Search the Community

The Best Way to Clean a Surface Before Coating or Painting We often receive inquiries asking what cleaners are best to use on materials like metal, plastic, and masonry, before applying paint or coating. For example, a customer contacted us asking about preparing and painting aluminum brake calipers with KBS Motor Coater. The caliper was relatively new and wasn’t corroded, just covered in brake dust. So, he planned to use brake cleaner to wash it off and then go directly to paint when he was done. We let him know that instead of using brake cleaner, it would be much better to use KBS Klean to clean the surface before coating. Here’s why. Some Cleaners Leave Residue Common items used to clean surfaces before painting include solvent cleaners, brake cleaners, solvent wipes, alcohol wipes, and tack cloths. While all of these do a good job, they leave residue that can interfere with the adhesion and flow out of paints and coatings. Residue Affects Paint Adhesion and Flow Out Residue on the surface to be coated creates surface tension within the paint or coating that is to be applied. Surface tension is the tendency of liquid at rest to shrink into the minimum surface area possible. An example is water beading up on a freshly waxed car. Surface tension interferes with the adhesion and flow out of paints and coatings. KBS Klean Doesn’t Leave Residue We recommend use of KBS Klean to clean a surface before coating or painting as it doesn’t leave residue that can cause surface tension. KBS Klean is a concentrated, water-based, and non-flammable formula that removes dirt, grime, oils, lubricants, grease, waxes, scum, and other contaminants. KBS Klean leaves a clean surface with no residue, which results in optimal paint and coating adhesion. KBS Klean is non-corrosive and non-toxic and can be used to clean a variety of materials including ferrous and non-ferrous metals, plastics, stone, brick, masonry, canvas, asphalt, and others. KBS Klean Demonstration Check out this demonstration of how residue affects surface tension of a liquid. The panel on the far right is the control subject and was not cleaned of surface contaminants. The panel was sprayed with water. Note the water beads up, rather than flows out due to surface tension caused by the contaminants. The two panels in the middle have been cleaned with solvents. One with lacquer thinner and the other with brake fluid. After being wiped dry of the solvents, water was sprayed on. See how the remaining residue causes the water to bead up? The panel on the left was cleaned with KBS Klean, and water was sprayed on. Note, the water doesn’t bead on the panel as all contaminants were removed and no residue remained to increase the surface tension. KBS Klean Application The procedure for using KBS Klean to clean a surface before painting or coating is quite simple. KBS Klean is mixed with warm or hot water and can be applied with a sponge, scrub pad, or bristle brush. KBS Klean can also be used in pressure washing equipment to rapidly penetrate many layers of accumulated buildup. For general purpose cleaning the surface is washed for 5-10 minutes. For heavy-duty cleaning, extended soaking times up to 24 hours or more may be necessary. The process is completed by thoroughly rinsing the surface with water. KBS Klean Dilution Ratios KBS Klean and warm water are mixed in specific dilution ratios depending on the material being cleaned. It is important to adhere to these mix ratios. Heavily Soiled Surfaces (Diesel engines, fuel tanks) 1 Part Hot Water to 1 Part KBS Klean Moderately Soiled Surfaces (Pre-paint cleaning) 5 Parts Hot Water to 1 Part KBS Klean Lightly Soiled Surfaces (Truck road film) 10 Parts Hot Water to 1 Part KBS Klean Non-Ferrous Metals (Aluminum, Copper, Brass, etc.) 25 Parts Hot Water to 1 Part KBS Klean It is important that a cleaner does not stain the surface, especially when it will show through. Such as when a clear coat is applied. Keep in mind that most aggressive cleaners will stain non-ferrous metals. However, KBS Klean will not stain non-ferrous metal when mixed in the correct ratio. Have Questions About Cleaning a Surface Before Painting or Coating? If you have any questions about using KBS Klean to clean a surface before coating or painting please Contact Us!

