The Ford Barn

40 Deluxe · 12-08-2014, 02:33 PM

Another observation on salt-proofing products: I worked for 27 years at the Arizona DOT in Flagstaff. They switched from cinders to salt about 15-20 years ago (we get 100 inches or more of snow in a year, plus occasional freezing rain). Our equipment immediately began rusting out. Over the years we tried various products-some were pretty high-dollar but nothing works. The salt gets into joints and seams, etc. and goes to work doing what's called "jacking". Truck frames often have plates bolted on for reinforcement or snowplow mounts. Salt gets between them and the resulting rust actually expands and forces, or "jacks" the plates apart with enough force to snap bolts! Pickups have holes rusted in the floor under the gas pedal from salt tracked in by the drivers.
The biggest problems are ELECTRICAL. Salt gets in wiring connections, light sockets, splices and places you wouldn't believe. Any slight nick in insulation or a defective splice, and I would be down at the shop at 2 AM hunting for the rotten wire. Copper wires, salt water and electrical current together is a sure recipe for failure!
These are all trouble spots where no anti-rust product does any good.

12-08-2014, 02:33 PM	#17
40 Deluxe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: now Kuna, Idaho Posts: 3,818	Re: Rust proofing: Schutz, cavity wax, other Another observation on salt-proofing products: I worked for 27 years at the Arizona DOT in Flagstaff. They switched from cinders to salt about 15-20 years ago (we get 100 inches or more of snow in a year, plus occasional freezing rain). Our equipment immediately began rusting out. Over the years we tried various products-some were pretty high-dollar but nothing works. The salt gets into joints and seams, etc. and goes to work doing what's called "jacking". Truck frames often have plates bolted on for reinforcement or snowplow mounts. Salt gets between them and the resulting rust actually expands and forces, or "jacks" the plates apart with enough force to snap bolts! Pickups have holes rusted in the floor under the gas pedal from salt tracked in by the drivers. The biggest problems are ELECTRICAL. Salt gets in wiring connections, light sockets, splices and places you wouldn't believe. Any slight nick in insulation or a defective splice, and I would be down at the shop at 2 AM hunting for the rotten wire. Copper wires, salt water and electrical current together is a sure recipe for failure! These are all trouble spots where no anti-rust product does any good.