I am pulling a bed/box off a parts truck to put on my 55 F250
I'm about to start work on priming it.
Its got a nice bit of surface rust that I need to get off.. I don't have a sand blaster.. Would it be ok to use an electric sander and go to town on it instead? Its mostly flat sheet metal..

From the reading I've done in here, I gathered that I should perform the following steps. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

1. Sand or Sandblast the sheet metal.
2. Wipe/Soak/Clean sheet metal with a rust converter (for deeper rust)
3. Spray/Brush on Zero-rust, Rust-bullet, or other.
4. Sand smooth
5. Paint top coat (to be done later)

I do not have a sandblaster or air compressor, and am looking to get one.
I was wondering if I got just an air compressor if I could use that to blast sand. (ie: if I can use just a sandblasting gun on the air compressor)

Also I was wondering if brushing the zero-rust/rustbullet etc. on is not preferred. Because I have no compressor at this time, brushing is my only option. Is it easily sandable? If I brush it, I'm sure it will be lumpy..

I was thinking of using Zero-Rust over Rust-Bullet because you can get Zero-rust in black. I think Rust-Bullet only comes in Silver but I may be wrong.

I know everyone has a different favorite.. if it hasn't been done yet, maybe someone should do a Poll

Thanks!

 

I know several folks have talked about using zero-rust as a base and spraying the top coat over it but if it was me, I would talk with your paint supplier to see if they recommended it. If you have issues down the road with any part of the paint system, it could come back to haunt you. I like zero-rust and used it under my fenders, but stuck with a full paint system (primer/bc/cc) from one supplier for the outside sheetmetal.

 

first a air compressor is only that and a tank to hold it in it squezess air in a tank thats all
the sand blaster is a older way to do this they make a media blaster it will use glass beeds or metal or what ever you want to put through it glass is faster and easer to work with also it has less prep work ( less sifting i think) what ever media u use it can be reused again over and over
the sanding will take a long time
a air comp. is a tool u will learn to love they are a power supply that cant be matched with auto work or metal work... cut turn twist hammer drill grind ream paint pollish what ever u want to do air can make a tool do it
different tools will need more air than others i have a cutting wheel and a grinder that will kill a 5 gallon tank b4 any pump can fill it but i use them at work ( i weld tractor frames if somethin aint right we cut the bad part out and put a good one in... no frame geos to a scrap yard ) so if u get a air comp. get a big tank but yes a electric palm sander will take a very long time and give you the same thing
also they can blow off the floor in the garage so u dont have to sweep