You asked, and our team has answered! Whether or not you participated in the Expand Your Knowledge activity, you’re sure to learn a few things from our product experts.
Today’s topic:
Removing Rust and Paint: Prepping and Painting
What's the best way to remove paint from plastic body parts like a grill or ground effects?
@Pete: Great question! There are a few different ways of removing paint from plastic parts that I like to use personally. I like to stick to a chemical process (liquid solvents) over a mechanical (sanding) because you can start to change the shape of your plastics if you are sanding materials off.
While performing a chemical process you need to have patience as the chemicals could have an adverse effect. Meaning if the chemicals are left on too long they will start to soften and damage the plastics or grill.
My go-to for any quick paint removal off of plastics or grills would be an aircraft grade paint stripper. RustOleum offers an “Aircraft Remover” that comes in an 18 oz spray can (good for vertical surfaces) as well as a quart and gallon size for brush or dab on.
Here’s a link to take a look:
VERY IMPORTANT: If left on plastic too long, the Aircraft Remover will start to soften the plastics. Work in small areas first. Do not apply to an entire grill or ground effects at once. Do small(er) sections of the parts to allow for quick and easy removal. Patience is best here as it may take multiple attempts in the same small area to remove the paint. Try not to sand but only wipe away with a rag. If needed, use a putty knife to lift areas of paint while it is saturated with Aircraft Remover. Wear gloves!
Once all paint is removed with the Aircraft Remover you can clean the surface with some Wax and Tar remover to make sure all solvents are gone from the surface and then clean with soap and water.
Wax and Tar remover link: https://www.rustoleum.com/product-catalog/consumer-brands/auto/removers-and-chemicals/wax-and-tar-remover/
Once you are ready to repaint you can use some Paint Prep Wipes to make sure the surface is clean for paint. Having these as wipes is a huge time and materials saver.
Check out the wipes: https://www.rustoleum.com/product-catalog/consumer-brands/auto/removers-and-chemicals/paint-prep-wipe/
What would be the best product for removing paint from plastic body parts like ground effects and bumpers?
@Katy: Happy to help! This will vary depending on the type and amount of paint you are removing. There are only two ways to remove a coating from a surface, by abrasion or chemically, or a mixture of the two. Abrasion would typically include sanding or scraping the coating off. Whereas chemically would use a paint stripper or solvent to remove it. The type of stripper would be dependent on the type of paint and the surface. Our Krud Kutter Graffiti Remover can be used with most paint types on a lot of different surfaces. With any cleaner or paint stripper, we always recommend applying in a test area first to ensure favorable results.
OEM brake calipers have rust on them. What is the best process to remove the rust and prevent it in the future? Also, what paint should be used, and pros and cons of aerosol vs. brush on applications?
@Pete: You've come to the right place. Rust-Oleum offers a wide variety of rust removal options. To start in every instance, you will need to sand or wire brush any loose rust off the surface first and then thoroughly clean with soap and water. Once dry, you can move on to the next step, Rust-Oleum® Rust Dissolver. When using this, it is important to maintain a wet solution until the rust is completely removed.
https://www.rustoleum.com/product-catalog/consumer-brands/auto/removers-and-chemicals/rust-dissolver
For the calipers, we recommend using our Automotive Caliper Spray. It is only offered as a spray, however. In general, spray painting is better suited for smaller, more intricate surfaces with many curves and nooks you need to paint. When working with larger surface areas, it's best to stick with a brush-on or an HVLP sprayer to ensure an even finish. We hope you find this helpful!
https://www.rustoleum.com/product-catalog/consumer-brands/auto/specialty-paints/caliper-paint
Rust conversion, primer and paint matching: How to?
@Pete: In just a few simple steps you can have your rusted surface treated and prepped for paint by using Rust-Oleum® Rust Reformer.
No need to wire brush off any rust. Just make sure the surface is clean from any contaminants such as oil, grease, or dirt.
First, wash the area with a degreaser such as Rust-Oleum’s Krud Kutter Parts Washer Cleaner/Degreaser https://www.rustoleum.com/product-catalog/consumer-brands/krud-kutter/automotive-cleaners-and-removers/parts-washer-cleaner-degreaser/
Next, rinse with fresh water and let the substrate dry thoroughly.
Rust Reformer is a water-based film-forming product that chemically converts rust into a smooth, paintable surface.
Products are available in both spray and brush for flexibility in application
Once the surface is dry, mask up any areas you do not want to apply the product to such as plastic parts, wires, ball joints, anything grease fitting.
With aerosol, make sure you're at least 10-16” from the surface working in a back and forth motion overlapping each pass as you do. As you spray, the coated surface will turn black and start to smooth out.
