- 1). Assess the problem area. If you’ve got a hole in your door, the rust has won – you need a new door. However, if it’s a patch or two around a bumper, a wheel rim or elsewhere, there’s hope. Mark off the areas on which you want to work and protect the others from the paint and dust that will be flying by taping a tarp or plastic sheet around your work area.
- 2). Don a mask and gloves. The fine paint and rust which you will be removing from the automobiles is dangerous to inhale and unkind to skin.
- 3). Use a grinder with a sanding wheel to remove the paint around the rust spot. You will need to go beyond the paint and primer coating to metal.
- 4). Grind with a metal grinding wheel to remove the rust and smooth your auto’s surface. Be careful – you don’t want to grind through the metal.
- 5). Apply an anti-rust agent. There are several reasonably priced commercial agents that will work. There are even home remedies that can save you money. A mixture of molasses and water is supposed to have remarkable powers to de-rust metal. However, if you’re not in the mood to experiment, try Evapo-Rust or phosphoric acid, which you can purchase at an auto parts store.
- 6). Fill holes. If the metal is pock-marked, dented or has visible holes in it, fill the holes with a cosmetic putty for autos such as Bondo and smooth it over the now un-painted areas. Allow to dry.
- 7). Sand area, by hand, to smoothness.
- 8). Clean area.
- 9). Paint with primer. Allow to fully dry.
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Sand with fine wet sandpaper. Clean area. - 11
Apply automobile paint -preferably obtained from manufacturer- matching the color of your automobile, in thin layers, allowing each layer to dry fully before applying the next. How many coats you need to mostly closely match thickness and color of the existing paint is in your artist’s eye. - 12
Remove tape and covering only once the area is fully dry.
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