Cleaning very rusty ammo cans from the CMP.

[Ignition Override]

The ammo arrived today, and one of the five has lots of thin rust. The only other real 'problem can' has even brighter rust, but is only on the bottom, but covers it. Spent a minute earlier with Naval Jelly, which seems to work pretty well.

If a can's bottom is covered with orange in different shades, would you simply throw it away and find space for the ammo in the other cans, or spend a bit of time cleaning, hoping that it has not already eaten small holes through the metal?

 

[Murphy4570]

Soak it in evaporust. Probably just surface rust.

 

[Fishbed77]

A little steel wool followed by a hit from the rattle can will fix it right up.

 

[Ignition Override]

The 'rattle can', as in Rem. oil?
I keep forgetting this for my multiple cans of .303, 8mm etc-thanks for reminder.

 

[rcmodel]

The 'rattle can', as in Rem. oil?

No, the rattle can as in Rust-Oleum spray enamel paint or primer.

Wire brush all the rust off you can.

Then follow with a couple coats of Rust-Oleum Stops Rust spray paint.



rc

 

[tryshoot]

Rattle can means paint. After you oil it paint will not stick.

 

[Sam1911]

Yup, the Rustoleum "Stops Rust" rust converter paint is great stuff. Just knock the loosest of the rust off, shoot it with the S.R. and you're good to go. Never a worry again.

 

[jakk280rem]

Take it to your local powdercoater. He can sandals it and/or coat it any color you want.

 

[jdgreen]

I use a wire brush to get the bad spots. Maybe 5-10 minutes per can at the longest. Then I use the Rustoleum camouflage paint that is the closest to the original green color. It's not an exact match but I like the results. I spray them 3 light coats then with a light coat or two of the satin clear coat. Works great. I don't paint the inside. I've had some with a lot of rust on the outside, but the insides have always been good. It's not a showroom finish, but hey, it's an ammo can.

 

[Ignition Override]

You guys have it down to a science. Thanks.
Will buy that Rustoleum, maybe at Loew's or Home Depot.

 

[Lj1941]

Clear coat on an ammo can?????

 

[Sam1911]

Powder coat? Clear coat? Uh...yeah, that's an ammo can. Just spray it with "Stops Rust" so it stops rusting and use the darned thing.

 

[jakk280rem]

Well after I welded a hasp on an ammo can I had lying about i decided to pretty it up a little.

 

[rcmodel]

Powder coat?

I have a powder coated yard cart with a diamond mesh floor.

It is rusting peeling and flaking off after a few years.

Last year, I wire brushed the loose powder coat off and sprayed it with Rust-Oleum Stops Rust.

So far, a year later, all is well, and it sets outside in the weather year round.

rc