Rust has become a problem for many car owners - manufacturers do not always focus on high-quality galvanizing of the body, which should provide protection. Because of this, red spots form over time, and if they are not removed in time, they will lead to the appearance of cracks, and then holes, which cannot be allowed! Consider why corrosion affects the body and how rust is removed from the car body.
Oxidation of the metal occurs due to the influence of the external environment - moisture, air, static electricity. Based on this, the main reason for the formation of rust on the car body is damage to the paintwork. The chipped paint and microcracks make it possible for air and water to penetrate the iron. Serious damage will become noticeable literally within a month if cracks appear in the winter. It will take a little more time in the summer, but destructive processes will occur anyway.
Rust on a car body can be formed as a large single spot or small dots, they are usually called “saffron milk caps”. It is easier to remove large damages than small ones. By the way, if corrosion is expressed in the form of small specks, then this indicates that the bodywork was carried out poorly or poor quality metal was used in the creation of the car.
Vulnerabilities
Due to the fact that the main cause of rust on the car is the impact of the external environment, the parts located below the body suffer first of all. It is they who get wet, exposed to the action of reagents located on the roads. In parallel, mechanical damage occurs - occurring stones, sand, branches contribute to the appearance of chips. Also, unsuccessful parking and exits from the curbs add problems.
In other places, corrosion can also appear, so you need to be prepared for this. Before proceeding with rust removal, assess the extent of damage. The procedure is carried out by chemical and mechanical methods, it should be chosen based on the nature of the problem.
Mechanical removal
You can mechanically get rid of rust on the car body yourself, without the involvement of professionals. The work is a cleaning of corrosive areas with metal brushes and sandpaper. The advantages of the method are obvious:
- an excellent opportunity to remove rust spots that are large in size and have various defects;
- the necessary materials and tools are easy to purchase at any automotive store at an affordable price;
- jobs are available even to people who do not have special skills.
The only drawback of this process is the duration, it will take at least several hours. But if you follow the instructions, it will be possible not only to eliminate damage to the car body, but also to provide corrosion protection for at least 2 years.
Proceed in the following order:
- Preparation of the necessary tools and material.
- Cleaning the affected area and its degreasing.
- Putty of the cleaned area.
- Painting and varnishing.
To get started you will need:
- sandpaper and grinder;
- rust converter;
- White Spirit;
- primer against corrosion;
- two-component putty;
- paint matching in color and colorless varnish;
If there is no special machine, sandblasting or other similar tool, you can clean it manually. The process will be longer and energy-intensive, but it will be possible to clean the surface of the car from rust. The main thing is to be careful not to create new scratches that also lead to cracks.
Once the surface has been cleaned, it should be treated with a rust converter. You should not skip this item, as some signs of corrosion may not be noticeable, and if you leave them, the problem will recur in the near future. It is enough to apply the composition and hold for half an hour, after which to continue the repair work.
Next, impregnate the metal with a solvent (white spirit), prime after 10-15 minutes and leave for the time specified in the instructions for the composition. After you can start puttingty. This stage also needs to be carried out, since recesses will appear during the stripping process, and we must get a flat surface. After applying and drying the putty, clean the body from bumps. If, upon further examination, unnoticed recesses are revealed, then the procedure should be repeated.
In the end, it remains to paint over the treated surface and varnish it.
Chemical method
This method is carried out both with the use of devices that transmit current, and without them. Electrochemical removal, for example, involves oxidizing and, as a result, repairing rusted areas using an electrolyte solution and electric current. As a result, it is possible to eliminate and stop the formation of rust on the car body. On sale it is easy to find ready-made kits of auto chemical goods, on which the procedure is described in detail. The advantages of the method include:
- easy to etch both rust spots and serious damage;
- restoration or creation of a new protective layer;
- safety of materials both for the person and for the body;
- small expenditure of time;
- simplicity.
If we talk about liquids for removing rust, then they are based on phosphoric acid, which is a corrosion converter. The composition is applied to the damage, after which after half an hour it will be enough to clean the body with a cloth. The removal acid acts quickly and effectively, but if depressions are found after cleaning, it will be putty with mastic or another substance suitable for this purpose.
In cases where it is impossible to do without connecting the electrodes to the battery, an electrochemical reaction is carried out. As a result, a protective film is formed. This method is described in detail in the manufacturer's instructions for kits containing electrodes.
Removing rust from arches
It is not enough to know how to remove rust on a car; it is also important to take into account the characteristics of individual sections. For example, the arch above the wheel causes difficulties, there are many bottlenecks that are not so easy to approach. In this case, the mechanical method is more efficient - all rusted areas are processed with a grinding disc. Then it remains to cover them with putty and tint.
Removing rust from doors
If signs of corrosion appear from the bottom or inside of the car doors, you will have to disassemble them. After all rusty traces are mechanically or chemically cleaned, it is necessary to restore the door geometry. This should be done carefully, because if the metal is damaged, not only the appearance will change, but also the functionality of the part. This can be done using putty with further grinding and painting.
Removing rust from discs
You can remove rust without removing the rubber from the disks using the same mechanical method. It is advisable to carry out the work manually, cleaning off the corrosion. When the shine of the metal is restored, and there is no trace of the red layers, treat the areas with a rust remover - a converter. Further, it is desirable to carry out a routine inspection once a week, if necessary, treating the cleaned surfaces with the product.
Removing rust from the hood
You can restore the hood yourself, but first you need to clean the surface of dust and dirt. If you think whether to remove the hood or not, then in fact it does not matter, it's all about convenience for everyone.
First of all, you should clean up the area of \u200b\u200bthe part, then you need chemistry - treat all difficult places with the converter. Next, impregnate them with an anti-corrosion solution and paint over.
Removing rust from fenders
The fight against traces of corrosion on the wings of a car begins with the same methods: it is necessary to either process it with a grinding tool or a chemical one. If the surface is chrome, you can rub the rust off with machine oil. In any case, it is impossible to do without anti-corrosion treatment and painting. If necessary, damaged areas will have to be puttied.
Removing rust from thresholds
From the thresholds of the car, you can also quickly remove rust, wash the area, treat with a degreaser, paint and varnish. All this is done by many with their own hands. However, some motorists do not even look down and cannot imagine that rusty spots appear on the thresholds. It is recommended to look at the bottom of the car more often, as well as regularly treat the thresholds with anti-gravel - this will help prevent rust, cracks and other problems.
It is known that it is easier to prevent difficulties than to get rid of them later. Prepare the car for the winter season in advance by carrying out anti-corrosion treatment of the body. Keep clean and immediately repair cracks, scratches and other damage to the metal, because in such areas rust appears faster.
