preserving surface rust

Guys this might be stupid but I think I might be getting a 48 ford 2 dr that has sat for 46 years in a barn. It has almost no paint left on the exterior at all just light to medium surface rust. I like the look and might like to leave it that way, Looks like an old rusty brown barn tin roof. Is there something to coat it with that would stop future rusting and keep the flat look it has now. is a repaint the only way to go. I think the car would get far more attention left rusty than repainted.

 

ah c'mon man.

 

i have used some satin clear that came in a spray can ....worked well on a rusty door sign and a couple spots on my model a ...think it was called american traditions or something....... brandon

 

That is what I am talking about I just didn't know if anyone had done it. And also if it keeps rusting underneath. I think it looks good as it is now but after i get it out in the sunlight my opinion might change.

 

yes it will keep rusting, even under regular paint rust happens, just slow and its covered up with paint so you dont notice, i take my old truck to the coin-op car wash and give it a good blast in the spring with the wax added, its good for the whole summer.

 

Well I guess I'll have to do a repaint I just like the look of it now but i want to keep it from getting worse. It has no rust holes except in the trunk floor. I'll keep you all up with the progress If I get it, which i think i will. It was an old womans car who parked it because of the large blind spots in the rear. she backed into a friends car one day and just put it in the barn and left it, she then got a used 60 falcon and drove it till 1989. Her first car was a Model A roadster, then the 48 and the 60 falcon only 3 cars in her life not many do that today.

 

We need pic's
Were did the paint go ?
From 1948 to 1960 then into a barn....it must have some paint on it unless the barn was a leaker...or had cows in it

 

Let me try to understand your question.
You have a car with surface rust.
You want to keep the rust, but you don't want the rust to get any worse.
So you want a protective coating to preserve the rust???



I will be so happy when the "Patina" fad is over...

 

If you paint over the rust it will keep rusting but at a MUCH slower rate. If you put clear matte on there the rust will have a much darker look to it. If you want to see what it will look like wet the car and see what it will basically look like. You will not have that dry look.

 

Just leave it the way it is, that metal is so thick you will be dead before it will rust out. I have a 52 the same way. If you seal it it will just flake off and look bad.

 

Someone on here broke out the polish and buffed a car that had a lot of surface rust. The rust came off, and it went down to bare metal, factory primer and thin original paint.
Try that. It'll look a whole lot more respectable than rust flakes.

and damn...i can't believe I just wasted three minutes of my life reading about how to preserve surface rust, and contributing to the post.
don't forget to check into preserving the mouse turds under the seats, too. And that stales gas in the carb, lines and tank--they're not making Ethel anymore you know.

-Brad

 

Are you the guy that sang "Its the Most Wonderful Time of the Year"?

If so I love your Christmas songs Mr. Williams.

 

Try Using a product called Gibbs. It will work for you! Do a search on it. If you like that old look and the rust does not bother you, than use it. Still Painting it would be better IMHO

 

Just about anything you can apply,will make the rust appear darker.

 

What you are asking about is called "browning" My 1750s Flintlock rifle has a Browned surface instead of "blueing", another more common/modern technique. You basically rust the surface then stop it. It is perfectly acceptable if you are doing Living History from the 18th Century not so kosher on a car.

 

btw...no one will mistaken your '48 for a new car even if its painted, in case you're wonderin'. i understand leaving a 'lil rust, but PRESERVING it? at least its "real rust" and not a "patina finish", i guess.

i have some old hotrod mags from the '50s and i don't recall seeing this technique (preserving neglect) gaining popularity.

...i think you get where i'm going.

 

If it is him, he was 80 years old a couple of days ago. Maybe affecting his judgement a little?

 

For a little less rust and more paint/patina cleaner look, I took some finer grit sand paper and sanded the top coat of rust off of a car a while back, (I was suprised how much paint it actualy had left on it after the bad surface rust was mostly gone.)Then I polished it,
I thought it looked pretty good for what I was trying to accomplish.
Try it in a small less noticeable spot first, to see if you like it or not.
If this is the look you like do it.........I do!

 

Do not feed the tin worm.

