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Authorised in New Zealand as the Sole Distributor for Everbrite Coatings
Nationwide overnight delivery from our Auckland Warehouse
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 Howick, Auckland, NZ

Stainless Steel

Stainless Steel

Stop stainless steel from rusting and tea staining - Keep stainless steel looking stainless

Restore and Protect stainless steel. Stop stainless steel from rusting,  tea staining and corrosion. 

It is a misconception that stainless steel is stainless. The term “stain-less” implies a resistance to staining, rusting and pitting. Stainless steel generally has a higher resistance to the effects of exposure but can still be affected by the elements if not properly protected in harsh environments.

Which coating should be used to stop stainless steel from rusting?

ProtectaClear® is the coating to stop stainless steel from rusting whether indoors or outdoors. The coating comes in a Natural Gloss or Satin finish.

The Natural Gloss formula is usually the preferred choice for highly polished items as it allows the natural beauty of highly polished  stainless to shine through. The Satin formula has a sheen but not a high shine. 

For high touch items our CrobialCoat™ combines our ProtectaClear® coating with Microban technology for metal protection and antimicrobial protection. This is the coating for Lifts, lift buttons, banisters, railings; anywhere the public will touch and transfer bacteria. 

All of our coatings are heat resistant up to 260 – 285 degrees centigrade. The coatings will gas off at about 350 degrees centigrade. 

ProtectaClear® Coating

Keep stainless steel looking good

ProtectaClear® is a tough, durable coating with a pencil hardness of H8. It is highly resistant to salts and chlorines and will protect stainless steel from rust, corrosion, smudges and fingerprints. It is a one-part, easy to apply, clear protective coating that will keep your stainless steel looking new, even around corrosive agents like salts, pool chemicals and chlorines.

ProtectaClear® keeps the stainless looking very natural looking and does not look or feel like a thick plastic coating. 

ProtectaClear® is the best coating for items that will be enduring high use, constant handling and abuse. It is also food safe once cured. 

 

Stainless cabinets protected with ProtectaClear DIY coating to stop rustinless steel rusting

Rust was removed with our Stainless Steel Rust Remover, then neutralised and cleaned with EZPrep, followed by 3 coats of Protectaclear® .

CrobialCoat™

A Germ buster coating for stainless steel surfaces

CrobialCoat™ is also a tough, durable clear coating with the added advantage of Microban technology and  can  be used to coat over surfaces that have been precoated with ProtectaClear® or it can be used alone. It is ideal for surfaces where bacterial germs are likely to get on surfaces being frequently touched by the public such as Lifts, Lift Buttons, Banisters, Handles, Taps and Door knockers, and even Sculptures that the public is likely to touch. 

Lift buttons coated with CrobialCoat inhibits bacterial growth
Stainless steel lift doors coated in ProtectaClear stops fingermarks
Highly polished stainless steel sculpture protected with ProtectaClear to stop teastaining and prevent grubby finger prints

How many coats and how much coating do I need?

How many coats of ProtectaClear® need to be applied?

2 coats are standard for most projects.

  • Highly polished: 1 to 2 coats (two if high handling or high use/abuse)
  • Balustrades, Bannisters:  2 to 3 coats
  • Jewellery: 3 to 4 coats
  • Taps, Kitchen Sinks and Basins: 4 coats
  • Bathroom Sinks: 2 coats
  • Kitchen Splashbacks and Range Hoods: 1 to 2 coats
  • Countertops/Bars/Tabletops: 3 to 4 coats

Which size coating kit?

Coatings are sold in complete Kits.. Different size kits are available for different size projects.

As a rule of thumb 100 mL of coating will provide a one (1) coat coverage to just over 2 square metres of smooth bare metal like brass, bronze, copper silver and stainless steel. Be sure to calculate coating requirement according to the recommended number of coats for the item you are coating.

As an example a surface area of two (2) square metres to be coated with two (2) coats will take about 200 mL of coating therefore you would select the Small kit which contains 250mL of coating.

NOTE: If you are coating a mild steel or a rusted metal surface then the first one or two coats will soak up more as these steels are more porous.

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Natural Gloss Kits 

Satin Kits

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CrobialCoat Kits 

Easy Application Instructions

How do you prepare Stainless Steel for coating?  Clean and Restore, Polish, Protect

New Stainless Steel

If you want to coat stainless steel while it is still new and shiny, clean any oil or other contaminants from the metal . This can be done by simply wiping the metal with a solvent cleaner like xylene or denatured alcohol (meths) which can be purchased at most hardware or paint stores.
The solvents will not remove tea staining or rust. Use our Stainless Steel Rust Remover.

Removal of Tea Staining and Rust from Stainless Steel

Solvents like xylene or denatured alcohol (meths) will not remove tea staining or rust. 

Use our Stainless Steel Rust Remover.
For stubborn hard to remove rust use our prep pads (or similar plastic scouring pads) with the Remover.  Neutralising the surface with our EZPrep will then be required before a coating can be applied as acid traces which are in the Stainless Steel Rust Remover can cause dark dull patches under the coating. 

Instructions summarised

  1. BUFF, POLISH, CLEAN or SAND to the desired finish; and completely remove films, oils, waxes and silicone if required.
  2. NEUTRALIZE ACIDS – Acid traces must be removed from the surface otherwise black marks/dark cloudiness will appear under the coating. You need to remember that finger and hand prints leave acid traces so it is important to wear nitrile gloves (not latex) when handling the stainless steel after this neutralising step up right up until it has has its first coat applied.
  3. RINSE WELL & DRY COMPLETELY – Rinse twice with clean water. Dry with a clean cloth to prevent spotting. 
  4. SOLVENT WIPE – Just before applying the coating solvent wipe the metal thoroughly with methylated spirits, xylene or acetone on a dry cloth to help dry the surface further. Rub well if the surface has recently been polished to remove all traces of polish residue.   
    NEVER USE isopropyl alcohol or turpentine as these contain oil. 
  5. COATING APPLICATION – The surface to be coated must be scrupulously clean, sterile and bone dry; and had just been solvent wiped immediately before coating application.

***TIP: Use nitrile gloves to handle polished, cleaned and new stainless steel before its first coat is applied, otherwise you will end up with dark darkened cloudy marks on the metal under the coating.

Video Demonstration

Watch a Video Demonstration to see just how easy it is to apply ProtectaClear coating  to a stainless steel BBQ. ProtectaClear is applied by simply wiping it onto clean stainless steel with a clear coat applicator or natural bristle brush. It can also be sprayed on.  

Full instructions Link to printable copy 

Dry & Cure Time

How long do I have to wait for the coating to dry?

In normal conditions the coating will be touch dry after 60 to 90 minutes. It is best to allow 2 hours between coats.

Cure Time

The coating MUST be fully cured before prolonged contact with other surfaces; e.g. packaging, allowing water to sit on the coated surface, immersing in water or filling fountains, etc.  In most cases, dew or rain does not hurt the coating once it is dry for 3 to 4 hours. But do NOT allow water to pool on the surface of the coating for a minimum of two weeks after coating.
Heat and air circulation hastens curing.  Under normal circumstances and with good ventilation the coating will be well cured after 4 to 5 days. However the coating is delicate until fully cured, which can take up to 3 to 4 weeks depending upon the number of coats applied. You can shorten cure time by gently heating the coating AFTER it is dry to the touch. Smaller items like jewellery and fittings can be placed in a low temperature oven at 60°C – 80°C for 1 hour and will be cured when cooled.