Minor rust treatment process.

[sharkjazz]

Sorry as am sure this has been asked before, but after an hour searching I couldn't find it. Everything seemed geared towards major rust work deep in the seams as opposed to minor rust on panels.

My van has a few minor rust areas (side and back) and some bubbling on the front from stone chips. At the weekend, wired it all away to clean metal and gave it a good coating of Vactan.

The rust is just mid panel, not in any seams.

Should I use a filler then sand that back so it is level with the paint around the treated (old)rust patch, or can I just paint over it a couple of layers and the paint coats will fill the difference between original paint and where the rust was.

Am not looking for a picture perfect finish, just to stop the rust spreading getting any worse. I would be happy it I could get it perfect, but, well I doubt I can do that with out sending to the professionals.

[sjmtlewy]

Depends on how bad the rust is. If the treated metal is nice and smooth underneath, you can either sand it smooth, so that there is a gradual transition between paint layers and then just prime and paint over; or you can skim it lightly with filler first, then sand and paint. Depends how good you are at fillering as to whether you'll end up with a better finish than if you didnt bother. I certainly dont always bother, but then I know that i normally make a hash of it..

However, more likely is that the metal will have that pitted look where the rust has eaten into it slightly, in which case you're definitely best off skimming with filler. Paint tends to bring out marks rather than hide them.

Either way, what you dont want to do is wire off the rust and paint directly over, without any sanding, as the paint will never hide the damage the wire did. Also vactan, for all the good it does, is horrible if applied too thickly as it doesnt sand that well and will leave horrid brush marks. Apply thinly, allow to cure fully and then sand until smooth or you've got bored.

[sharkjazz]

Also vactan, for all the good it does, is horrible if applied too thickly as it doesnt sand that well and will leave horrid brush marks. Apply thinly, allow to cure fully and then sand until smooth or you've got bored.

oh dear, went for the more the merrier approach. Best get sanding down tonight.

Is there a particular kind of filler that would be required or is filler filler? I think there is definitely one place that would do better with a bit and some that will be fine without.


<edited for appalling spelling >

[horizontal kipper]

woco unidox zinc rich primer is a very heavy zinc primer i usually sand blast the area with a spot blaster then brush this on, leave it a day then flat it back, then top coat, when your flattening it back it shines like metal. you can buy it from

united paints limited
stanley road,
oulton broad,
lowestoft,
suffolk
NR33 9ND
TEL (01502) 563434

[sharkjazz]

woco unidox zinc rich primer is a very heavy zinc primer i usually sand blast the area with a spot blaster then brush this on, leave it a day then flat it back, then top coat, when your flattening it back it shines like metal. you can buy it from

united paints limited
stanley road,
oulton broad,
lowestoft,
suffolk
NR33 9ND
TEL (01502) 563434 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (01502) 563434      end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Thanks, am originally from Lowestoft and was planning on visiting the folks in a week or so, will pop in whilst am down (if cannot find anything closer before then).