Before I paint it...
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 226
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Before I paint it...
I bought the truck with these rock dings that had started to rust. I feel like they are going to keep rusting and create issues long term, and are really past filling with touch up paint. Before I spend the $500 bucks, would you guys do anything else or just get it painted then clear bra it? (Or at least use touch up before it rusts in the future?)
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 190
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From: Central PA
I'm waiting on mine and will eventually Line-x the front bumper either color match or black. In 1 yr this truck has accumulated more rock chips in the painted bumper than my 10yr old truck it replaced...
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 2,122
Likes: 390
From: Midwest USA
You're right! Those nasty paint chips if not taken care of, the rust will migrate under the paint and spread.
Do not get it painted without taking care of that rust first.
Here's what i would do if its going to be professionally painted assuming thats what you are intending to do.
First take a sharp pick to the edges of the paint to see if the rust has migrated under the paint. If so chip away until it will chip off no more.
All rust needs to be sand papered away to shiny bare metal. I've used a paper punch to punch out small circles of sandpaper then glued them to a pencil's eraser.
Then the area needs to be primer'd, filled in with glazing putty and 400 to 600 grit wet sanded smooth using a small sanding block being careful to minimize sanding down the good paint areas.
Another coat of primer and wet sanded again this time using 800 to 1000 grit wet sandpaper until perfectly smooth with the rest of the paint.
Might have to repeat the process more than once to get it perfectly smooth.
Then after all has cured, its off to the paint shop.
Do not get it painted without taking care of that rust first.
Here's what i would do if its going to be professionally painted assuming thats what you are intending to do.
First take a sharp pick to the edges of the paint to see if the rust has migrated under the paint. If so chip away until it will chip off no more.
All rust needs to be sand papered away to shiny bare metal. I've used a paper punch to punch out small circles of sandpaper then glued them to a pencil's eraser.
Then the area needs to be primer'd, filled in with glazing putty and 400 to 600 grit wet sanded smooth using a small sanding block being careful to minimize sanding down the good paint areas.
Another coat of primer and wet sanded again this time using 800 to 1000 grit wet sandpaper until perfectly smooth with the rest of the paint.
Might have to repeat the process more than once to get it perfectly smooth.
Then after all has cured, its off to the paint shop.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 226
Likes: 21
You're right! Those nasty paint chips if not taken care of, the rust will migrate under the paint and spread.
Do not get it painted without taking care of that rust first.
Here's what i would do if its going to be professionally painted assuming thats what you are intending to do.
First take a sharp pick to the edges of the paint to see if the rust has migrated under the paint. If so chip away until it will chip off no more.
All rust needs to be sand papered away to shiny bare metal. I've used a paper punch to punch out small circles of sandpaper then glued them to a pencil's eraser.
Then the area needs to be primer'd, filled in with glazing putty and 400 to 600 grit wet sanded smooth using a small sanding block being careful to minimize sanding down the good paint areas.
Another coat of primer and wet sanded again this time using 800 to 1000 grit wet sandpaper until perfectly smooth with the rest of the paint.
Might have to repeat the process more than once to get it perfectly smooth.
Then after all has cured, its off to the paint shop.
Do not get it painted without taking care of that rust first.
Here's what i would do if its going to be professionally painted assuming thats what you are intending to do.
First take a sharp pick to the edges of the paint to see if the rust has migrated under the paint. If so chip away until it will chip off no more.
All rust needs to be sand papered away to shiny bare metal. I've used a paper punch to punch out small circles of sandpaper then glued them to a pencil's eraser.
Then the area needs to be primer'd, filled in with glazing putty and 400 to 600 grit wet sanded smooth using a small sanding block being careful to minimize sanding down the good paint areas.
Another coat of primer and wet sanded again this time using 800 to 1000 grit wet sandpaper until perfectly smooth with the rest of the paint.
Might have to repeat the process more than once to get it perfectly smooth.
Then after all has cured, its off to the paint shop.