losing sleep over surface rust

[jperry]

sounds like wire wheel time-so would it be best to use self-etch on the resulting bare metal or just plain primer?

[coupe3w]

Originally Posted by jperry

sounds like wire wheel time-so would it be best to use self-etch on the resulting bare metal or just plain primer?

Either one will work. Up to you. I have used both and I don't see any difference. I usually go with the cheaper one.

[aolshove]

My method for "old metal":

1) Grind off old paint, rust, undercoating with wire wheel
2) Thoroughly wipe down metal with lacquer thinner and/or metal prep
3) Wipe down area with phosphoric acid product (Ospho) and let sit (this gets rust in fine pits not reached by wire wheel or sanders)
4) Wipe down metal with lacquer thinner and/or metal prep to remove majority of Ospho. This may take a couple of applications as "white residue" forms and is wiped away.
5) Prime with metal etching primer (the "etch" is phosphoric acid) or Epoxy Primer.
6) Paint.

Note: Ospho claims that their product is a "primer" and can take paint but I've just never trusted that. This is just what's worked for me YMMV.

[wareagle]

Lowes has a product for about $8 a quart that sounds like it does the same things you mentioned aol...

[aolshove]

Yeah, probably Jasco's Prep-n-Prime. Same stuff.