Smoothing Rust Pitting In Sheet Metal

Need advice on fixing rust pitting on a frame.

Smoothing rust pitting in sheet metal.

If the area is heavily rusted and pitted and wire brushing by hand is ineffective use a drill with a wire wheel photo 2 and a primer that adheres to rusted surfaces such as krylon rust tough or rust oleum. Grind lightly over the pitted area of the metal. Apply eastwood fast etch to the area with the rust pits. Remove the worst of the.

Be careful not to push down too hard. Wound wire wheels or cups work well but don t heat the metal rust and melt the rust into the pits. Fast etch eats into the rust dissolving it and leaving clean metal behind. Belzona 1151 smoothing metal a 2 part epoxy based repair composite for rebuilding shallow pitting in metals damaged by erosion and corrosion.

Scrub the metal with a wire brush to remove rust particles from inside the pits and wipe off the particles with a. This solvent free material is specifically formulated to easily fill in areas of metal loss up to 6 mm deep quickly restoring large areas and avoiding hot work and plate welding. Wear safety goggles a dust mask and. Here s how for pitted metal whether sheet or frame steel.

If there are tight spaces where rust ridges or paint remains use a sandpaper sheet manually to reach out into these areas. I sandblasted the frame down to a dull silver gray finish before priming. Your metal should feel and look smooth. Remove as much of the rust as possible without removing metal metal removal is more of a sheet metal strength concern than frame steel.

Attach the 80 grit disc to the angle grinder according to the instructions that come with the tool. Grind down heavily rusted metal spots faster with a wire wheel and a drill or angle grinder. Wrap a sheet of 80 grit sandpaper around a sanding block and sand the pitted area aggressively. Wipe the sanding dust off the metal with a rag.

The best tools pros use and diyers should too. I bought a frame for my 31 for ford roadster from a guy who had leaned it on its side against the back of his garage. Cover the area with plastic wrap to prevent the fast etch from evaporating before it can work. In the same fashion start with 80 grit sandpaper before going to a smoother one.

You can use a power. Flap discs work well but can remove good metal. Part of the frame was in wet dirt and pitted a bit when it rusted.