Here's what happens when you wait too long to touch up scratches

[David Fermani]

I noticed this on a car I saw the other day and snapped a shot of it. I asked the owner how long they waited and they said about 2-3 months because they were planning on having some body work done at the same time. If bare metal is exposed to the elements too long, touch up will promote rust faster. You're basically sealing in the corrosion that's already started. You need to make sure that the metal is totally clean before applying paint over it. I usually clean deep scratches with acid and then neutralize with an alkaline like APC before applying touch up paint.

[Kriminal]

Ouch !

Nice picture - I hope it rings alarm bells with people who may be in the owner's "previous" situation.....a good heads-up IMO

[ZoranC]

This is a very valuable advice that many people don't think of. Thank you!

[Tokendog]

So what would be the proper steps to fix something like this?

I have a couple of spots like this on a used car I purchased and would like to fix it. I can get the touch-up paint, etc. but do not know the steps I should take.

Use a 3M spot rust remover pen to get rid of the rust? Use rust preventative such as Eastwood? Then use touch up paint?

Thanks in advance and sorry for my ignorance. =P

[WilliamHBonney]

How come the images are not showing up in all posts?

[RIDDLE]

ouch.
one of the few times im glad the outside of my car is 50% plastic

[Accumulator]

Originally Posted by Tokendog

So what would be the proper steps to fix something like this?

After using an acid as David Fermani suggested or a rust remover, I'd treat the area with a rust converter as opposed to just using regular primer. I've had some mighty good results doing it that way, but that was with the old 3M Rust Avenger that's no longer on the market. The spots I did with Eastwood's rust converter seem OK, but I don't have as much long term experience with that product.

The Eastwood Rust Encapsulator is very good stuff, but it's lacquer-soluable and most touchup paint will soften it, so that can be a little tricky.

The 3M pens are a big big/coarse for my taste, but if you can protect the surrounding paint they can be a good first step.

After the rust converter, I generally skip other/additional primer and apply the touchup paint. Several applications with a small (10/0 or 20/0) artist's brush. Then a few coats of clear on top of that.

[mikebai1990]

David Fermani, thank you very much for the reminder. As you know, we recently got involved in a little accident (still waiting for that insurance check), and parts of the damaged area are pretty exposed. Er.. What would you recommend to do before we get it fixed? Maybe spray some WD-40 on it or something like that?

[David Fermani]

I wouldn't worry about it. The shop will grind and sand down any corrosion/rust when they do the work.