How to Treat Rust on an Auto Restoration

Rust removal is part of most classic car restorations.

Restoring old automobiles is a hobby for many people. With these old or classic cars, there is bound to be rust, both external and internal. Rust is the result of metal combining with moisture. When the protective coating on cars wears off or when there is damage to the car, the exposed metal is more prone to rust. Rust removal is an important part of most car restorations.

Things You'll Need

• Wire brush
• Scrubbing pad
• Mineral oil
• Lime juice
• Salt
• Naval jelly
• gloves

Instructions

1. Scrape off the rust. Depending on the size of the rusted area, use a wire brush or scrubbing pad to remove the rust.

2. Apply mineral oil to the rust stains on the car using a paper towel or scrubbing pad. Let the mineral oil soak into the rust for 10 to 20 minutes, then scrub off the rust. Use a clean cloth to remove the rust and oil. Mineral oil is helpful for stains that don't respond to scrubbing or scraping.

3. Create a paste of 1 part lime juice and 2 parts table salt. Cover the rust stains with the paste, using the scrubbing pad. Earth Easy suggests leaving the paste on for 2 to 3 hours. Then scrub the area and wipe away the rust and the paste. Table salt has abrasive qualities and the lime contains citric acid. Both work to remove rust.

4. Buy naval jelly and rubber gloves from a home improvement store. Put on the gloves and then apply the naval jelly to the rust stains with a scrubbing pad. Wait several minutes and then use a clean cloth to remove the rust and the naval jelly. The gel-like material contains phosphoric acid that can dissolve rust. The naval jelly is best for large, difficult rust stains.

5. Clean the area thoroughly, removing debris, oil and any other materials. Dry it. Now you are ready to paint.

References

• Metal Web News: A Primer on Rust
• Earth Easy: Non-Toxic Home Cleaning"