Help me get this rust off!

[Patek14]

I just bought a used car with some surface rust on the exhaust, muffler, and some of the bolts. Although the rust is hard to see and doesn`t do much, I do not like it and want it gone.



I plan on buying a mothers power ball (small sized), some metal polishes, and going to work. I want the small ball for the bolts and the brake calipers and I don`t mind the fact that it`ll take a long time to polish up the muffler.



What do you all advise?



http://img374.imageshack.us/img374/1354/dscf0001ok2.jpg



http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/9498/dscf0002he1.jpg



PS - there are also some paint chips on the car which have tiny rust spots since all the paint is gone. They are no more than 1.5 square millimeters and I only know of 2 on the car - how would I address something so small?

[Accumulator]

Patek14- For the chips, I`d use some kind of abrasion to remove most of the rust- tiny abrasive rods, which I suppose most people don`t have, or the corner of a folded piece of sandpaper or something like that...or even just an aggressive compound/polish. Then treat with a rust converter, then touchup per usual.



For the bolts, I`d replace them with stainless or at least get new (regular) steel ones and clear/etc. them so they stay nice. Or use a wire brush to remove most of the rust, then the converter and then paint, but don`t be surprised if the rust comes back.



The muffler`s protective coating is compromised, it`ll be tough to keep the rust from coming back. I`d replace it myself.



See what this company has to offer: Eastwood Company: Auto Tools, Body Repair, Classic Car Restoration, House of Kolor Paint, Powder Coating (http://www.eastwood.com) Their stuff works well for me, but I`m not all that impressed with their two-part rust converter.

[Patek14]

Unfortunetly, replacing the bolts isn`t an option since I don`t have the tools or training to disassemble my cars suspension components :(



I think getting a new muffler would be cost-prohibtive. However, you got me listening with the wire brush idea. If I use something mechanical to remove a bunch of the surface rust and then used metal polish via a mother`s ball, do you think that might work temporarily?



I assume there are combination metal polish-protectants that might help prevent rust? I am also aware you can buy high-heat metal paint, which I might be able to put on over any cleaned/polished surface

[imported_steveo3002]

thats beyond polishing



id suggest a good scrub with a wire brush or a wire wheel attachment in a drill/grinder...work it until all the rust is gone



then 2 coats of heat resistant paint



or let it rust and purcahse a stainless steel one

[Swirlbeater]

How long does heat resistannt paint last? I have a rusty muffler to:sadpace:

[Patek14]

How long does heat resistannt paint last? I have a rusty muffler to:sadpace:



I guy showed my pics of his car which had a rusty muffler that had gotten high heat paint...he did not specify how long it lasted, but the thing looked good and he implied it had been a while since he first did it



I think you can get high heat paint to put on metal OTC at an autozone which is really convenient!

[Patek14]

id suggest a good scrub with a wire brush or a wire wheel attachment in a drill/grinder...work it until all the rust is gone





Are you suggesting something like this:

http://www.toolspot.co.uk/products/Angle%20Grinder%20Accessories/M14%20Knotted%20Wire%20Cup%20Brush%200.35Mm_t.jpg

I`d lean toward something as automated as possible to save time and not hurt my wrist/shoulder!





Also, what do you think of using DG881 or meg`s nxt after steel wire scrubbing? They both claim to leave some degree of protection post-application and claim to help remove rust...



http://us.st12.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/autogeek_2012_17329753



http://us.st12.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/autogeek_2012_40899983

[Accumulator]

Are you suggesting something like this:

http://www.toolspot.co.uk/products/Angle%20Grinder%20Accessories/M14%20Knotted%20Wire%20Cup%20Brush%200.35Mm_t.jpg

I`d lean toward something as automated as possible to save time and not hurt my wrist/shoulder!



That might work OK for the muffler, and for the bolts if you remove them and put `em in a vise or something to work on them. Be sure to wear eye protection.






Also, what do you think of using DG881 or meg`s nxt after steel wire scrubbing? They both claim to leave some degree of protection post-application and claim to help remove rust...



http://us.st12.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/autogeek_2012_17329753



http://us.st12.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/autogeek_2012_40899983



Nah, IME you need something far beyond stuff like that. Get something like Nyalic and brush it on thick.



I used NXT on some underhood pieces that stayed pretty nice, but they weren`t really rusty either. Not the right stuff for this job IMO.



How long anything lasts is 99% dependent on the prep, and prepping rusty stuff well enough for it to stay nice is *HARD*. Media blasting/chemical etching/etc. are pretty much mandatory for a *real* long-term fix. (Repeating my general opinion: why bother, buy new pieces; it`s hard enough to keep new stuff nice.)



Doing this stuff in a way that stays nice is harder than you`d think. Remember that most people won`t say "I spent ten hours on this and it looked like crap again after six months", but that`s not at all an unusual outcome.

[noahman]

What do suggest to remedy rust spots on body panels such as a door?

[Accumulator]

What do suggest to remedy rust spots on body panels such as a door?



A professional paint/bodyshop. Seriously. If they`re bigger than a small stone chip I`d leave it to somebody who`s very, very good.