primer. Adhesion is always best when Rustlok is topcoated when it is still slightly tacky. If Rustlok is allowed to dry hard, thorough sanding with 80 - 100 grit sandpaper is recommended to ensure adequate adhesion of subsequent coats of paint.

Topside Finishes: All Pettit topside finishes are compatible with Rustlok Steel Primer. If the surface is sufficiently smooth, Pettit Easypoxy, Shipendec or Polypoxy may be applied directly over Rustlok. If the surface needs additional smoothing, use an undercoater as a base over the Rustlok. Use Pettit 6165 Yacht White Undercoater or 6149 Easypoxy Undercoater for Easypoxy or Shipendec topcoats and Pettit 4172/4027 Epoxy White Undercoater for Pettit Polypoxy topcoats. Remember to start the finish coats or undercoaters before the Rustlok dries hard. If the Rustlok dries hard, thorough sanding with 80 - 100 grit sandpaper is mandatory before topcoating.