How to Paint rusty piles

[penfold]

Do they actually belong to you? If they're the harbour trust's property I'd leave them well alone.

 

[2Tizwoz]

I've got 4 steel posts/piles on my drying mooring, the piles are in good condition but have got quite rusty.

Should I apply a rust convertor first, or can I get away with a direct to metal paint.

Would appreciate advice on the best way to go about this.

Thanks


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What anodes do they have on them?

 

[Blueboatman]

Suppose you could delay things with a brisk rub down and some epoxy tar….

 

[DPH]

What anodes do they have on them?

None, but this wouldn't change my question about paint would it?

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Suppose you could delay things with a brisk rub down and some epoxy tar….

As already noted, the problem probably isn't corrosion on the outside.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

What anodes do they have on them?

There's nothing in circuit with them to cause them to suffer from electrochemical corrosion. They're just plain oxidizing.

 

[PaulR]

we paint the exposed parts of our piles at my club with bitumen paint - seems to last and easy to apply

 

[DPH]

Thanks for the replies, will look at bitumen but I've also found this direct to metal epoxy paint which I might try.
Rust-Oleum 9100 High Solids Epoxy | 4,100+ Colours

 

[Pasarell]

Biggest issue for you is the external surface between high and low water marks (splash zone) where corrosion will be greatest. When new the piles were probably coated with a decent glass flake epoxy but in the splash that is unlikely to last more than 6 or 7 years, less if there is any abrasion.
You cannot effectively repaint so normal solution is to put a petrolatum gel incorporating an anticorrosive around this area and secure in place with a protective sleeve of polyurethane or HDPE. This should exclude air and water from the surface and the anticorrosive additive will slow existing corrosion almost to a stop.
The anticorrosive is normally supplied impregnated into a felt strip to wrap around the pile or as a layer of felt bonded to the inside of the jacket.
Piles should have been made with a corrosion allowance for their specified lifetime but those allowances are being affected by air and seawater warming causing corrosion to accelerate.
Corrosion inside the pile should be minimal

 

[srm]

Will the bitumen get messy when the pylon is in use ?

Quite a few years ago I owned a steel boat. Previous owner had the hull coated with epoxy tar, this provided a hard surface for the antifouling. Epoxy tar was still sound over ten years later, the problem was internal corrosion.