De-Rusting A Rusty Car...

[Plecostomus]

I am become sheetmetal God. I have grinders, crawlers, needlers, and other tools of trade.

I see here a preparation that claims to dissolve rust off of car parts, "safe for use on body panels" claims to dissolve severe "body eating rust."

Is this for real or does it work? I'm not adverse to grinding, and I'm always willing to try something new.... Just looking for an opinion.

 

[ThunderAeroI]

As far as I can say, the only way to stop rust is to remove the rusty part. Grinding rust away doesn't really help all that often.

 

[Gaseous Anomaly]

Yes, rust can be removed with many different substances. Naval Jelly is one that comes to mind and Rust-Oleum Paint makes a paint that will stop the rust from getting any worse. Rust requires air and moisture to continue to spread. It's a chemical reaction.

http://www.rustoleum.com/CBGBrand.asp?bid=2

 

[Plecostomus]

Portions of the fender are going to be ground down, the parts that are rusted through. The rest is surface rust that's what I want to try the chemical wash on.

This is a major project... once I get the rust ground away I'm going to use a welding technique I know to replace the metal.

 

[darthvincor]

I have a type of 4x4 which is also known as a bit of a rust bucket.
For surface rust, I used abbrasive paper to sand down the rusty bits till the bare metal shows, then repaint it.
But ultimately, I will get the whole car resprayed, to be on the safe side, and because the paint's 25 years old.

My advice is: if you care for the car, hit the rust hard and permanently. Don't use temp solutions and wonder potions. So, you are on the right track.

 

[Tim]

Whatever you do, be sure to store the restored car in a giant vat of cosmoline to preserve it.

 

[jkladis]

I'm currently taking a course in body repair. The instructor, a 50 year veteran in the industry, offered some simple advice on this very question.

Grind it away, properly seal it (primer, paint). Washing or treating the metal is now redundant since today's auto primers are formulated to do that.

Keep the oxygen off of the metal and rust will not continue. Even let's say if traces of oxidized iron bits remain. That's it.

 

[Plecostomus]

Thanks for the advice!

 

[FrontLine]

Try a boating supply store. There is this cream (I forget what its called) that is fantastic in removing rust.

 

[Plecostomus]

Try a boating supply store. There is this cream (I forget what its called) that is fantastic in removing rust.

Naval Jelly. Concentrated phosphoric acid and jell-mixture.

 

[FrontLine]

Yeah I know about the Naval Jelly, but this stuff is proprietary. Heck it may just be a commercial mix of the acid / jell mix

 

[Plecostomus]

Yeah I know about the Naval Jelly, but this stuff is proprietary. Heck it may just be a commercial mix of the acid / jell mix

A bit of research shows most of the environmentally friendly ones are concentrated phosphoric acid.

Think I'm going to stick with that.