need auto body self-restoration advice. should i worry about this tiny rust spot

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Current Events » need auto body self-restoration advice. should i worry about this tiny rust spot
i am currently in the process of sanding down some rust and chipped paint from my car that has been sitting unused and neglected for a number of years due to my chronic lower back pain and unemployment, and that i have recently gotten fixed up and re-registered and re-insured. i did one round of sanding with 80 grit sandpaper already. the majority of the issue was with peeling paint, but there were two areas that had big troublesome rust patches.

the one bigger patch was no problem, it all sanded off nicely, but the smaller patch has one tiny little remaining pinprick of rust remaining that i was trying to sand off forever yesterday and i couldn't seem to fully get rid of it. it looks like it is in a spot that is slightly indented. i'm wondering if i should just move on to finer grit and primer (it is a 2-1 filler and primer, Rust-Oleum brand, which says it's supposed to stop rust), or if i need to put in some more elbow grease and try to get rid of all of it. i would rather not have any issues cropping up later because of it. here are some before and after pics:

https://i.imgur.com/ego0tTO.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/nhoNkG0.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/jFIWcJS.jpg
It don't matter. None of this matters.
Absolutely. Get the angle grinder back out.

Edit: I'm serious. Don't skimp on this step.
When do you stop growing up and start dying?
Aridi posted...
Absolutely. Get the angle grinder back out.
i've been doing it by hand with an automotive sanding block. the guides i've looked up online and the sandpaper packaging itself says not to use powered sanders. i would rather use one tbh, that would save me a whole lot of effort, but i guess there can be the possibility of sanding away too much and making a hole in the metal or something? i dunno.
It don't matter. None of this matters.
DoesntMatter posted...
i've been doing it by hand with an automotive sanding block. the guides i've looked up online and the sandpaper packaging itself says not to use powered sanders. i would rather use one tbh, that would save me a whole lot of effort, but i guess there can be the possibility of sanding away too much and making a hole in the metal or something? i dunno.
How does it feel to the fingertip? You're probably right in staying away from powered solutions if it's not too deep.
When do you stop growing up and start dying?
Aridi posted...
How does it feel to the fingertip? You're probably right in staying away from powered solutions if it's not too deep.
it is noticeably indented, but not that much, i guess? i don't really know what would be considered too deep or not.
It don't matter. None of this matters.
So tough to judge by pics. Honestly, I'd take a mouse sander to it as I've done it before. Angle grinder is a bit overboard tho lol.

Edit: Upon zooming, the indent looks pretty clean, no?
When do you stop growing up and start dying?
Aridi posted...
So tough to judge by pics. Honestly, I'd take a mouse sander to it as I've done it before. Angle grinder is a bit overboard tho lol.
yeah i have some kind of electric sander i could use. i think if i'm careful and quick with it it shouldn't get too out of hand or anything.
It don't matter. None of this matters.
anyone else care to weigh in on this?
It don't matter. None of this matters.
If youre not familiar with power sanders dont use one.

keep doing it by hand.
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chrono625 posted...
If youre not familiar with power sanders dont use one.

keep doing it by hand.
i'm somewhat familiar with them in the context of woodworking. never used one on a car though.
It don't matter. None of this matters.
1. If you leave any rust, your work will be all for nothing.
B. Add in bondo filler where you feel its
low, otherwise your finished product will be wavy and look like shit
iii. Sand your whole area with 600 grit sandpaper before spraying, and wet sand between paint coats, but try not to let the paint cure otherwise itll have better chances of chipping/flaking
p.s. make sure you blend your paint on the full panel and/or to adjacent panels, either with color or clear coat so your new paint isnt obvious.
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samsungsalt posted...
1. If you leave any rust, your work will be all for nothing.
B. Add in bondo filler where you feel its
low, otherwise your finished product will be wavy and look like shit
iii. Sand your whole area with 600 grit sandpaper before spraying, and wet sand between paint coats, but try not to let the paint cure otherwise itll have better chances of chipping/flaking
p.s. make sure you blend your paint on the full panel and/or to adjacent panels, either with color or clear coat so your new paint isnt obvious.
the primer i have says it is 2-1 filler and sander. will that be enough for filler, or am i gonna need to use some putty too? it's a pretty small dimple where the rust is. i think i have some regular painter's putty. will that work?

i have some 400 grit paper i'm smoothing stuff out with right now. is buying 600 on top of that really necessary? what i've done so far is coming out pretty smooth and well blended, i think.

