Cleaning up very rusty frame, what to use?

[chevy_fatman]

I have a very rusty frame, in some places the rust is flaking off, what do you guys use to clean it up? I can't afford sandblasting it I have a couple of angle grinders, wire wheel? or just grind the frame? I'm just gonna prime the frame with rattle cans for now to make it presentable.

TIA

[projectking]

where are you located?? are you near chicago I sandblast water towers for a living and am currently laid off for the winter. I could blast it for you very cheap.

[chevy_fatman]

I'm in PA, thanks for the offer but that's a bit far for me to drive

[projectking]

Not a prob, just figured that I would put the offer out there. Doing a frame would take no time at all. Jon

[Longhorn Man]

Paul an angle grinder and wire wheel would probably do OK. However, I wouldn't just prime it. If you dilute a quart of rustolium, a little thicker than 50/50, it'll cover the whole frome in a couple coats, and be way better than primer.

[Blue85]

Any non-criminal sandblast shop should be able to blast and paint it for 300 bucks, and have it ready the next day, thats what i did for the 72, but the 71 he blasted right through the rear frame rail, after i shortened the frame of course.doh!

[chevy_fatman]

Andy thanks for the advise, I really haven't looked around (locally) and see if I can find rustolium, I need this done this weekend as is going to be nice to work outside and I'm under a time crunch and no garage, I'll run to tractor supply store and my local PPG store and see what I find.

I did a search and restolium is what a lotta peeps here use in the board, Thanks

edit: Blue85 I'm trying to get it done for the cheap, $300 is more that I wanna spend on this, Thanks for the suggestion

[beater69]

If you are near a home depot or similar store they usually have rustoleum in quarts and gallons. the stuff is pretty hard to beat.

[Huck]

Paul, try the tractor paint sold in Tractor Supply. It is cheap ($20. gal) and it seems to cover and protect a whole lot better then it should given it's price. It comes in all the cool colors--John Deer Green, Intl Yellow, Kubota Orange--etc. but it is also in Black, Silver, etc. Use a heavy wire wheel on a grinder but be sure to wear protective glasses. If the metal is still think enough to be safe, this paint will protect if long enough ----for sure!! Huck

[Luvlegs]

I wire wheeled everything from the cab back, including removing the diff and filed down any sharp spots. When it was all shiny, I clean the whole thing with lacquer thinner - then sprayed two coats of rust restore on everything - that took care of any tiny pits I might have missed. Then I primed two coats and then two top coats - came out very pretty - but it took about 30 hours (not counting paint drying time) - and that was just from the cab back. If you put time into it, make it count.... I'd hate to have to go back and do it over!

[underdog8704]

looks really good! nice job!

[Pickles]

try wal-mart, ours has rustoleum. it's around 9 dollars a qt

[71SWBChevy]

I would still check locally on sandblasting, mine was alot cheaper than $300, I got the frame blasted AND powdercoated for $250 but I think most places are a little higher than that. If you have a place around you that makes tombstones they will normally sandblast things for around $30 an hour

[byrd]

I used a poly carbonate wheel that is made for rust removal, got them at harbor frieght and worked like a dream. I used about 15@ $4 a piece and took the entire frame down to bare clean metal by myself in about a days work. Ther are not as agressive as a grinding discs and MUCH MUCH faster than the wire brushes. With the estwoods kit I bought for my frame and all the poly wheels I have about $175 total in mine and it looks great IMO..