Rust repair is one of the most commonly practiced areas of auto body work. Many things can cause rust to appear. Most often it is a neglected nick, dent or scratch that has not been covered up. Rust can appear in even the tiniest scratch and can build up at a very fast rate. Rust also appears when the vehicle has been exposed to winter road salts. The electrolytes in the salt can actually cause the oxidation process to go much faster. Cars that are located by the sea are also more commonly effected by rust. The salt water has the same affect as the electrolytes from rock salt. If you are going to be repairing rust damage in the future, you should check out our article this week on step by step vehicle rust repair.

1.MASK: You’ll want to protect the vehicle from overspray with poly sheeting or something similar. Covering the areas that are not being repaired will ensure that the other parts of the car don’t get damaged in the painting or repair process.

2.SAND: Be sure to wear eye protection and a dusk mask to do this part. 80 grit sandpaper will do but if you are doing a larger area, an electric sanding wheel might be better. Sand away the rust until the area is smooth and then wash the spot with soap and water. You should be able to see the bare metal of the vehicle. This ensures that you have sanded enough.

3.PRIME: Purchase a primer that it suitable for painting metal. Spread the primer in thin and even layers and do not start painting until the primer is dry. If you are sanding between coats, you’ll want to use a fine grit sandpaper and damp cloth to remove dust before the next coat application.

4.PAINT: The hardest part of this is usually matching the correct shade of paint. You may want to ask the opinion of a professional car paint supplier or even contact the car’s manufacturer to obtain the color of the correct shade. Be sure to wear a ventilator when painting as fumes can often be noxious.