If you have an old car then you’re probably already looking at rust. After all, older vehicles tended to be made from metal and, even if they have been coated or galvanized, the coating is likely to have failed. That leaves exposed metal in contact with water and the air. That’s the perfect ingredient for rust.
Of course, if you leave the rust untreated then it will get worse and gradually cause structural issues in your vehicle. In short, you need to know the most effective way to remove rust from an old car.
Blast It Off
It’s possible to put individual parts from your car into a blast chamber. However, if this is something you need to do often you may prefer to invest in the latest blast chamber. Some of them are capable of taking an entire car.
The blast chamber uses an abrasive material, such as sand, and blasts it at the car or car parts. The sand is blasted at high speed and the particles are very small. Each particle hits the metal on your car and will dislodge some of the rust. The length of time needed in a blast chamber will depend on the amount of rust on the vehicle.
But, it is an effective way to remove all rust and leave the car ready to be sealed and painted, if desired.
Using Mineral Oil
You’ll need a scrubbing pad. Dip this into your mineral oil and gently move it across the surface of the rust. Ensure all the rust has a coating of mineral oil and then leave it on the rust for approximately 20 minutes.
After the allotted time has passed scrub the rust with your scrubbing pad. The rust should come straight off. You’ll then need to wipe excess oil off with a clean cloth.
Don’t forget, if you’re going to seal or paint the area you’ll need to clean all traces of the oil off before you do so.
Try Lime Juice & Salt
If you haven’t got mineral oil handy you can adopt the same technique but mix some lime juice with some salt. It’s best to have twice as much lime juice as salt. Mix until the salt has dissolved then cover the rust with the mixture.
This time you’ll have to leave it for 2-3 hours before wiping the paste off with a cloth. The rust should just wipe off with the mixture.
If the rust is still there you can find naval jelly at your local store and use that. It’s powerful stuff and only needs to be on the rust for a few minutes.
It’s advisable when removing rust with one of these techniques to wear rubber gloves. This will protect your hands and help to ensure you remove all the rust.
Remember, clean the area thoroughly with soap and water, then let it dry before you coat it with primer and paint. It won’t just look like new, it will be like new.
