Chassis and parts painting steps?

[Sylux]

I know there's many threads on this but this is the hear and now.

Maybe there are new products these days

So...what's the routine for turning brown/rust parts to gorgeous black etc (like some of you guys have)?

Is it:

1: Wire brush down and get as clean as possible

2: Some sort of rush preventer (if so, what?)

3: A primer (any particular type or any steel primer? Etch for alu? Preventer and primer in one?)

4: A chassis paint. Seen plenty of this stuff. Fav brand?

Today I successfully (well so far, fingers crossed) flushed the cooling system, renewed the radiator and thermostat and filled with lovely new Red coolant. Currently burping.

But seeing the lovely black radiator against the brown crap made me realise I need to get cracking on the clean up earlier than I'd thought.

Cheers

[wishbone]

Use a wire cup brush in an angle grinder to clean it up. Then rough it up with a rough sandpaper.

Use an etch primer - 3 coats.

Cover with as many coats as you like of proper paint.

Don't use spray cans to do this - they're rubbish and will never give the thickness of paint that a compressor/ gun will give.

If you must spray underseal / waxoil over your hard work then go for it.

[Sylux]

Nice Just what I wanted.

So a few questions on that.

1: No rust preventer or any such stuff?

2: Don't have a compressor/gun. Was thinking hand painting, maybe. Some bits that come off might get sprayed. But I think brushing is my option. Should be ok?

3: Not sure on your last sentence. Underseal or waxoil over any spray work? Then go for "it". What's it?

[Sylux]

Or are you saying: If I must spray underseal...waxoil over my hard work (grinding etc) and go for it. It being spraying.

Sorry...the "/" has tripped me

[wishbone]

Underseal and waxoil are 2 different types of 'preservatives' for vehicles. Use one or the other if you want to. I think waxoil makes sense for inside box section, but I reckon my truck will be taxed off the road before the chassis rots out.

I don't like them much as it makes re - painting the chassis harder work. I just use a few coats of chassis paint and am done. Then if something gets scraped I just need to wire brush and paint,not clean all the gloop off first.

hth.

Rob.

edit - I brush painted my chassis as I didn't have my compressor at the time, but sprayed everything else. (The brake calipers were done later with high temp enamel)

[Sylux]

That looks amazing. Surely that's not original parts that were old and rusty looking? Looks new!

I'll go the etch (spray this, though?) and paint routine as I don't mind hand painting. Hand painted will still look 1000 times better than the carp that's currently there

One bit at a time

[wishbone]

Top and bottom arms are 19 years old. The shock is new. You could look at the zinc primers to brush paint. I doubt they're as good as etch ones though.