Preparing the substrate is the most important step that has a direct impact on the durability of the applied system. In addition to removing loose fragments of the existing coating, it is also very important to clean the surface of any dirt such as dust, dirt, oil, grease, etc. Skipping this step or using inappropriate preparations worsens the adhesion of the new coating to the structure.  

Why should you not use universal thinners or gasoline to degrease steel?

Products commonly used for degreasing structures are universal thinners or gasoline . We advise against using universal thinners for a simple reason: they are designed to dilute , not remove, greasy stains.

Degreasing steel by spraying the structure with gasoline

Cleaning the structure with gasoline is perfectly acceptable, but it must be done carefully. White spirit and mineral spirits are available on the market. We recommend mineral spirits for this type of application, as they are less greasy and have a more unpleasant odor than mineral spirits. The best method is to spray the structure with gasoline and then wipe it with a clean cloth. The gasoline evaporates almost immediately, so this should be done quickly and efficiently to avoid leaving dirt on the surface and the gasoline evaporating. We recommend not soaking the cloth in gasoline and then washing the structure with it – this can result in spreading the dirt rather than removing it.

Degreasing steel using Emulsol RN-1 water-soluble concentrate

To ensure your structure is properly cleaned, we recommend using Emulsol RN-1 . This concentrate is dilutable with water , making it highly efficient. It's ideal for cleaning:

  • black steel, 
  • zinc, 
  • cast iron 
  • or non-ferrous metals. 

Typically, a 0.5-liter container of concentrate, when diluted with water, is sufficient to degrease 20-50 m² (depending on the degree of soiling). It's crucial to rinse the structure with clean water after cleaning to remove any concentrate residue. The product is biodegradable and used at low concentrations (3-4%) , so there's no problem with it flowing into the sewer system or onto the ground.

Application methods:

  • manually (brush, brush, mop or rag),
  • spraying (high pressure washers),
  • immersion method (baths with bath circulation, ultrasonic washers).

If there is no greasy dirt on the structure, but only dust, it is enough to wash the surface with water under pressure .