Yes, light surface rust after the RustBlast step is normal. It is common for a metal surface to flash rust once rinsed with water, and RustBlast also leaves behind a white dusting of zinc phosphate that mixes with that brown surface rust, often making it look worse than it actually is.
When to proceed: If what you see is a light dusting on the surface and the tank is bone dry, you are good to move on to the Tank Sealer step.
Frequently Asked Questions: Surface Rust After RustBlast
Yes, this is normal. Because there is usually moisture in the air, it is quite common for a metal surface to flash rust after being rinsed with water. RustBlast is formulated to leave behind a dusting of zinc phosphate, which aids the adhesion of Tank Sealer. That white zinc phosphate dusting mixes with the brown surface rust, often making it look much worse than it actually is.
The white residue is zinc phosphate, which RustBlast is formulated to leave behind. Zinc phosphate aids the adhesion of Tank Sealer and is a normal, expected part of the process.
No. If what you have is a light dusting on the surface and the tank is bone dry, you are good to proceed to the Tank Sealer step. You can minimize the amount of surface rust by drying the tank immediately and quickly after rinsing with water following the RustBlast step, though this is not necessary.
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