Boss goes against painter's advice, orders painter to use corrosive paint, now costs a fortune to fix: 'When I say it's not going to work, it won't!'

Author image for Ben Weiss
Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Jul 14, 2025 2:00 PM EDT

Let this story serve as a potent reminder that leaving certain matters up to the experts is often a good idea. Some stubborn folks feel the need to enforce ideas just for the sake of seeming in control. In reality, not only do these people more often than not have zero idea what they are talking about, but they are also unable to foresee the consequences of their actions.

In this instance, we have a boss who insisted that a professional industrial painter use water-based paint for a carbon steel job. The painter tried numerous ways to explain why this was a bad idea. He knew that using water-based paint could over rust could not only cause the rust to seep through, but it could also cause the metal itself to weaken in the process. Unfortunately, this painter was dealing with someone who could not handle being in the wrong, so of course, she doubled down on her demands. The rest, as they say, is history… or perhaps we should instead say that the "rust" is history.

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    Cheezburger Image 10528744448
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • If this lady had taken a moment to try to listen to reason, she wouldn't have ended up having to pay a fortune to fix a paint job that was entirely her own fault. In fact, when she confronted the painter and tried to frame this colossal mistake as his issue, she didn't really have a leg to stand on, considering the fact that he got her to sign her own order in the first place. That's what you get for disregarding an expert's advice, ma'am!

  • 02
    So this happened about a month ago. So I work as an industrial painter (I paint machinery) and typically when ever I get a job they tell me what paint to use
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    and color but on this very day I got an atypical job in which they wanted me to use water based paint (latex) on a carbon steel job.
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    Now I went to my boss and told her this won't work because this paint will make it rust but she said "I don't care just use the paint there going to be here next week"
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    I got her to write down the paint I was to use with her signature and said sure.
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    If you don't understand putting water on a rustable metal I generally a bad idea as rust ruining not only the paint job but possibly weaking the metal itself. I did my job after a day of prep work I painted it and let it sit for a couple of days
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    to dry and cure and a week after that she came up to me expressing how it looks. horrible as the rust was showing through the metal.
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    I said I followed your instructions to the letter and told her again that water and air will make metal rust.
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    After a little back and forth she concided that she was in the wrong but asked how do we fix it. Best option sand blast it get all the paint off and use an oil based paint (it was enamel) to.
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    She got me the sand I needed and now she trust me when I say it's not going. to work it won't work. So that's my story.
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    Cheezburger Image 10528743680
    via David Pisnoy

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

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    mocha_lattes_ . 4 hr. ago Sadly I bet the owners of the machinery ate that cost instead of the boss..
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    Ok_Temperature_ 6962 OP 4 hr. ago I wish I could tell you yes but I honestly don't know lol
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    Ok_Temperature_ 6962 OP 3 hr. ago She really isn't a bad boss she likes to please the customers obviously but she's fair and kind to her employees
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    trip6s6i6x 2 hr. ago Anytime someone asks you to put something in writing, you should be concerned enough to second guess what it is you're asking.
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    michele-x 3 hr. ago • I think you can use water-based paint on iron surfaces, provided that you put before a suitable primer and wait until completely dry.
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    Even for car bodyworks water based paints are used.
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    Double-Mouse-407. 1 hr. ago . edited 27 min. ago I've been painting and working for paint manufacturer for the last for 25 years and I'm scratching my head
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    hard over this.... never once have I heard of water based paint causing rust, it certainly won't protect from rust appropriately, but if rust is showing so soon after applying the product, the rust was there already.
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painter work stories malicious compliance paint workplace Horrible Bosses bad bosses workplace malicious compliance
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