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So I have decided to jump right in and paint my truck. Keep in mind that i have never painted anything that moves other than farm equipment and I want all my hard work to last a while. I am starting on the tailgate so that I can get an idea of what I am getting myself into. I sanded the tg down and in certain areas there is some light surface rust. I have sanded and wire wheeled and sanded some more, but I can't get rid of it. I know that if I paint over that it will start rusting again before the paint is even dry. What have any of you done to fix this? Will Rustoleum primer stop the rust? Do I need to just keep sanding it till it's gone? I know that I will have a lot more of this surface rust to come.
You will never sand that out of the pores. Ideally at bare metal like you have the right thing to do is epoxy prime it to seal it. Rustoleum primer isn't really going to do much but if your after a cheap paint job that's kinda about it for options. I started out like you about a month ago just think scuff and paint with something cheap. Now I have the whole thing to bare metal and about ready to epoxy prime it. I drew the line at single stage urethane for this truck after its escalated. I'm no paint expert but am learning as go here as a experiment.
The only way to remove all of that rust is to use an abrasive blaster. On bare metal like that I use a self-etching primer (dupli-color DAP 1690) followed by primer-surfacer,sealer,and color. Be sure to wipe the metal down with surface cleaner or lacquer thinner before you paint.
So between work and family, I haven't gotten the time yet to mess with this too much more. I do have one more question. Which is first, epoxy primer or bondo/filler?
WRONG, Body filler will not adhesie to any type of primer only bare metal, he needs to blast those pits or its a waste of time and money. Harbor freight sells a hand held sand blaster for 20 bucks that will work for small jobs.
I've heard both. One guy says bondo won't stick to primer and another says bondo will eventually pop off bare metal. Just want to get an educated/experience answer.
I've heard both. One guy says bondo won't stick to primer and another says bondo will eventually pop off bare metal. Just want to get an educated/experience answer.
I am currently going through the exact same process as you and am preparing to epoxy prime my tailgate sometime this week. I have already put some bondo down on the bare metal but plan to put more on after I epoxy prime it.
As far as my plan for the small rust spots, I used a small hand blaster with black silica sand for the more heavily rusted areas and plan to spray the whole tail gate with Prep and Etch before I spray the primer.
I myself am also going through this process for the first time so what I'm doing may very well be the "wrong" way to do it.. but its what I've decided to do after my research.
Good luck with yours!
EDIT: Also, I've found that its best to wear gloves when working with the bare metal to avoid getting hand oils or whatever on the metal. That really doesn't seem to help the whole rust issue
I am doing the same thing I had the whole truck media blasted by a outfit that uses what is called doubtless blasting they use ground glass and water with something that keep keeps it from flash rusting. I had them expiry prime it. Depending on the filler you can place it over epoxy or not.
My original hood is dented on the crown on the center line and has which caused wrapping in other area so I picked up a dent free one with a little surface rust. I am following a dude on YouTube call dyiautobody school AKA my friend pete he has some really good series on rust. He uses colorful language
Rust Mort, It chemically bonds the rust so it won't spread my friend and I've been using it for years with great success you can get it at paint stores or on Amazon. https://www.semproducts.com/marine-m...ce/rust-morttm
Rust Mort, It chemically bonds the rust so it won't spread my friend and I've been using it for years with great success you can get it at paint stores or on Amazon. https://www.semproducts.com/marine-m...ce/rust-morttm
Same here, you can't go wrong with Rust Mort. And no, filler will NOT, adhear to primer. Use the Rust Mort like it say's on the can.
Then go to the filler, and use an Epoxy Primer, and you'll be fine.
