Protection in a Can

Whether doing work on a vehicle new or old, or restoring and protecting an older vehicle rust must be prevented and stopped. For Project XJ we need a strong undercoating that can handle snowy, icy, and salty roads with 0°F temperatures in the winter. It also needs to withstand dirt, mud, sand, and gravel in the summer with 100°F + temperatures.

While there are many undercoating solutions on the market. Each solution works, but each of them have flaws. Some companies will spray a recycled motor oil mix into every nook and cranny leading to drips and spots on the driveway. Spray paint from the local hardware store is available everywhere and easy to touch up. Truck bed liner is very durable but can trap water between the coating and frame increasing rust potential. Waxier products like Boeshield and Fluid Film can creep into hard to reach areas and provide good protection, but also wear off over time.

Why Undercoating In A Can?

This is where Undercoating in a Can comes in. The makers of Undercoating in a Can have been in business for decades in industrial applications. Vehicles used by FedEX and UPS are often sprayed at the factory with a coating similar to what’s offered in Undercoating in a Can. The major difference is that they are now formulated to be used in a regular spray can. This makes application easy for just about anybody and no special tools are required.

With 4 varieties of sprays there is an undercoating to meet almost any need. These four varieties are the original black wax, clear wax, rubberized, and clear fluid coat.

Wax Coatings

The black and clear waxes have similar protection characteristics. They dry quickly with minimal dripping due to the solvent-based formula. They are self-healing and chip resistant. One of the best features of these two waxes is that they are rust encapsulating, so they can be applied over existing rust without fears of making that rust worse. These wax based coatings are also quite thin and can reach into tighter cavities than the rubberized coating.

Rubberized Coating

Moving on to the rubberized undercoating. This coating is best used on completely rust free surfaces. If a full restoration is done or new components are added and the frame is completely cleaned this is a good option. The rubber component helps with sound deadening and is very effective against gravel and chipping. It remains soft, but not sticky and can be painted with automotive paint.

Clear Fluid Coat

For those specifically looking for yearly winter protection in an area where salt and brine is used heavily, then the clear fluid coat is a good solution. This one is the thinnest and penetrates into tight joints and crevices the best. While it sets up quickly and isn’t likely to drip, it leaves an oily coating. The biggest benefit of this is that the oil can work its way into areas and push out water that other products can’t get to.

For Shop Owners

When any of the products are paired with the Quickcoat precision sprayer it can also be very easy to coat the inside of a frame for maximum protection. The 360 degree wand allows complete coverage in fully boxed frames. Unless it is known that there is no rust inside the frame it is not recommended to use the rubberized coating for this application.

Project XJ

On Project XJ the rubberized formula was used. The rubberized coating was the obvious choice when adding frame stiffeners to the XJ. All rust would be removed prior to welding the stiffeners in, leaving a clean surface. We were surprised by how even and smooth the coating went on considering our sub-par spray painting abilities. Having been applied for a year now, the rubberized coating has held up extremely well. It is a daily driver and has seen a lot of road salt and below freezing temperatures with no issues. During the summer the coating saw mud, gravel, dirt, and sand in temperatures over 100°F, again with no issues.

One of the best features of the Undercoating in a Can products is their ease of application. Having a spray can applicator makes initial application and touching up scratched or damaged areas quick and easy. For those with better equipment the Quickcoat sprayer can provide complete coverage in a short amount of time.

Undercoating In A Can offers a great product at a reasonable price. Our experience with the rubberized coating has been great! We are looking forward to tryin out their other products with our build!