Car Rust Treatment: A How-to Guide

Over the years, every car has started to produce a little rust, but a good car rust treatment can help eliminate rust and return a surface to its former glory. The most common circumstance is when paint chips off the car, exposing the metal to air and moisture.

Remember to check for rust on your car periodically that way. You can eliminate it immediately without doing a major job later. Removing rust from a car requires a little bit of hard work and, more importantly, a lot of patience, but other than that, it should be a pretty simple task to do.

Step 1 - Checking For Rust

The first step is to check the car for rusty parts. Make sure that you examine the entire car, even the tightest of spaces. You also have to check whether the rust is superficial or has eaten away part of the metal. If need be, don’t hesitate to remove some body parts to check thoroughly for rust. If you see any bubbles on the paint, that is a sign of rust underneath. Take your time to do this step correctly.

Step 2 - For Superficial Rust

To eliminate superficial rust, the process is quite simple. Sandpaper the rusty part with your rust scuffer (or, if you desire, with 60 grit sandpaper). Make sure you remove all the rust; don’t worry if you go a bit heavy on it. Once you are done, check with your hand whether the metal is smooth or not. If not, reuse the sandpaper and try to smooth the metal as much as possible.

Step 3 - Make Sure The Metal is Solid

Before continuing, you have to make sure that the metal underneath is solid enough. You can do this by using a scratching awl. Grab the scratching awl and start poking in and around the metal in the rust-affected spot. If the scratching awl doesn’t go through the metal, the rust only affects the superficial metal layer.

If the scratching awl successfully pokes through the metal, rust is also present underneath the metal. If the latter is the case, then, with the help of a small grinder, open up the hole completely using metal snippers.

Step 4 - Replacing the Rusted Metal Opening

If you are a beginner at this, it should be done by a professional. Otherwise, you will cause more damage. All you have to do is model a piece of metal to replace the original and then weld it to the rest of the body. It may sound easy enough, but it is advisable to call in a professional if you don’t feel up to it or have never done something similar before.

This task may prove to be even harder if the effected area is the rear quarter panel or the part around the wheel. Before replacing the bad metal, make sure to grind (using a grinder) the edges at least two inches off the bad metal part and then use a rust treatment to eliminate any rust particles.

Step 5 - The Last Step

Once you have applied a rust treatment, all you have to do is add the primer. Once it has dried, apply the paint or spray to the newly fitted part.

Remember to use safety equipment, especially when using a grinder. Also it is extremely important to pay attention to the manufactures instructions, regarding the rust treatment solution.