*For brush-on, stir contents before using. Pour a small amount of Rust Reformer into a separate non-metallic container. Brush the material evenly across the surface to be coated. The Rust Reformer will dry to a black film in about 15 minutes.
Do not return any unused Rust Reformer to the original container. Doing so will contaminate the remaining material and reduce or eliminate its effectiveness.
Unmask and allow to dry for 24 hours. One coat is sufficient, but if another coat is desired make sure to wait the full 24 hours before re-applying.
Once at this point whether you sprayed or brushed on the Rust Reformer your substrate will be black and have a smoother surface. You can leave it at this stage if you desire black but you can also apply a primer and then a base coat over the coated surface if you’d like to change the color from black. Also apply a clear coat for added protection and a glossy finish.
https://www.rustoleum.com/product-catalog/consumer-brands/stops-rust/rust-reformer/
https://www.rustoleum.com/pages/homeowner/how-to-videos
Exterior paint damage: i) What products and how-to should I use when removing damage to my car's exterior paint? This would include minor damage such as, paint swirls, tree sap and bird droppings. ii) Then what about the potential for worse damage, such as paint chips, door dings and hail? Are there things I can do to pre-treat a surface to minimize the chance of damage? iii) And finally, when damage does happen, what advice do you have for during/after the damage is being/has been repaired? Thx!
@Katy: We can help! To help clean the surface of your car, our Krud Kutter Vehicle and Boat Pressure Washer Concrete can be used. For tough stains or for smaller areas, our Krud Kutter Original can be used. As with any cleaner, we always recommend applying in a test area first to ensure the desired results.
https://www.rustoleum.com/product-catalog/consumer-brands/krud-kutter/pressure-washer-concentrates/vehicle-and-boat-pressure-washer-concentrate
https://www.rustoleum.com/product-catalog/consumer-brands/krud-kutter/cleaners-and-stain-removers/original-krud-kutter
To touch-up chipped or damaged areas, we do have a line of touch-up markers and sprays that can be used. Again, apply in a test area first to ensure a suitable color match. To prevent further damage, you will want to coat the entire chip and around it to prevent moisture from getting under the existing finish. You also want to ensure that the area is clean and dry before touching-up.
https://www.rustoleum.com/product-catalog/consumer-brands/auto/auto-body-touch-up
For damage to the body of your car, such as from hail, we recommend reaching out to your local auto body shop or dealership for possible solutions.
Does Rust-Oleum carry products that seal automotive metal (like an epoxy) before bodywork is to begin? Do you have a "rust treater" or "rust converter" to prepare it so rust doesn't return? and If we are looking to get a custom color to paint the car, where can we get custom colors mixed? Are metallic flakes available for your paint? Do you offer special guns / tips to properly lay the metallic flake?
@Jenn: We don't have an epoxy type of sealer available, but we offer a wide variety of primers designed for automotive surfaces. When working with larger surface areas, we recommend using our Automotive Primer Surfacer, which can be brushed on or sprayed when thinned with our Specialty Reducer. For treating rust, we recommend using our Stops Rust Rust Dissolver, which contains inhibitors that can prevent rust for up to 12 months. We also recommend Rust-Oleum® Rust Reformer and Rust-Oleum® Rusty Metal Primer as solutions for treating rusted surfaces.
We hate to disappoint, but we don't offer a custom tinting program for our automotive paints and we don't have decorative metallic chips we can recommend for automotive finishes. However, we have metallic finishes in our Custom Lacquer product line that you may be interested in!
Primer Surfacer: https://www.rustoleum.com/product-catalog/consumer-brands/auto/primers/primer-surfacer
Specialty Reducer: https://www.rustoleum.com/product-catalog/consumer-brands/auto/removers-and-chemicals/low-voc-specialty-reducer
Rust Dissolver: https://www.rustoleum.com/product-catalog/consumer-brands/auto/removers-and-chemicals/rust-dissolver
Custom Lacquer: https://www.rustoleum.com/product-catalog/consumer-brands/auto/general-purpose-paints/premium-custom-chrome
Rust Reformer spray: https://www.rustoleum.com/product-catalog/consumer-brands/auto/removers-and-chemicals/rust-reformer-spray/
Metal Primer: https://www.rustoleum.com/product-catalog/consumer-brands/auto/primers/rusty-metal-primer
Bare metals rust. I want to protect the metals, yet not have a high shine from a clear coat covering. Do you have paints that replicate metals in various states? For example: Polished brass, Copper, Cast iron, cast aluminum, machined aluminum, bead blasted aluminum, stainless steel, silver plate, etc.
@Katy: Great question! We recommend our Premium Custom Lacquer line:
Thanks to all our members who submitted questions, and @Jenn, @Katy, and @Pete for your expert advice. Got any other questions about rust? Join us in the comments!
