I cleaned a rust stain near my bathtub drain and noticed the porcelain/enamel is gone and it is now bare metal. Is there any way to repair this to prevent future rust?

Submitted by Sevitrey t3_126zgc4 in DIY

https://postimg.cc/N2MjYGgV
(link to photo of drain)

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I watched a few YouTube videos where they

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Removed the metal drain

Sanded the rust from the bathtub using steel wool

Applied epoxy over the bare metal

Applied enamel paint/sealant over the epoxy

Installed a new metal drain with plumbers putty

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..I just want to make sure this is the proper technique. If so, could you all let me know the proper

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Epoxy

Enamel Paint and/or Sealant

Plumbers Putty

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..to use?

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Comments

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cdayork t1_jebr6e3 wrote

If you don't care about looks you can get a porcelain repair paint and just dab it on the spot. It comes in a bottle similar to nail polish.

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Sevitrey OP t1_jebrvqk wrote

Thank you!

I'm concerned there may be more rust underneath the metal bathtub drain, so I'm going to remove it first to make sure.

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Sky_is_meh t1_jebyuer wrote

""Porc-A-Fix Touch-Up Glaze American Standard - White"" or any similar product . This is liquid enamel to repair small patches. Do not paint over.

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Signal-Ad8087 t1_jecur60 wrote

In my opinion it more hassle than it's worth but Google "tub reglazing kit" it will glaze the entire tub. Many options are available. Otherwise, I would simple stick with an appliance chip repair enamel in matching color.

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rickthecabbie t1_jedzvq6 wrote

Reglazing doesn't really last longer than 5 years in my experience. If a person were unethical, or unaware, it would work for a house that you are planning to flip, but yeah, totally not worth it.

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Signal-Ad8087 t1_jee7nyt wrote

I've no doubt that's why I never have used it. In ny days of construction, we sent a cpl tubs our to be reglazed but that is expensive and time consuming.

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rickthecabbie t1_jef582w wrote

Yeah, to be properly "reglazed" they need to be put through a kikn.

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Eywadevotee t1_jed6oud wrote

Remove drain and thouroughly clean it. Check to see how bad rust is. Clean off rust and loose enamel. Apply rust converter to rusty metal (phosphoric acid) and let it do its job. Wipe than rinse off when done and dry completely. Rusted area shound now be black/gray. Apply an epoxy resin based enamel and let it cure. Apply silicone around the drain pipe and reinstall drain. This should be a long term fix. 😁❤

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peperomia_pizza t1_jece9y6 wrote

Very very amateur here, so take my advice with a grain of salt. Some YouTube videos suggested prepping with Naval Jelly rust remover, letting dry, then using an enamel paint product like a Tub & Tile patch kit as others have suggested

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openminded74 t1_jeeaukq wrote

Just be careful removing the drain so you don't twist the pipes under the tub or break the drain. They come in several different sizes and some have fine thread while others have course threads and make sure you don't loose the rubber gasket that goes between the drain and the tub on the bottom side. When you reinstall the drain make sure you get it good and tight. There is a special tool called a spud wrench for this and I would suggest that you have one. Good luck

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dpunisher t1_jeeh4w0 wrote

FWIW this was my procedure. Removed drain/screen, sanded rust/corrosion, sprayed it with Ospho, used two part resin (for auto/boat fiberglass repair) to fill damage, finish sand, apply epoxy paint over repair. You absolutely have to get it clean before covering it with paint. About 20 years later the repair still looks new.

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Sevitrey OP t1_jefvwao wrote

>FWIW this was my procedure. Removed drain/screen, sanded rust/corrosion, sprayed it with Ospho, used two part resin (for auto/boat fiberglass repair) to fill damage, finish sand, apply epoxy paint over repair. You absolutely have to get it clean before covering it with paint. About 20 years later the repair still looks new.

Thanks for the info!

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