Tiny rust spots, easy to fix?
March 28, 2019 12:32 PM Subscribe
Can I use touch up paint to cover tiny rust spots on the hood of my car?
There are a couple of small rust marks on the hood of my car. They are much smaller than pea-sized. If I use touch up paint to cover the rust, will my car continue to rust under the paint? Am I better off taking it to a body shop to have the rust fixed, or will they just use touch up paint themselves?
This is in a coastal part of the US (near sea salt air) where road salt is used and we experience 4 seasons.
Thank you.
There are a couple of small rust marks on the hood of my car. They are much smaller than pea-sized. If I use touch up paint to cover the rust, will my car continue to rust under the paint? Am I better off taking it to a body shop to have the rust fixed, or will they just use touch up paint themselves?
This is in a coastal part of the US (near sea salt air) where road salt is used and we experience 4 seasons.
Thank you.
Yeah, rust is sort of infectious so it will continue to rust unless you remove the rust. Physical methods are probably best but acids can also be used in principle.
posted by SaltySalticid at 1:09 PM on March 28, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by SaltySalticid at 1:09 PM on March 28, 2019 [2 favorites]
Yeah, for small spots you should be able to get away with just sanding off the rust and then repainting. But you definitely do need to remove the rust first.
posted by tobascodagama at 1:58 PM on March 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by tobascodagama at 1:58 PM on March 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
My brother lives in Jacksonville and spends most of his day driving and he absolutely swears by this stuff. He says it smells awful so don't do it in your garage but that it works like a dream.
posted by phunniemee at 2:07 PM on March 28, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by phunniemee at 2:07 PM on March 28, 2019 [2 favorites]
Of course right after I post my brother comes in with more texts...
"Make sure your vehicle is not in direct sunlight because it turns purple and can stain your paint if it dries.
"Just spray it on, let it sit for about 20 seconds, then gently rub it in with a rag or something and rinse it off. If there is any wax on your car, it will eat through it. I would strongly suggest washing your car, doing the iron-x treatment, wash it again, and then maybe wax it to seal it "
posted by phunniemee at 2:09 PM on March 28, 2019
"Make sure your vehicle is not in direct sunlight because it turns purple and can stain your paint if it dries.
"Just spray it on, let it sit for about 20 seconds, then gently rub it in with a rag or something and rinse it off. If there is any wax on your car, it will eat through it. I would strongly suggest washing your car, doing the iron-x treatment, wash it again, and then maybe wax it to seal it "
posted by phunniemee at 2:09 PM on March 28, 2019
I've used POR-15 products to treat rust small spots on cars with good results. Paint over it with primer (I've just used a touchup paint pen) followed by touchup paint.
You can get a starter kit here. Follow the directions, and wear gloves when you use it. If you get it on your skin it's almost impossible to remove.
posted by zombiedance at 3:59 PM on March 28, 2019
You can get a starter kit here. Follow the directions, and wear gloves when you use it. If you get it on your skin it's almost impossible to remove.
posted by zombiedance at 3:59 PM on March 28, 2019
The POR15 is a phosphoric acid product with a plastic material built in. OSPHO is a plain phosphoric acid product.
In a past life of building and materials conservation, I used the heck out of OSPHO. Phosphoric acid reacts with iron oxide to make iron phosphate, which is pretty darn stable stuff.
back then, we'd rather use our own secret sauce of primers and top coats rather than a built in polymer like POR.
posted by rudd135 at 4:30 PM on March 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
In a past life of building and materials conservation, I used the heck out of OSPHO. Phosphoric acid reacts with iron oxide to make iron phosphate, which is pretty darn stable stuff.
back then, we'd rather use our own secret sauce of primers and top coats rather than a built in polymer like POR.
posted by rudd135 at 4:30 PM on March 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
If you can't get every trace of rust off before painting, it will continue to rust, unless you use a rust converter like those mentioned. If it's not bright, shiny metal, you have to treat it.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 2:52 PM on March 29, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by Kirth Gerson at 2:52 PM on March 29, 2019 [1 favorite]
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posted by bondcliff at 12:33 PM on March 28, 2019 [5 favorites]