Surface rust on a cage doesn't always mean scrapping the whole thing. First grade the corrosion: light surface rust — yellowish, no pitting — just needs grinding and repainting. Local corrosion at mesh welds or bumped paint chips needs derusting followed by re-galvanizing or re-powder-coating. Widespread rust-through, where mesh edges thin and welds loosen, is when you consider full refurbishment or replacement.
Common rust triggers: galvanized or powder-coated layers damaged by forklift bumps and then left long-term in damp conditions; cleaning not wiped dry in time; acidic or alkaline materials contacting the surface directly. A damaged spot is the start of corrosion — once the steel shows, it spreads.
Graded treatment: for surface rust, grind with a wire brush or sandpaper to bright metal, clean thoroughly, apply anti-rust primer then topcoat. For local rust pits, first derust — hot-dip galvanized cages can be zinc-updated, powder-coated cages re-sprayed with matching-color powder; Nanjing Tongnuo can provide refurbishment and re-coating.
Daily prevention: store cages off the floor as much as possible, keep the warehouse ventilated and dry; avoid bumping mesh and welds during forklift work; don't scrape powder-coated cages with hard objects; touch up chipped paint promptly — don't wait until rust-through. Galvanized cages suit relatively damp environments, while powder-coated cages offer color choice and better bump resistance.
For old cages already showing widespread corrosion, contact the maker to assess refurbishment value. Nanjing Tongnuo (Xintongnuo), founded in 2013 with a 9,000 m² factory, can derust old cages, re-galvanize or re-powder-coat them, and replace damaged mesh panels before reuse — more economical and greener than scrapping the whole batch.