Need help with how to keep rotors from rusting

[lmmargheritis]

I am in my early stages of my build and I am already noticing surface rust on my rotors. My rotors are large 13" rotors and I think they will be very visible through the wheels. The brake pads will only cut through part of the areas which will rust.

Can I apply a zinc coating or something on the rotors without having to mask the braking surface?

I would like to keep the silver color.

The rotors I have are new yet not really the best in quality. I may end up purchasing new ones that come coated but if I can save the money for another part of the build that would be best.

[1fastsedan]

If you're talking about the pad contact surface of the rotor, leave it. The pads will wipe the rust off right away in their path. If you're talking about the hat part in the center, you can paint it with engine, caliper, or rust-encapsulating paint. I wouldn't do anything to the pad surfaces though, I just don't see the risk being worth the reward.

[raceral]

cast iron=rust. If you do light oil it.. make sure you clean the crap out of them before the pads ever touch the oil, you won't ever get the oil out of the pads.

[ratdog]

Zinc, I plan on replacing mine with Drilled and slotted
they come with zinc on them

1994-2004 Cobra/Bullitt/Mach1 Cross drilled & slotted rotors set, Speed Concepts

here is the link

[Angel smith]

As far as my knowledge goes one avoid putting anything at all on the rotors except some brake cleaner. The newness rather the cleanness of the rotors is the basic reason behind the rusting as it keeps coming in contact with air and hence keeps on getting oxidized [rusted].
once the car starts being used and is in running the rust will start reducing considerably within running for few hundred miles.

[MPTech]

I sympathize with lmmargheritis, I'm in the same boat.
I'm currently building and bought 4 new rotors months ago, I would also prefer to prevent rust, as opposed to getting rid of it after it appears. Additionally, I don't believe the pads will remove rust from the whole rotor surface(?). I already masked and painted the hat area.
As advised, I don't want to apply anything to the surface that will interfere with the pad surface.

What are the options for preventing rust?

[AC Bill]

If you know exactly the braking surface on the rotors, I think you could simply mask that area off and paint the rest with brake caliper paint.
Most new rotors already come with a rust resistant coating that needs to be cleaned off with laquer thinner, before using them. Surprised yours weren't?