 

Hey Andrew, I can understand where you are coming from, as my 'ol '48 Studey pick-up has a similar character.
100% original and complete, even have the original Title and Bill of Sale in the original owners name.
I have held onto this truck for about 20 years now, and the surface rust has progressed very little in that time.
I never intended a "patina" finish, but with kids in college, a home to remodel, and a half-dozen other project cars, I was just never able to get both the $$$ and the time together at the same time to be able to finish 'er up the way some of the posters on here seem to demand.
Not totally neglected or abandoned however, as I have been accumulating good old parts from all over the country every since the day I brought it home. Lots of mint sheet-metal, an old-timey Tri-Power equipped 390 Caddy mill with chrome goodies.
Yet reading the posts on here, I doubt that my efforts at preserving this neat old truck will ever measure up to their standards.
Truth be told, I have became quite attached to its well worn appearance, and am not at all certain that I would like it's character to be erased and replaced with shiny paint. Nah, I seriously doubt it.
Oh well, at least I know that I have been enjoying myself, and am certain that one day someone else will appreciate my contributions to its survival.

 

There's a difference between driving something and just "doing it," upgrading as time and finances allow, not worring too much about it but not neglecting it either, versus actively preserving surface rust.

-Brad

 

Well intentioned posters,

I have re-read this gentlemen's original post twice. Nowhere in it does he ask for anyone's opinion about preserving the surface rust on the old Ford he's fixin to buy. Despite this, the majority of your responses seem to focus on sharing your opinions rather than offering the advice he requested.

It'd be like if I asked you to tie my shoes, and you told me that you don't like my Reebok Pumps and I should get Air Jordans, when all the while I had only asked for a pair of knots.

See my point?





Anyway........


Mr. Williams,

Several beaters back, I had an '83 Buick Riviera. Not exactly HAMB material, but it was my high school ride and I was trying pretty hard to get laid in it (seldom successfull, but it did happen, I swear). It had a lot of "patina", by which I mean rust spots. I was pretty sure the ladies weren't into that, so I waxed the hell out of the car. It got rid of some of the surface rust and even brought out a bit of a shine from the remaining paint. This was pretty disappointing to me at the time, but in hindsight, it was a nice way to maintain the "patina" without letting the car rust away wholesale.


Ed

 

my thots exactly; that car only has surface rust after all this time, it won't rust away in your lifetime, specially if you keep it inside most of the time. I'd sand it smooth with fine paper, then wipe it down now and then with WD40. Pics?

 

It took 46 years to get like that so how much worse can it get if you keep it in a garage?Have fun with it and worry about the rust in 10 or 15 years.My truck sat outside it's whole life and is rusty just the way I like it.If it gets worse I can always patch it.

 

I don't know which is worse, trying to "weather" paint or preserving rust. Another person out to waste a car.

This rusty, weatherd, patina thing is the worst thing to happen to this hobby and the best thing that has happened to your scene.

 

my chevy was the same way, I hit it with a wire brush in a 4 1/2" grinder, uncovered some of the original paint and gave it a sweet look. Doesn't look "rat rod" but has a lot of charachter, it is beautiful and would be a shame to cover up.

So there, not only did you get my advice, but my opinion, too. which are like buttholes, everyone's got one, and they usually stink!

 

Been building my coupe for 3 1/2 years , and it ain't getting no paint ! I had my painted sedan parked next to the dirty31 (31 coupe ) at a swapmeet one time , my sedan was invisible , I knew right then I had to have a rusted car ! But I still like my sedan !

 

Paint is the new rust. Check out Jim Jard's roadster, real hot rod, paint and all.

 

ok, i make patinas all the time for work, and mind you never on cars.
(though i get tempted some times, you should see the finish of a hand rubbed Ferric Nitrate patina).
but you asked how not if.....

so as previously mentioned gibbs penetrant will work on shiny metal, and keep the rust away. never used it but have heard good stuff.

but if you want to seal and protect the patina, and stop it from continuing to rust / oxidize / patina, first use:
Potassium Dichromate
Add ¼ tsp to 16 Oz distilled water. This mixture should be a faint orange color.
Spray over the patina (or rust)
Let Dry
Apply clear sealer
the best one formulated for metal including uv and rust protectors is permalac

does not chip or flake if applied to propperly prepped surface.

http://www.permalac.com/



doesn;t seem to afect the shinyness or base color too much.

 

I didnt read your whole post, I just stopped at the point where you admitted to owning Reebok Pumps in 2007.