Snowplows receive a lot of hard use during a busy season and wear and tear can take their toll. Maintaining a snowplow is much less expensive than replacing it or making significant repairs. So, it’s important to take time to inspect and service the mechanical parts of your plow as well as refinish rusty components. General Snowplow Maintenance Check to be sure all fasteners are properly tightened. Inspect electrical connections to be sure they’re not loose or corroded. Be sure all the moving contact points are properly greased. The plows cutting edge must be in proper condition to cut through snow, as well as it needs to be able to protect the moldboard. If a cutting edge is worn down to four inches or less, it’s typically ready for replacement. If your snowplow has plow shoes check to be sure they can keep your blade off the ground. If they can’t, be sure to replace them. Inspect the plow and vehicle mounts for cracks. Keep Rust from Forming on the Snowplow Blade The best way to avoid rust damage is to keep rust from forming in the first place. After use, especially after being in contact with salt, wash the snowplow blade, frame and other components to remove dirt and corrosives. Steps to Refinish a Rusty Snowplow If you find the moldboard, frame or attachment components have been scratched down to bare metal, you can be sure rust will begin to form. Spot damage repairs, as well as complete piece refinishing can be done with RustSeal. RustSeal is a very hard and durable coating that stops rust. It can handle the rigors of snowplow duty and is able to be brushed, rolled, or sprayed on. The coating flows out well, so if it’s brushed or rolled on it won’t leave brush marks. BlackTop is a UV stable (does not chalk or fade in sunlight) topcoat that goes over RustSeal well and is ideal for the moldboard, frame or attachment components. BlackTop comes in Gloss, OEM Satin Black, or Flat allowing you to pick your desired sheen. The first step to refinish a rusty snowplow is thoroughly cleaning the area to be painted of any dirt, grease, salt, or other contaminants that could interfere with the adhesion of RustSeal. KBS Klean is recommended. KBS Klean is a powerful, water-based, and biodegradable cleaner. Next, remove any loose, scaling rust with sandpaper or a wire brush or wheel. If the paint or coating is loose and peeling or bubbling it will need to be removed before painting as the bond of RustSeal is only as strong as the surface to that which it’s adhered. If you are going to be applying RustSeal on top of an existing paint or coating, you’ll first need to scuff it, so RustSeal has a surface to bite to. This can be done with 320 grit sandpaper. Sand just enough so that the surface has a dulled appearance. If it’s shiny the RustSeal won’t adhere as well as it could. Wash the surface again with KBS Klean to be sure all debris and residues are removed. Next use RustBlast to prepare the metal for RustSeal. RustBlast is a powerful rust remover, zinc phosphate pre-primer, and metal etch that treats the metal to provide a surface to which RustSeal can strongly bond. Next, apply RustSeal to the treated area. For this application it’s recommended to apply a minimum of 3 thin covering coats. Detailed information on use of KBS Klean, RustBlast, and RustSeal can be found HERE. Lastly, finish off the snow plow with KBS MAXX which comes in plenty of colors and can be brushed or rolled to give an incredibly durable finish that will not chalk or fade. KBS MAXX is the ideal snow plow paint because of its brillance and long term durability. Maintaining a snowplow is much less expensive than replacing it or making significant repairs. It’s important to take time to inspect and service the mechanical parts of your plow and refinish a rusty snowplow as necessary.

How to Detail Your Engine and Engine Bay with KBS Klean A clean engine bay looks great and makes it easier to spot leaks and other issues if they arise. If you want to detail your engine bay for shows, simpler maintenance, or just to make your daily driver look its best, KBS Klean makes the job easier. Here’s how to detail your engine and engine bay as a do-it-yourself project with KBS Klean. 1. Get Ready to Detail Your Engine Bay Before you start the cleaning and detailing procedure, you’ll want to make sure the engine is cool. Hot engines, radiators, exhaust, etc. can cause burns. Plus, heat can cause cleaners to evaporate quickly. So, play it cool… There’s going to be a lot of water sprayed on the engine and in the engine bay. So, to avoid electrical shorts or other damage to electrical components it’s a good idea to disconnect the cable from the negative battery terminal. Another measure to protect under hood electrical components, as well as other parts like open element air cleaners is to cover them. This can be done with plastic bags or plastic wrap. Gather needed items. KBS Klean Bucket Sponge Scrub pad and/or a scrub brush with a handle to be get down low and in tight spots Plastic bags and/or plastic wrap Goggles and rubber gloves Terry cloth towels Air compressor (if available) 2. Clean (Klean) the Engine and Engine Bay Now comes the cleaning. To remove dirt and grease you’ll need to need scrub the engine and engine bay down with an all-purpose cleaner/degreaser or commercial engine cleaner. KBS Klean is a great choice. KBS Klean is a concentrated high-strength cleaner that’s water based and biodegradable. It’s made to thoroughly remove dirt, grease and grime and other contaminants. Mix KBS Klean and warm water in a bucket. The KBS Klean and water solution can be prepared in different ratios, depending on the degree of grunge and contaminants that need to be cleaned off as well as the type of materials it’s being applied to. Typically, cars and trucks have many non-ferrous metals like aluminum and brass under hood. So, we recommend using a water to KBS Klean ratio of 25 to 1. Remember to use warm water, as the warmer the water is the better KBS Klean will work. Be safe out there. Wear goggles and rubber gloves when you detail your engine and engine bay. You can use a sponge to scrub down the engine bay, and if needed a scrub pad or bristle brush can be used to speed up removal of heavy gunk. For the most effective cleaning, wash the surface for 5-10 minutes. Keep the solution wet, don’t allow it to dry on the surface. KBS Klean can also be used with power washers, just make sure the pressure isn’t too high. Start with a 25° nozzle and if required, switch to a 40° nozzle. Stand back at least three feet as pressure washing from a close range can damage parts. Be careful not to get the solution into electrical components and their connections. After you’ve finished cleaning an area rinse it thoroughly with water. Once your completely done allow the engine and engine bay to dry thoroughly. Wiping them down with a terry cloth towel will speed things up and compressed air will make it go even quicker. Now you can remove the plastic bags or wrap, as well as reconnect the cable to the negative battery terminal. If dirty areas were left under the protective covers, they can be carefully wiped down with a rag to remove and dirt or grime. 3. Dress It Up The final step to detail your engine and engine bay is to provide a shine and a deep and lustrous appearance with engine bay dressing. There are many products to choose from which are available in different formulations with some being oil based and others acrylic based. Oil based products are typically stickier than acrylic based, which can cause them to catch dirt and dust than acrylic. Engine bay dressings can apply differently. Some products are a spray on and leave it application, while others are sprayed onto a cloth or sponge and then applied to the engine and engine bay. Spray on and leave it products allow quick coverage, while those applied with a cloth or sponge allow more control of where the dressing is placed. Follow the use instructions of the product you choose. A clean engine bay looks great and makes a car or truck easier to maintain. Using KBS Klean as part of this process to detail your engine makes the job easier.

