I'm an Idiot...please help me fix these sliders

Thats not how rust works. It is not a bacteria that spreads. The frame rails would only rust if they independently met the criteria to cause rust.

 

This is a correct statement, rust does not spread through contact. Common misunderstanding, especially since in almost all diseases/germs/etc we are trained to think contact.

With that said, different metals in contact with one another and in different states can lead to corrosion. A good example of different conditions causing a reaction would be a galvanic corrosion. In this situation, your sliders are likely going to rust faster because they are in contact with your protected frame!

 

Yea, that's what I was thinking. Some heavy drop clothes

Thank you! I didn't think that was the case, but I also have fluid film on everything down there so I wasn't too worried.

 

Yea, some heavy drop clothes is what I was thinking!

 

Thanks for all the advice!