Woody, the metal prep is etching the surface and you will have a matt finish gray texture after letting it work. Straight metal prep should not have to work over night. In fact you don’t want it to dry out so you would have to submerge if left that long. Normally you would only treat the surface with the metal prep, just keeping it damp and scrubbing it with steel wool or a brush, shouldn't take more than 5-15 min than wipe it dry. If you also picked up a metal conditioner that’s good, use it right after the metal prep has been wiped dry and you will have some protection till you can get it primed. Just keep in mind that after the metal is etched it is extremely subject to oxidation and will begin to scale over in a very short time, a matter of minuets if the humidity is high. Using the metal conditioner right after etching will give you a little more time. I have kept bare steel for several days with out seeing any signs of rust after treating it this way.
A good epoxy primer after treating the metal will give you a base for your build up and finishing work that should last as long as you will with out any problems.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL
