So I got the best grit sandpaper for the job and a ton of primer and rim paint. My rums are fairly rusty.

I got some of that primer that converts rust to a paintable surface. Only thing is, I'm not sure I trust it. How much rust will it convert? I plan on sanding off as much as I can, but if there's a good chunk wedged in a corner, would it be safe to leave it and paint over it?

 

pics of the rust would help..

I'd sand until all was smooth and rust was gone. Painted over rust looks like

 

Yeah, I'd get it as smooth as I can. I'm trying to get off as much as I can, but for the little stains that I can't, would it be safe to paint over?

I thought rust needs oxygen to thrive, and once you paint over it you're depriving it of it's oxygen source. Am I wrong?

 

The rust will come back if just painted over. Once its there, its there to stay unless completely removed.

 

use primer to fill the pits left by the rust or if they are really bad use a little body filler before you prime. sand everything smooth and then paint, they will look great. i don't know how much rust it will convert call the converters customer service.

 

i use a product up in canada called RUST CONVERTOR its a gel or liquid and turns the rust WHITE you see if reaact with rust!!! then you wash it off and its turns the metal almost new .. and its ready to paint sez it stops rust.. ill take pics cause im gonna be painting them tonight

 

Are you talking about Rustmort?...Yeah that stuff I wouldn't trust.Peel your wheels off your truck and get them sandblasted and then sand down the wheels with 80-120 grit.Air orbital sander if you have one or electric. Depends how fussy you want to get, but if you leave any rust pitting it will come back 100%. Blasting is cheap and there is no need to remove the tires off the rims it actually cleans the rubber nicely.Use epoxy primer...all that you can buy in a spray bomb is pretty much pure , especially on a wheel application.

 

Ketchup did a pretty good job, lol.

Sanded most of it off and got one wheel clean. Going to invest in a wire brush tip for a drill.

I have a question about other rust removers. I can't seem to find any rust removal gels, which is why I use ketchup. Is there a way to solidify or gelatinize (gellify?) rust removal sprays? I've thought about mixing them with corn starch or gelatin.

 

dave as much as you like to take paint off of stuff you should buy a sandblaster.

 

You could try Naval Jelly, it is a jelled rust remover:
- http://www.loctiteproducts.com/produ...id=47&plid=169

 

Do you guys have a recomendation for rim paint for a set of 15" aluminum wheels? My aluminum is oxidized and I want to paint the rims black. Someone mentioned to me Rustoleum once. Nothing too expensive.

Thanks!

 

I once used some special spray paint for wheels, I think it was Duplicolor brand, a polyurethane paint. It held up very well, I used it on some VW steel wheels that I ran snow tires on.

 

they make special wheel paint but it is pricey. as long as you take care of the oxidation and treat the aluminum you can top coat with just about any paint with good results.

 

Thanks for the info. What do I need to pre-treat the aluminum with?

 

you will need to sand the wheels and apply an etch primer. once it dries you can prime or paint them. any quality paint will work.

 

one of these with a wire wheel will get em clean

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=44141