So I managed to acquire a 20 year old mini cooper S (yeah I know there is no accounting for taste). It is a southern car and it has a couple of rust spots. Any suggestions for how to clean up and treat those rust spots? I will probably also do a DIY repaint down the road too.
Touching up rust spots.
- Thread starter Rust_Belt_Pete
- Start date
We talking on the unibody exterior or undercarriage? I recently sanded down the rusty exterior of my beater and sprayed some clear coat. So far it’s performing perfectly. No peeling. No rust growth. Doesn’t look good though. Not sure what you’re looking for.
How good does it have to be?
On my departed Camry, it had a failed clear coat. Not small patches, but every horizontal surface. As rock chips started to pick up, I started using Rustoleum primer, the paint over rust stuff, to touch up. I didn't care about not matching, quite frankly it was invisible--compared to the rest of the car.
I did do some painting underneath one of my cars with that stuff too, bit of wirewheel and then slap that stuff on, then try to seal with some sort of undercoat (FF or RP-342). But at least you can't see that.
On my departed Camry, it had a failed clear coat. Not small patches, but every horizontal surface. As rock chips started to pick up, I started using Rustoleum primer, the paint over rust stuff, to touch up. I didn't care about not matching, quite frankly it was invisible--compared to the rest of the car.
I did do some painting underneath one of my cars with that stuff too, bit of wirewheel and then slap that stuff on, then try to seal with some sort of undercoat (FF or RP-342). But at least you can't see that.
It is for some spots in the underbody(car spent 20 years in Tennesee so there is only a couple spots of rust). I will be pulling everything off the underbody so I figured I might add some painted on layer of protection and I will also use fluid film after.
Do not paint something on before using fluid film. Painting an old greasy car part is not worth the trouble. Unless you plan to submerge this thing into a bath of degreaser, it’s too difficult to paint properly. All it takes is one little glob of grease in an obstructed corner to cause paint peeling. The paint will peel and create a little pocket for moisture to build up. Rust accelerates.
Use fluid film only if you want to prevent rust. Fluid film doesn’t peel and doesn’t have adhesion issues if there is existing grime. One issue is run off in high spray areas. It needs to be replaced depending on use.
Use fluid film only if you want to prevent rust. Fluid film doesn’t peel and doesn’t have adhesion issues if there is existing grime. One issue is run off in high spray areas. It needs to be replaced depending on use.
So fix the rust spot cover it with something like por15 or that new anti graffiti paint stuff and maybe paint the car? After the paint is on I can slather it in oil?
I’m up north and I rust proof all my vehicles with different methods depending on what the goal is. I’m not sure what you want. To protect the southern car from salt? Make the undercarriage look like it just came out of the factory? Prevent future rust and coat the undercarriage with something?
This is my summer fun car / project car.
1. fix small amount of rust that I have now.
2. possibly cost rust prone spots with something like por15
3. coat it in fluid film or krown to prevent rust forming it rains here and is muggy as heck
1. fix small amount of rust that I have now.
2. possibly cost rust prone spots with something like por15
3. coat it in fluid film or krown to prevent rust forming it rains here and is muggy as heck
Can you post some pictures?
I will climb under my car later today.
Naval Jelly. It neutralizes rust so that it can be primed and painted
I like using the 3M Paint and Rust Stripper wheels with an electric drill to peel off the rust back to bare metal. If anything is holed through I use Bondo Glass which is Bondo with fibreglass strands.The real way is to weld in a patch if it’s that bad.
Having said that and keeping going on the poor boy repair, I use a product called Rust Bullet on the bare metal and use a 2nd coat on it. To blend it in, I’ll use Bondo on top and sand. The rest requires priming and painting. It’s possible the rust is coming in from behind the panel. The Rust Bullet helps impart strength and a barrier to keep the rust from surfacing. Use a cartridge type respirator when working with it. Take some time to watch You Tube videos. Good luck.
Www.rustbullet.com
Having said that and keeping going on the poor boy repair, I use a product called Rust Bullet on the bare metal and use a 2nd coat on it. To blend it in, I’ll use Bondo on top and sand. The rest requires priming and painting. It’s possible the rust is coming in from behind the panel. The Rust Bullet helps impart strength and a barrier to keep the rust from surfacing. Use a cartridge type respirator when working with it. Take some time to watch You Tube videos. Good luck.
Www.rustbullet.com
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A hack Bondo patch beats a rusty hole every time.. LOL
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