How to rid your vehicle of rust

Rusting is a process of oxidization of iron in the presence of moisture and air. Wherever the paint on your car's body is scratched off by any rough object on the road, rust creeps in within a week or so. The paint actually acts as physical layer of separation between the iron of your car's body and the atmosphere. It becomes very embarrassing if you've got rust spots on your new car near a scratch or dent resulted from a minor accident. The best way to get rid of rust is either to use a good rust cleaner available in the market or to sand off the rust and re-paint the metal surface. Following are some important steps which will help you to get rid of vehicle rust.

Rusted vehicle

Difficulty level: Moderately ChallengingTime required

Depends on the extent of rust and the efficiency of the person involved.

Resources required:

1. Mineral oil or WD 40 or AC-90
2. Scrubbing pad, steel wool, wire brush
3. Lemon juice
4. Borax
5. Rust remover
6. Rubber gloves
7. Face mask
8. Wheel sander
9. Hand sander paper or emery paper
10. Metal primer
11. Paint sprayer
12. A new bottle of paint similar in color to that of your car's body

Instructions

1. Clean up the rusted surface. Spray some rust cleaner on the affected area and wait for the rust to absorb the liquid. WD 40 and AC 90 are efficient rust removers that are easily available in the hardware stores. These liquids contain mild acids which dissolve the rust layers without affecting the main iron surface. After 15 minutes of spraying, start scrubbing the area with the help of a sandpaper slowly. The rust which has loosened up already due to the reaction with the rust remover will come off easily. Then wipe the surface clean with a piece of dry cloth.
2. You can also make a rust remover at home. Mix lemon juice and borax in the ratio 1:2 by volume and make a paste. Apply it on the rusted surface. Then follow the previous step to rub off the rust layer.
3. Now wear a face mask and rubber gloves as the next step is going to throw up lots of fine dust. Use the wheel sander machine to wear off the primer layer of the rust affected area. Make sure that you don't put excess pressure on the sander as it may permanently damage the smooth surface of your car. Wear out an area a bit larger than that of the rusted surface and don't forget to give a fine finish to the pain and primer layers at the edges, between the painted and unpainted surface. Else, it will leave behind sharp lines even if you apply the paint uniformly.
4. After you have finished with the sanding process, feel the smoothness of the surface with the help of your fingers. Use a mild acid such as phosphoric acid to dissolve the finest rust particles still bonded with the iron surface. Finally, wipe the surface clean with a piece of cloth.
5. Next, prepare the area for applying the paint primer. Cover you entire car with newspapers or fine sheets of polythene leaving an area 2 feet wide on either side from the sanded area. This is to prevent the sprayed paint from staining other parts of the car. Don't forget to tape the edges of the newspapers or polythene properly with the car's body. Or else paint can drip and leave unwanted stains.
6. Fill the paint sprayer with the primer and start spraying it on the unpainted area. Apply 2-3 layers of metal primer. Wait for 20 minutes for the primer to settle down before applying the next layer. Leave the primer to cure for at least 12 hours.
7. After priming the surface, go for the final paint. Spray the final paint very carefully as this is the finishing part. Move your hands with the sprayer like that of a paintbrush and don't stop for a long time anywhere. This will ensure even distribution of paint throughout the body surface. Apply 2-3 layers in the process described in the previous step. Finally, check if the level of the newly painted surface has matched with the older one. Allow the paint to settle for 24 hours before removing the tape and the newspapers.
8. After pulling off the tape, you'll find fine lines of separation between the old and new paint layers. Use a paint buffer consisting of resin or putty to dissolve these lines. This will actually blend the two different layers to give a final nice look.
9. Wash your car and wipe it clean.

Yes. The key to avoid rust is to provide a protective layer between the iron and moisture in the atmosphere.

2. Are the rust removers available in the market eco-friendly?

The rust removers available nowadays are completely eco-friendly as they are biodegradable in nature.

Quick tips:

1. Use the wheel sander very carefully to wear out the rust. Don't put excessive pressure.
2. Don't forget to tape the newspapers properly before starting painting.
3. Make use of a high quality spray painter which sprays evenly. This is the most important tool which gives the final finish to the entire process.
4. Use the resin buffer very carefully so that the difference in two layers is eliminated completely.

1. Never use a rough sanding wheel as it will damage the smoothness of your car's body permanently.
2. Be very careful while choosing the color of the paint. It should be exactly the same as that of the car's body.
3. Never wax the freshly painted surface within 30 days of painting. It will ruin the paint.