Rust and the treatment of…

[Gandoolie]

Good morning all, I’ve got rust on the Mini and I’m looking to tackle it myself. What’s the best products/process once you have ground off the surface back to metal?

Thanks

[Ian-8bdsj]

Once every last bit of rust is removed, abrade the metal to give a good key, and then I would paint with 2k epoxy, and then dependant on location stonechip and then paint as normal.

Then as additional protection apply anti corrosion wax such as Dinitrol or Dynax.

[Mercdriver]

Agree with above but

Brush Kurust or similar on bare steel first but decant liquid into another container and use brush to cover metal. Do not return unused liquid to the original container or dip the brush into it as the contaminated brush will transfer rust to original liquid and it will continue to de rust and reduce effectiveness of the liquid in the original container.

As instruction given to me by licensed aircraft engineer!

[steveo3002]

total or close to full removal is best

then pick what you believe in ...i would also go epoxy onto bare steel as thats what its meant for if you apply it over kurust or some halfords miracle cure then the epoxy is bonding to that and not the steel ...as good as the weakest link

dont go thinking you can paint over rust scabs it will come back , spend the time cleaning it up and it will last

[V8covin]

If possible use a sand blaster to remove any pitted rust,you can pick up cheap ones for £20 on ebay,they do the job for small areas.
Next best would be a wire wheel on a grinder.
Then use something like Bilt Hamber hydrate 80 followed by epoxy primer.

[Gandoolie]

I was looking at removal, kurust, zinc oxide primer, paint.

But this is just based on some YouTube videos. For the rear of the car would stone chip be better for the hammering it’s going to get?

[steveo3002]

Gandoolie said:

I was looking at removal, kurust, zinc oxide primer, paint.

But this is just based on some YouTube videos. For the rear of the car would stone chip be better for the hammering it’s going to get?

explain how the zinc works when the steel/rust is already covered in kurust

[Gandoolie]

steveo3002 said:

explain how the zinc works when the steel/rust is already covered in kurust

I don’t know as that’s why I’m asking for advice

[steveo3002]

epoxy is the answer...its what pro restorers will use , dont listen to some kid on youtube that doesnt know any better

all of these do something from best to worse

epoxy
zinc rich primer
etch primer
kurust /vactan/hydrate80

just because they all do something to protect the car , layering all of them on top of each other wont make it more effective ...the first coating that contacts the steel will be whats providing the protection or lack of it

[Glassman]

If the rust is eating below the surface the best policy is to take an angle grinder to it. If on the surface:

Jenolite.

[steveo3002]

put some pics up ....can advise if its something thats repairable or needs welding

[V8covin]

Most of these rust converters won't adhere to rust free steel,the only one I've found that says it converts the rust AND adheres to clean steel is the hydrate 80 but there may be others.
But they're all a bit of a bodge compared to getting rid of the rust in the 1st place

[Gandoolie]

steveo3002 said:

put some pics up ....can advise if its something thats repairable or needs welding

I don’t have any pictures at the moment but will get some today at some point.

The rust will be ground down to proper metal before any treatment

[Mercdriver]

Some good advice above, I was using kurust on the aeroplane exhaust so painting not required.

Agree best to remove all the rust but I always found on cars that there would be a black spot in the centre of the rust where metal had rusted through.

I would still apply kurust, it chemically treats the rust, leave for a couple of days then grind it of the surface and apply one of the methods suggested above. If that does not cure rust then you needed a new panel in first place.

[steveo3002]

look at the removal gels ...grind /wirewheel it clean as you can then dose some gel on as per the instruction's , repeat until no rust pits

bilt hamber deox c works well ...or some folk make their own with wall paper paste and citric acid powder, it will remove all rust given time