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Overview:
This project will show you how to touch up rust spots on your car. Minor rust spots can make your car look shabby. It's easy to fix minor rust spots caused by scratches or other damage to your car's finish. If you've got a serious problem with rust or corrosion, it's time to call in the professionals…or buy a new car!
Materials:
latex gloves, automotive sandable primer, kitchen scrubber pad, rust neutralizer, artist's brushes, 80-, 100-, 220, and 400-grit sandpaper, rusty-metal primer, auto-body glazing putty, touch-up paint (spray paint or aerosol sprayer), spray clear coat, painter's tape, polishing compound and rags, newspaper, mineral spirits and wax
Tools You'll Need:
power-lite cordless drill
Before You Begin:
Make sure you have a well-ventilated area to work in, and plenty of time. Not all steps can be done in the same day.
Barbara's Tips:
Matching paint is nearly impossible, especially with an older car with a finish that has become oxidized. Before trying to match the color, clean your car and use a polishing compound to bring back the original color as much as possible.
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Step 1: Prep
Like any paint job, the key is in the preparation. For a chipped area: Scrape off any loose paint and rub the rusted area with an abrasive pad. Apply rust neutralizer/converter evenly over all exposed metal using a small brush. Allow it to dry for a few hours, and then apply a second coat. Avoid getting the neutralizer/converter on the paint and immediately use soap and water to wash off any spills or drips. Wait 24 hours before priming. For a small rusty area:Use 60-grit sandpaper to remove rust and wipe off the dust with a solvent-dampened cloth.
Step 2: Prime - For a chipped area
Use an artist's brush to apply rusty-metal primer on all exposed metal. Brush in one direction only.
Step 3: Prime - For a small rusty area
Secure newspaper over the area with painter's tape. Leave only the damaged area and a few inches surrounding it exposed. Apply primer from a spray can from about 12 inches away. Cover the entire area with back and forth overlapping passes. Apply two or three light coats to avoid drips. Follow directions on paint for time between coats. Remove masking tape and using first medium- and then fine-grit abrasive sandpaper, smooth the area to remove any scratches. Clean with a solvent dampened rag and prime again. Use a plastic spreader to smooth automotive glazing putty over the entire sanded area to fill in scratches and the areas between sanded and unsanded patches. When putty has cured, sand it smooth, reapply and sand as needed, being careful not to sand through the primer to bare metal.
Step 4: Paint - For a chipped area
Choose touch-up paint that comes with a brush in the lid, or use an artist's brush. Apply several medium coats to fill and level the area. Brush in one direction only and allow adequate drying time between coats.
Step 5: Paint - For a small rusty area
Wipe the sanded surface clean and reapply the masking tape and paper as above. Shake the paint spray thoroughly and apply between two to three medium coats. Allow adequate drying time between coats. If your vehicle has a clear finish coat over the paint (ask your auto dealer), wait an hour before removing the newspaper and painter's tape. Reapply the paper and tape, exposing a larger area than the one you painted, and spray on the clear coat.
Step 6: Polish
Wait at least one full week before polishing and waxing, then follow the directions on the container.
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