Repairing/treating rust on car

BaconandEggs

Hi all,

I've searched around for info on this but there is so much conflicting advice.

I have a small area that was initially scratched and then repaired (really just touched up). A small area of paint has since chipped, leaving some exposed metal (about 0.5cm sq.) which has started to rust.

I'm not sure on a few things:

1) how to patch this up to prevent further rust damage (a make do solution for now).
2) how much this sort of thing should cost to repair (long term solution).

bengalknights

Theres a rust solution in wilkinsons which you can dabble on to it to prevent it getting worse, think it was £7 last time i saw it.

flang

Jenolite is the best stuff to use on rust as its an acid and kills the particals. Many other alternatives just cover it up which wont stop it spreading.
As you are talking about such a small area I would be inclined to just scrape off the rust and touchup with paint pen and see if it gets any worse.

LandyAndy

How old is the car and what make/model is it?

mikey72

Kur-rust is another option.

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_191362_langId_-1_categoryId_165594

LandyAndy

Really the choices are three.

1. Is it a new or nearly new car that you may wish to sell soon(ish)? = Get it fixed professionally.
2. Is it a new or nearly new carthat you are planning to keep until it is an old car? = do a diy repair as detailed above.
3. Is it an old car? = do 2. or just leave it.

BaconandEggs

Thank you to everyone who has replied so far.

Here is some further info:

It is an 05 plate Ford Focus.

I plan on keeping it for at least another couple of years.

I would not class it as being that old - so would rather not leave it. I'll probably scrape the rust off gently and then ?????

I like the look and price of that K-rust. I'm not sure from that webpage whether you should paint over it afterwards?

Will paint pens offer any sort of preotection?

I'm keen to get it sorted soonish - taking into account the weather and the fact that gritting will be done more often now.
Hopefully get it done this weekend - it's already been a week since I first noticed it.

Limey

Take it back to good metal, treat with a good zinc rich primer and then paint over.

The difficult bit is getting a good finish.

Strider590

Rust will stop once air cannot get to it, the reaction is between iron in the metal and oxygen. Water (especially rain water) accelerates this because it combines with carbon to form a mild carbonic acid, which then acts as an electrolyte, thus drastically increasing the reaction of Iron to Oxygen.

I find something like hammerite will always stop rust and act as a good base for a new layer of paint. But remember when treating rust you have to strip away paint until you see bare unpitted metal around the area of rust, else it'll just start up again within a few days.

BaconandEggs

Thanks - on a related but slightly separate question:

When it does come time to sell the car, would it be better to have repaired professionally or take the hit on the sale cost? (based on trading it in at an independent second hand dealer).

Strider590

BaconandEggs wrote: »

Thanks - on a related but slightly separate question:

When it does come time to sell the car, would it be better to have repaired professionally or take the hit on the sale cost? (based on trading it in at an independent second hand dealer).

A dealer is unlikely to offer any more/less, they usually find any excuse not to pay what it's worth, if a fault is visible it just means they won't have to spend too long looking.