Metal finishing Q&As since 1989
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Clear coat for galvanized sheet metal
Q. What product should I use to coat a galvanized sheet metal bathroom countertop to seal it from water stains? Currently, the countertop has water stains that cannot be removed by any cleaning products. We plan to
00 steel wool [on
eBay or
Amazon] the surface to remove the stains, then coat the galvanized steel with a polyurethane type clear coat.
Any suggestions?
- Portland, Oregon
2001
? What was the response to the clear coating of sheet metal?
Thanks,
- Umatilla, Florida
2003
Ed. note: Sorry Brenda, this is a free public forum with 60,000 threads/topics. If no reader has responded to this particular one yet, that's the way it is :-(
But if you explain your own situation in a compelling way, there are lots of readers whose eye you just might catch :-)
A. Lacquer is a sealant that can be used on metal
Leona Eskuela- Odessa, Iowa
August 17, 2021
Q. I have intentions of fabricating galvanized metal countertops for my kitchen. What product should I use to seal them to prevent staining/reactions from acidic fluids?
Robert BaileyBuilding Maintenance - Bellingham, Washington
2003
Q. I too want to know what to "seal" galvanized metal countertops with so they won't stain. I plan to install and heard about "acid" stains and water stains.
Jan McDonald- Houston, Texas
2003
A. Hi, folks. One issue is that getting adhesion onto a galvanized surface can be hard. That's why they make special Galvanized Metal Primer
[affil links] that etches the galvanized surface -- but the primers which I'm aware of are colored, not clear.
So we end up asking how to get adhesion while refraining from using the approach which is most likely to work :-)
I'd say the second best approach would be to scrub the countertop with trisodium phosphate [on
eBay or
Amazon] to remove any oils and fingerprints, then try to etch it with vinegar
[in bulk on
eBay or
Amazon], rinse it, and clear coat it immediately. Try etching an inconspicuous spot first because etching will obviously reduce the shine. Good luck!
But this response would not be complete without saying that galvanized sheet metal is probably a poor material for counters for a number of other reasons including that stains will happen anyway, and galvanized surfaces are not 'food-safe'.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
October 8, 2009
Q. We are having difficulty in trying to Clean Sheet Metal with fingerprints and food/drink stains? It also has swirl marks from trying to clean it with other cleaners, i.e., Windex Commercial Line [on eBay or Amazon] , soap/water, metal cleaners, etc. BTW- it is a huge 30 ft x 10 ft wall. THANKS!
Ron BergConsumer - Kansas City, Missouri
2007
A. Hi, Ron. Try scrubbing with powdered pumice [on eBay or Amazon] and a little trisodium phosphate [on eBay or Amazon]. I've heard that you can mix the pumice with a fine oil to get some shine, but I'm not personally familiar with that.
Again, always try any suggestion in a small, inconspicuous spot first.
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Readers, please recognize that although some people call galvanized steel sheet 'tin' or 'sheet metal', it's absolutely not tin, and there are several other types of sheet metal. If you mean galvanized sheet metal (zinc coated steel), it's best to take the time to call it that to avoid misunderstandings :-) |
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
October 8, 2009
Q. I would like to re-ask the question above ... has anyone found a clear sealer, wax or other coating that protects the surface of a galvanized sheet metal surface, that would also be food safe?
Keith B- Atlanta, Georgia, USA
May 4, 2011
A. Hi Keith. Wax is certainly fine, but the galvanized sheet itself is not actually 'food safe'.
Luck & Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
A. Try boiled linseed oil?
Jim McCoy- Finlay, Ohio
December 1, 2013
A. Use a two part epoxy [Envirotex Lite [affil links]]. It will stick to metal as long as it's clean. Use denatured alcohol [on eBay or Amazon] to clean. I have been doing floor coatings for 20 years.
C. Rij- Atlanta Georgia
November 15, 2020
Ed. note: Thanks for the knowledgable response, C.
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