Few things are as frustrating as dealing with a vehicle that’s beginning to rust.
Rust never rests, never sleeps, and never stops growing, consuming, and destroying your vehicle. You need to be aggressive in fighting back against rust, jumping ahead of the issue before it becomes unmanageable.
That almost always means repainting and protecting the metal on your vehicle. Still, you should use only primer and paint after removing the rust.
Below we dig into the ins and outs of removing rust, prepping the formerly rusty surface, shooting your epoxy primer and then painting the metal to protect it from here on out.
Let’s jump in!
Can you spray epoxy primer over rust?
Epoxy primer is specifically designed to treat rusty surfaces. It is a hugely important tool in repairing your vehicle the right way and protecting it for years to come.
Two-part epoxy primer always includes zinc phosphate, a corrosion-inhibiting material that works well against rust.
This primer provides a great surface to apply paint and a finish later down the line. It also seals in and protects bare metal against rust forming in the first place.
The important thing to remember, though, is that you should only be spraying epoxy primer after you have removed as much of the rust from the metal as possible.
You don’t want to be priming and painting rusty metal, even if the epoxy primer has a rust inhibitor.
How to fix car rust issues the right way?
Whether you’re dealing with just a little bit of rust or a ton, the process for removing it, treating it and prepping and painting is the same across the board.
Clean Away Rust First
You’ll first want to get as much of the rust on your vehicle off as you can.
Start this off by washing and cleaning the area. You don’t need to go crazy, but it’s a good idea to use quality car wash soap to eliminate dust, dirt, oil, and other contaminants. Dry the area fully.
Next, use paint-safe tape to mask the area you will be sanding and grinding. This will help you focus the task a little more, but it will also ensure that your tools don’t scuff and grind metal that doesn’t need it.
After that’s all taken care of, you can spray a little rust removal solution onto the metal, giving it time to soak in and go to work. Follow the directions for your purchased product, and you’ll be good to go.
All that’s left to do now is wipe away the rust remover spray and work with sandpaper or a grinder (if the rust is really bad). Patch any parts of your vehicle that the rust had eaten through completely.
Now use the epoxy primer
Once the rust removal work has been finished, you’re ready to apply your epoxy primer.
You’ll want to remask the area using tape that has been folded in half widthwise. This will create a much softer edge, letting you feather the primer back into the original paint.
Make sure you’re holding the epoxy primer relatively close to the metal you’re working with; you want good coverage and solid adhesion.
Spray light, even coats – it’s always better to come back with another coat than to have thick, wet, sloppy primer sitting on the metal waiting to dry.
You’ll get the best results (and the fastest drying time) if you tackle this kind of project on a warm, sunny day. If the weather cooperates with you, your primer might only take 30 minutes to an hour to dry completely.
In colder weather, though, it may take two or three hours for each coat of primer to dry.
Time to paint!
The only thing left for you to do now is apply your color-matched paint, seal the paint, and then use a quality top coat – a clear coat – and you’re off to the races.
The same tips for priming will help you out when you’re painting.
Use sweeping motions when applying paint. Keep a consistent distance from the metal you’re working on throughout. Use light, even coats recognizing that you can always come back and hit the area again if it needs it.
Keep the same tape (folded half widthwise) to mask the area, and try to feather your fresh paint into the original.
Angle your clear coat finish at 45 degrees from the car’s surface (facing down), and you’ll be able to quickly polish the end result and look just like an OEM job!
Conclusion
You can spray epoxy primer over rust, but it is not the most effective method. If you are looking for the most practical way to primer your car, it is best to sand off the rust and apply a fresh coat of primer.