Rust is every car owner’s worst nightmare. It can eat away at your vehicle like a sinister, dread disease like cancer. Rust is a natural process and can’t be avoided. But there’s no need for you to worry for you can actually slow it down.

You can do this by regularly checking over your car for rust spots you can hone in on problem areas. Rust is caused when mild steel come into contact with water in the form of airborne-moisture, which is slightly acidic.

Treating small rust spots is quite simple even for surface rust removal in a car. These are normally caused by road stones flying up and chipping off the top coat of paint, leaving the bare metal exposed and at the mercy of the elements. In damp conditions, the spot will rust very quickly. Here’s how to treat such areas:

Wipe the rust spot and an area about an inch around it with a cloth which has been moistened with white spirits. Scrape away the loose paint. Now rub down the rust area with coarse sand paper until you reach a sound area of paint.

After clearing off the dust, apply primer (not rust remover or rust converter) using a fine paint brush. Overlap beyond the affected area by about a quarter inch. Allow the primer to dry thoroughly.

Use an old knife to smooth on a thin layer of cellulose stopper. Try to make a clean job in smoothing over the affected area, without leaving any excess.

Use medium grade sand paper to smooth the job down until it is completely flush with the surrounding areas. Read the rest of this entry »