My project for July...if it ever stops f'ing raining...is to repair the rust that's forming on the van's drip rail and at least put a coat of primer on it to prevent it from getting worse. I'm thinking I need to do the following -

* Using masking tape/dropcloths, cover all the painted areas I don't want anything to get on.

*Sand down the rusted/bubbled portions with heavy grit sandpaper

* Spread some naval jelly on the rusted sections, on both sides of the rain gutter...sand this lightly off when dry down to bare metal.

* Prime

* Color coat

Any tricks or things I'm forgetting? Like I said, I'm a finish/bodywork n00b...don't need this to look showroom quality, but rust on a white vehicle doesn't look too attractive either.

Sanding may be a beyotch in the rail. A little aircraft stripper would be easy You need to keep it off the rest of the paint though.

You really should post a pic of said rust, it may save me some rambling time. Bottom line is all rust off, then prime, then body work, then prime, then paint. I prime twice since I hate frickin' spot rust that forms nearly instantly.

Ramos and Matt have both seen it...but to give you an idea, imagine the rail on a cargo van, the inside has some surface rust that's bubbling/coming up to the outer side in two or three spots, none longer than 5" or so.

And there's a few minor scrapes on the roof I want to get before they turn into something worse.

On the top?

/\ perhaps a really dumb question.

okay not perhaps, just not all that with it. Same little channels my 96 F150 has, only mine aren't rusty which is strange since I am dead in the middle of the rust belt.

For those, I'd just tape and sand. Since they are in a groove sanding to the edge will be easy. When you are done sanding, neutralize, then prime. I'd try and tape off the visible part of the panel and just shoot the roof with paint. The closer you get to wrapping around a visible edge the easier to blend or not anyway. I always prime with the tape on, put the first couple thin covering layers on and then remove the mask to blend.

I have only done it a few times, but it has always come out pretty well.

1.find the rust spot.

2. sand entire area, even past where the rust is.

3. sand some more

4. bondo it up

5. sand

6. sand some more

7 wet sand that baby

8. repaint

any questions?

Looks to me like it just surface rust. I doubt you will need filler at all.

I would use the naval jelly first. Spread it on and let it sit for a half an hour or so. Then hose it off , it will eat the rust right off the metal surface. Then tape the surrounding areas, sand, clean the area, then prime it . Don't want primer spots, hit it with a couple coats of white paint.