The Frame Coater Kit is a quart size 3-Step System Kit that includes enough products to Klean, Blast & Seal a full-size car or truck frame, or any 50 sq. ft. area with 2 coats of paint coverage. You get Top Quality Protection at a tremendous value! Detailed instructions included. KBS Coatings’ 3 Step System of RustSeal (a rust preventive coatings), KBS Klean (an industrial strength water-based cleaner / degreaser) and KBS RustBlast (a powerful rust remover / metal etch) is the most effective rust and corrosion prevention system available today. RustSeal is a paint or coating that chemically bonds to bare metal to form a permanent, moisture resistant finish that is flexible yet won't crack, chip, or peel. Because RustSeal is moisture-cured, this superior coating is made even stronger by continued exposure to moisture. RustSeal is also highly resistant to some of the most aggressive chemicals such as acids, alkalis, salts, abrasive materials, fertilizers, coal dusts, solvents, oils, and other refined petroleum products.

“Here are some before & after photos of my Dodge 2500 frame and bed I did using KBS Klean and RustBlast for prep. Then using RustSeal & BlackTop top coat satin to protect my investment. Thanks KBS Coatings!” -Mitchell Z KBS Klean RustBlast RustSeal BlackTop

If i were to sandblast the area before i use Rustseal would i still need to use the RustBlast and KBS Klean on the sandblasted area before i put on rustseal?

“I am restoring a55 2nd series Chevy pick up. First I mechanically removed the heavy scale with a wire wheel. Then washed everything with KBS Klean, at a 10 to 1 mix. It worked great and cleaned all oil and grease residue,I rinsed and let it dry. Then came the RustBlast, I sprayed it on, kept the parts wet and the rust disappeared, when I was happy with the result, I rinsed and let dry. Now all part had a zinc phosphate coating. Then I applied 2 thin coats of rust seal. This stuff is tuff and dries hard and encapsulates the steel. I don't see how it could ever rust again. Great products yield great results!” -Tony M.

Customer Tip: "I found something that works awesome with KBS Klean and RustBlast. It's called a Nyalox brush. It's like those wire wheel brushes you use with a drill, but it's much better for this application. I used the fine grade brush at 1500rpm with KBS Klean and that alone cleaned up most of the rust!I used it with RustBlast and scrubbed for about 2 minutes, it pretty much made the surface perfect!" KBS Klean: https://www.kbs-coatings.com/KBS-Klean.html RustBlast: https://www.kbs-coatings.com/RustBlast.html

Will KBS Klean harm the paint on the outside of my gas tank when I am using it to prep for the Tank Sealer?

Check out what our customers, including Willie B, had to say about KBS Coatings at SEMA 2013.

Can KBS Klean be used in my pressure washer? I like how well KBS Klean works and it would be great if I could use it through the suction tube on my pressure washer for washing the side of my house and other things.