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DIY fix/rust prevention for cracking paint area


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mysoulishome
New User

Aug 4, 2015, 11:28 AM

Post #1 of 4 (1806 views)
DIY fix/rust prevention for cracking paint area Sign In

Photos: http://imgur.com/a/md8ou

Please excuse my ignorance, total novice with this stuff. Just bought an 05 Caravan and want to protect the places it has chips/scrapes from rust. This area is kind of like where mud dries. The paint and primer are peeled away from the body completely although there does not seem to be a dent or anything there to cause it. Any fairly simple DIY suggestions to stop this from being an eyesore and rust magnet?

I guess there is sanding and sandblasting and touching up but is it possible to do that as a novice without it looking like crap? Maybe a stupid question but is there kind of sealant you can just put over it and other (normal) scrapes so that water doesn't make it rust?


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Aug 4, 2015, 12:34 PM

Post #2 of 4 (1796 views)
Re: DIY fix/rust prevention for cracking paint area Sign In

OK - Not my personal specialty but around tons of body work or was all the time. Pics 2 & 3 are not just any rust that's bondo cracking! Paint alone isn't that thick.


That would really be best to remove completely and redo that area or ones like it up to a new panel or you are screwed for that to be a problem till putty starts falling off. Terrible body work.


Other rust: Slightly works is the various brands of called "Rust Reformer" which is like milk and water based! It needs to be at least gun rusted to work! It will turn black in hours to a whole day and is the primer for paint.


Rust is a virus not unlike a cancer. You have to kill or remove it or it grows and wins. The new car sold today will begin with some chips then where I am the salts used in Winter are the corrosive that really gets it going. Not just ugly but can wipe out strong metal framing, control arms - no mercy with real rust.


Defense is don't use the car when even raining out or on salted roads till clean - people can't do that forever. Garaging really helps cars in general.


BTT - Go get what is in pics 2 & 3 looked at by a real auto body shop. Get some idea of what to do. I just know from good pics BTW that Bondo and you could test that with a magnet now that won't stick to that it's tooooo thick,


T



mysoulishome
New User

Aug 4, 2015, 1:54 PM

Post #3 of 4 (1791 views)
Re: DIY fix/rust prevention for cracking paint area Sign In

Pic 1 is just a zoomed out view to give context, you can see the spots where pic 1 and 2 are in the photo.

So it sounds like what you're saying is that this isn't something I can do myself and have it not look like crap?


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Aug 4, 2015, 2:17 PM

Post #4 of 4 (1788 views)
Re: DIY fix/rust prevention for cracking paint area Sign In

Looked again as I focused on scratches on and above wheel well in pic 1. The close up clearly show the edge of bondo (a brand once or still) of body filler. Real body shops will but that's too much.


That looked good when first done and was going to do that. Under that was probably sanded down to bare metal then filled.


So - if you really wanted that solved you need to know what you can't see without doing it all over again which is body work not touch up work, primers and paint alone.


Just my few resto jobs would never have allowed that much. Tiny flaw and dings when DONE getting real metal back to close via assorted means. Hammer dollies from behind, heat to shrink metal or expand - it's an art to remove damage and make it look like nothing happened.


Try the magnet trick I mentioned. Not a wildly strong one just a typical "refrigerator" magnet type you would just hold a piece of paper or something it would fall right off and stick to test the trick in a good spot.
I do know that BAD body work and that is makes it harder to fix that real well now. Maybe it really can't and saved the fender rather than a new or good used one?


I say that was some kind of damage not a rust hole right there.


DIY and good looking body work that will be good after paint isn't that easy. Depends also how much it bugs you and what level of fix is OK with you.


One thing is for sure. It wont heal by itself. You could make it look better but the problem is there still.


Nice pics as said. Still nothing like a shop and body work tech to just take a glance and suggest how much for the best or what to use to make it look better that wont harm it more,


T







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