i don't understand what you mean by "wet sand between paint coats".

i was planning on painting over just the spots themselves and around their immediate area and seeing if it looked fine, and if not, then going ahead and spraying the entire panels where they are. i don't really want to have to buy another can of spray paint. i am trying to keep to a budget here.
It don't matter. None of this matters.
damn.... sanding by hand is tough work. especially with the finer grits. been at it all afternoon today and i'm pooped. i'm on the last piece of 400 and i still have like half of the hood left to go, and then a bunch of little spots on the doors, either on the crevices near the runner thingies or the frames. i'm gonna have to get another pack, which i really didn't want to do. trying to spend as little money as possible on this.
It don't matter. None of this matters.
DoesntMatter posted...
damn.... sanding by hand is tough work. especially with the finer grits. been at it all afternoon today and i'm pooped. i'm on the last piece of 400 and i still have like half of the hood left to go, and then a bunch of little spots on the doors, either on the crevices near the runner thingies or the frames. i'm gonna have to get another pack, which i really didn't want to do. trying to spend as little money as possible on this.
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DoesntMatter posted...
the primer i have says it is 2-1 filler and sander. will that be enough for filler, or am i gonna need to use some putty too? it's a pretty small dimple where the rust is. i think i have some regular painter's putty. will that work?
Feel where the dimple is, you want that smooth, i wouldnt recommend throwing a bunch of paint in there, rather sand down to bare metal, add filler, sand that until its flush, then paint.
DoesntMatter posted...
i don't understand what you mean by "wet sand between paint coats".
wet sand between paint coats, what's not to get? this will keep bubbles and imperfections like that out of the final product.
DoesntMatter posted...
i was planning on painting over just the spots themselves and around their immediate area and seeing if it looked fine, and if not, then going ahead and spraying the entire panels where they are. i don't really want to have to buy another can of spray paint. i am trying to keep to a budget here.
With White, you might be able to get away with that as its the most forgiving color to imperfections, but with the fact that your car is old enough to have rust, i probably wouldnt care that much if it's not a full match, but its up to you. like, i probably wouldn't give as much time and attention to an older taurus or camry compared to my near-mint focus st
my old computer died and i didn't feel like resetting the password to my original account, so i created this one instead. yeah, i know, what a shocker >_>
samsungsalt posted...
Feel where the dimple is, you want that smooth, i wouldnt recommend throwing a bunch of paint in there, rather sand down to bare metal, add filler, sand that until its flush, then paint.
i tried a powered sander, and it didn't do much better, and so i ended up taking the point of a knife to it and scraping it out, which took care of it, and then sanding it down more after that. i think it will be fine when i put on the 2-1 primer/filler and smooth that out and then paint it.

samsungsalt posted...
wet sand between paint coats, what's not to get? this will keep bubbles and imperfections like that out of the final product.
oh i haven't been wetting anything while i'm sanding. am i supposed to be doing that? wetting what, the sandpaper, or the car? how does that make any difference?

samsungsalt posted...
With White, you might be able to get away with that as its the most forgiving color to imperfections, but with the fact that your car is old enough to have rust, i probably wouldnt care that much if it's not a full match, but its up to you. like, i probably wouldn't give as much time and attention to an older taurus or camry compared to my near-mint focus st
it's a 99 Mercury Sable. i don't think that's that old. it's just been sitting unused for awhile.
It don't matter. None of this matters.
here's a pic, i'm pretty sure all the rust is gone, and once i sand it with the fine grit and put the primer/filler on it, it will be good:

https://i.imgur.com/BjWkiJE.jpg
It don't matter. None of this matters.
fuck, there was a lot of dew in the air this morning and and yesterday morning, and today i noticed that a few of the patches i had sanded bare got a bunch of little dotted rust spots. i had to resand a bunch of them today, that was like half of the work i put in already so far today. i'm taking a break right now but i should get the fine sanding with the 400 grit done today. i was gonna give it a good wash afterward, and i was told at O'Reilly's also to wipe it clean with an old t-shirt soaked in acetone or rubbing alcohol to make sure to get all the paint dust off. but i doubt i'm gonna get to that today. i guess i need to find a tarp or some visqueen or something to put over my car tonight so the dew doesn't get on it again.
It don't matter. None of this matters.
Current Events » need auto body self-restoration advice. should i worry about this tiny rust spot