Auto body rust repair is a very common problem with older cars in the St. Louis, Missouri area. Dents or scratches can wear off paint and expose metal to the elements. Living in a snowy environment like what we have seen in Columbia, Waterloo, Southern Illinois, Millstadt, Freeburg, and Athens, IL might also raise the possibility for rust damage, as road salt and other ice removal accelerants can result in rust damage over time. Regardless of how the rust formed, keep these rust repair tips from Charlie's Columbia CARSTAR in the mind to restore your auto body to like-new condition:
Inspect Your Vehicle’s Surface Carefully
The initial step in adequately dealing with auto body rust is figuring out the extent of the damage. If you have a vintage car, you might consider going over all surfaces of the automobile with a fine tooth comb. The reason being that rust doesn't always materialize as dark-red discoloration. Rather, what you should be looking for are little bubbles in the painted surface of the automobile. If these bubbles can be found, it is likely that rust is hiding underneath.
Removing Rust
Auto body rust repair is almost always best handled by the auto body pros, like those at Charlie's Columbia CARSTAR in Columbia, Illinois. Nevertheless, if you have some auto repair experience and the area of corrosion is no bigger than four inches in diameter, then it could be feasible to get rid of the rust yourself. To do this, you’ll want to utilize a sanding disc with 100-grit sandpaper on the affected area. Working gradually, sand away the rust, along with the immediate area surrounding the corrosion. This will produce an even plane for paint adhesion.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Additional Sanding
Once the rust is eliminated, it is recommended that you sand the region with sequentially finer grit sizes. For instance, another pass may include 120-grit sandpaper and a third pass might benefit from a 150-grit sandpaper. Once sanded finely, tack cloth is suggested for getting rid of any metal or dirt debris.
Priming and Painting
Three to four light coats of self-etching primer are recommended for auto body rust repair jobs. Prior to priming, block off the encompassing body paint by utilizing newspaper and masking tape. Wait around five to ten minutes before you apply every successive coat. Then, hold off until the following day to put on the paint. Apply the paint in a comparable, light-coated manner. After 5 or 6 coats, leave the paint to dry overnight, then come back and take away the newspaper and masking tape. A wash and wax might be helpful once the repair is finished.
Inspect Your Vehicle’s Surface Carefully
The initial step in adequately dealing with auto body rust is figuring out the extent of the damage. If you have a vintage car, you might consider going over all surfaces of the automobile with a fine tooth comb. The reason being that rust doesn't always materialize as dark-red discoloration. Rather, what you should be looking for are little bubbles in the painted surface of the automobile. If these bubbles can be found, it is likely that rust is hiding underneath.
Removing Rust
Auto body rust repair is almost always best handled by the auto body pros, like those at Charlie's Columbia CARSTAR in Columbia, Illinois. Nevertheless, if you have some auto repair experience and the area of corrosion is no bigger than four inches in diameter, then it could be feasible to get rid of the rust yourself. To do this, you’ll want to utilize a sanding disc with 100-grit sandpaper on the affected area. Working gradually, sand away the rust, along with the immediate area surrounding the corrosion. This will produce an even plane for paint adhesion.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Once the rust is eliminated, it is recommended that you sand the region with sequentially finer grit sizes. For instance, another pass may include 120-grit sandpaper and a third pass might benefit from a 150-grit sandpaper. Once sanded finely, tack cloth is suggested for getting rid of any metal or dirt debris.
Priming and Painting
Three to four light coats of self-etching primer are recommended for auto body rust repair jobs. Prior to priming, block off the encompassing body paint by utilizing newspaper and masking tape. Wait around five to ten minutes before you apply every successive coat. Then, hold off until the following day to put on the paint. Apply the paint in a comparable, light-coated manner. After 5 or 6 coats, leave the paint to dry overnight, then come back and take away the newspaper and masking tape. A wash and wax might be helpful once the repair is finished.