Sorting out rust on a white van

Blackpool_Saver

rictus123 wrote: »

Ok sorry for being a total numpty but im new to all of the above! Can i please ask to be lazy and someone set it all out fine and easy for me?

yeah me too

rictus123

ScottishSapper wrote: »

Right guys - the in thing seems to be http://www.rustoleum.co.uk/?action=viewcategory&catid=1

In theory it does not require priming! The VW camper guys are using it and there is also a few threads on the Transit (Camper) forum http://fordtransit.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=42941
The last link has a guy re-painting his Transit from start to finish

Thanks so much that second link is spot on! Got good links from it. I could get £50s worth of white rustoleum and roll the whole van and get it glowing again? Going to keep reading up on it and go for the full paint job!

goldspanners

ScottishSapper wrote: »

Right guys - the in thing seems to be http://www.rustoleum.co.uk/?action=viewcategory&catid=1

ive used rustoleum in spray form, ive used it on rough looking industrial metal work and it seems to cover rust and stop it reappearing, ive also used it on brake drums and suspension parts that have too much surface rust to properly remove it all without lots of hard work and it does it pretty well. its a bit like hammerite.
but as an asthetically pleasing finish to vehicle bodywork im not so sure.

sand off the rust, clean area with thinners, fill any holed or rough crattered areas with cataloy,when its dry sand it smooth with fine sanding paper a base coat of primer on it and then your colour of paint on it,maybe a few coats might help,then as someone else said laquer it and wax it.

catflea

Rustoleum paint can look superb if done well (and I mean, superb) but as with anything the final effect comes from the preparation and its is very wasy to make a botch up.

The best way to fix the rust depends on how bad the rust is, and how good a job you want doing tbh

rictus123

Well i thought since iv decided to just go for the whole lot the way to do it would be

1. Identify the worse bits of rust, sand them down

2. Use a filler(need more info about how to and what products,sorry!)

3. Sand down the filler and any rough bits

4. Masking tape up the edges of lights and windows

5. Paint once

6. Rub down any rough bits and go over the worse bits

7. Repaint whole van

8. Rub it up(dont know what with) and enjoy a rust free shiney white van?

If it would be easier to do it silver then i will...???

catflea

rictus123 wrote: »

Well i thought since iv decided to just go for the whole lot the way to do it would be

1. Identify the worse bits of rust, sand them down

If repainting the whole van, you need to get every single bit of rust

2. Use a filler(need more info about how to and what products,sorry!)

Assuming the rust hasn't eaten too deeply then a soft-ish filler like isopon 38 (available from halfrauds) will do the job, mix it up as per the instructions, skim it over (leaving it higher than the metal of the van) leave to set and sand down - simples.

3. Sand down the filler and any rough bits

You might find an electric sander useful here

4. Masking tape up the edges of lights and windows

I'd go as far as to recommend newspapering anything you dont want to paint, including the windscreen wheels etc

5. Paint once

Brush paint? Spray? What type of paint?

6. Rub down any rough bits and go over the worse bits

7. Repaint whole van

8. Rub it up(dont know what with) and enjoy a rust free shiney white van?

very very fine wet and dry (2400?) wetted with a mild soap solution

If it would be easier to do it silver then i will...???

Personal preference, but might need an extra coat to get a decent effect

Hope that helps

rictus123

Thanks catflea! I know il rub up all rust and fill up above van metal(assumed it would sink a little after drying but also rub down to level) Paint with small roller? And get a couple of fine brushes for the small areas, around handles etc.

Im not sure on what colour now, iv only seen a seat inca van in white? Dont know what other colour i could go for? Maybe just stick with white for my first shot at using this! Would also make sense to get everything covered.


Can i ask how you know so much? Alot of its common sense isnt it. How many coats will i need to give it? I think 3 coats? And how much paint is this? £24 for 2.5l i think id need 2 for my van.

catflea

A good trick to check for shallow spots is to sand down to the required profile, and spray over in another colour (say beige, or another light colour in this example) and give it a LIGHT sanding with a block - just enough to take the spray paint off - any low spots will still be the sprayed colour and will need filling and re-sanding.

You are right, a lot of it is common sense. I've never actually done a similar repair to any of my cars, however I have assisted my brother in doing similar things to his transit. (also, its amazing how much you learn from watching American Hot rod etc etc)

I've not used rustoleum but the common consensus seems to be that a gloss roller is the way to do it (i.e a foam roller rather than a wolly one) I've seen a van done with a brush and it looks shoddy. As for coats and amount of paint required - go with the instructions!