# Baseboard heat unit rust problem

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseboard-heat-unit-rust-problem/269572>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 16, 2004, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseboard-heat-unit-rust-problem/269572 "2004-10-16T20:12:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ltfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@ltfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ltfire)\
**Post date:** [October 16, 2004, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseboard-heat-unit-rust-problem/269572/1 "2004-10-16T20:12:55Z")

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I have a baseboard heating unit that runs along the wall in my bathroom, next to the toilet. I’ve got a bunch of little boys who apparently take great joy in peeing on the wall instead of into the toilet, resulting in unsightly rust areas on the blank. The blank is not expensive, and I’ve replaced it twice in the last two years. I tried sanding and spraying with Rustoleom, but, that only lasted a few months. Would it be feasible to put a half dozen coats of clear shellac on this aluminum unit? Would that work in warding off the rust? Or, am I stuck with this problem until the peeing aim gets better?

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**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\
**Post date:** [October 16, 2004, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseboard-heat-unit-rust-problem/269572/2 "2004-10-16T20:56:09Z")

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I’m not posative, but I’d be worried the shellac would melt. Maybe an appliance paint. Something meant for stoves would deal with the heat just fine, and if you pick a high gloss finish that may help repel liquid better.

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**Author:** ![Sue\_Duhnym](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@Sue\_Duhnym](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sue_Duhnym)\
**Post date:** [October 16, 2004, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseboard-heat-unit-rust-problem/269572/3 "2004-10-16T22:03:29Z")

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> [@ltfire](#):
>
> Or, am I stuck with this problem until the peeing aim gets better?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Funniest thing I’ve heard all day.

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**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\
**Post date:** [October 17, 2004, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseboard-heat-unit-rust-problem/269572/4 "2004-10-17T00:27:45Z")

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> [@ltfire](#):
>
> I have a baseboard heating unit that runs along the wall in my bathroom, next to the toilet. I’ve got a bunch of little boys who apparently take great joy in peeing on the wall instead of into the toilet, resulting in unsightly rust areas on the blank. The blank is not expensive, and I’ve replaced it twice in the last two years. I tried sanding and spraying with Rustoleom, but, that only lasted a few months. Would it be feasible to put a half dozen coats of clear shellac on this aluminum unit? Would that work in warding off the rust? Or, am I stuck with this problem until the peeing aim gets better?

Try a blank of hi-temp plastic, stainless steel, or applying several coats of shellac to the behinds of the small boys. It will do wonders to improve/correct their aim if properly applied.

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**Author:** ![aahala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e4f/32.png) [@aahala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aahala)\
**Post date:** [October 17, 2004, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseboard-heat-unit-rust-problem/269572/5 "2004-10-17T01:04:56Z")

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What you need is one of those plastic thingys that hang over the buffet bar – a pee guard.😃