Rust happens, and if your vehicle has succumbed to the worm, bring it to Car Crafters in North Georgia for an expert fix.
There’s no stopping rust; it’s been with us since the birth of the automobile and will continue to plague owners as long as steel is used in the construction of cars and trucks.
Rust repair is often equated to being an artform. A skilled auto body mechanic can sometimes fix the unfixable, but it takes skill and patience to cut out the rust, form the replacement metal to shape, and weld it into place. That’s followed by hours of toiling to get the shape and lines just right, sanding and grinding away a little bit of Bondo at a time.
If that description above doesn’t sound like a fun task to you, you need a professional team of rust repair experts to help turn your hunk of junk into a shiny piece of perfection. You’ll find those experts at Car Crafters, with two convenient locations in Blue Ridge and Blairsville, Georgia. If your vehicle is in need of rust or hail damage repair, paintless dent repair, or full collision repair, contact us for a free estimate.
One thing about rust you can count on—it won’t stop spreading until there’s no metal left. So, if you value your vehicle and want to get another 100,000 miles out of your rusty car or truck, let the expert metalworkers at Car Crafters restore it to its former glory.
What exactly is rust?
Rust occurs when a chemical reaction takes place between iron, water, and oxygen. The scientific term for rust is iron oxide. Rusting can also happen to steel, which is an alloy of iron, carbon, and other elements, making it even stronger than iron.
If iron is exposed to water and oxygen, it will eventually completely convert to rust. If there’s salt present, like the salt some states put down on slick roads in winter, the rusting tends to speed up. While other metals are also known to corrode due to similar oxidation, that process is not called “rusting.”
There are 3 types of rust that must be identified before repairs begin:
Surface rust. This type of rust looks like orange dust on the surface of a vehicle. It can sometimes be scraped off by applying a rust removal agent, like WD-40 or IronOut, which is typically the most affordable option for fixing superficial rust.
Scale rust. This is more severe rust that occurs under the painted surface, which eventually causes the paint to bubble and flake off in chunks. Under the flakes is bare metal, so usually, by the time the rust is discovered, it’s already taken root.
Penetrating rust. This is the hardest type of rust to fix and can often be prohibitively expensive to fix. This rust happens when bare metal is exposed to the elements for a long period of time, which allows moisture to work its way into the metal, eating and penetrating it and leading to metal fatigue.
What causes rust on a vehicle in Georgia?
Environmental factors are a huge contributor to the creation of rust on vehicles in Georgia. The state’s humid climate accelerates the oxidation process, and coastal areas are particularly susceptible due to the salty air that can corrode metal surfaces.
Southern vehicles that spend their lives closer to Georgia’s Atlantic coast run a greater risk of forming rust than inland vehicles.
Additionally, the frequent rainfall and occasional flooding can lead to water seeping into crevices and causing rust. Georgia’s warm temperatures also contribute by speeding up chemical reactions that result in rust formation.
Regular exposure to these elements without proper maintenance and protection can lead to significant rust damage over time.
A guide to cleaning & protecting your car paint from pollen
Learn how to protect your vehicle from pollen and avoid costly damage with our essential tips.
When should rust be repaired?
If your vehicle is less than 10 years old and is beginning to show signs of rust, it’s recommended that you repair it as soon as possible. This can prevent it from spreading and causing further damage to the vehicle. If the rust continues to spread and goes untreated, it will weaken the metal and lead to safety concerns.
Depending on where the rust is located, there can be a lot of cutting and welding involved. A rusty frame might need attention sooner rather than later to prevent a structural integrity issue, which is a safety issue.
Ultimately, it’s up to you, the owner, to decide if your vehicle is worth fixing and should be fixed. At Car Crafters, our service managers can assess the damage and explain your repair options and potential costs so you can make an informed decision.
Can you stop rust once it starts?
Stopping rust completely once it starts can be tough. You may be able to slow it with rust converters or special paints, but for long-term solutions, removing the rust and repairing the damaged area is usually necessary.
How do you repair rust?
It’s common to attempt to repair rust without using a welder. While weldless rust repair can sometimes get the job done, for the best results, welding in new metal after cutting out the old is preferable. Here are the basic steps:
- To get started, you’ll need a piece of sheet metal that you can shape and form to fill the spot where you cut the rusty section away. You’ll also need a grinder and at least a drill with a sheet metal nibbler attachment or a metal-cutting saw.
- The old steel needs to be sanded with a grinder, and any steel that’s irredeemable needs to be cut away. The bare metal surface needs to be exposed so that new metal can be welded to it.
Pro-tip: How can you tell which metal is still good after sanding and which metal needs cut away? Hit the sections with a screwdriver. Metal that’s still solid won’t get penetrated by the screwdriver, whereas metal that’s shot will see the screwdriver puncture through. - Trace your hole onto the fresh sheet metal and cut the sheet metal to fit. Remember, it’s always better to leave a little metal for trimmer so you don’t risk not having enough metal later and wasting a piece of sheet metal. You want the metal to fit the old area as tightly as possible.
- Next, break out the welder to butt weld or lap weld the new plate to the old metal. Make certain the surfaces you’re planning to apply a weld to are prepped for welding. This means bare metal with no paint or other contaminants along all the edges.
- Tack weld several points of the sheet metal to the old metal before welding all the seams. If the metal isn’t level with the original metal, use a hammer to tap it into place.
- Once you have a dozen tack welds holding the new metal in place, stitch weld each segment of space between the tack welds.
- Once the patch has been placed, welded, grinded, and potentially sealed with a light coating of Bondo, you’ll want to paint it with several coats of something that inhibits rust.
If anything above sounds too intimidating, it’s best to seek out professionals to handle your rust repair.
How can rust be prevented?
There are several steps you can take to help keep the rust on your vehicle at bay and slow its formation:
- Hose down your vehicle’s exterior and undercarriage on a regular basis, especially if you live near the ocean or drive on salted roads in the winter. A carwash with a body undercarriage blast is helpful.
- Consider applying an undercoating to the bottom of your vehicle. Using exterior wax after a wash can help keep the rust “worm” to a minimum.
- Once you’ve waxed your vehicle, think about spraying an anti-rust agent on all exposed metal surfaces. Make certain it’s “paint-safe.”
- If you come across a lightly rusted section, tape it off with painter’s tape, take a steel brush to the area, and scrub hard. Next, apply a Rustoleum-type spray paint primer. Once dry, paint the area with vehicle-matching paint.
Looking for an estimate to repair your rusty car or truck in North Georgia? We can help!
Georgians are fortunate that we don’t live or drive in the Rust Belt, an area of the Northeast and northern Midwest where winters are harsh and salt is used liberally on the roads. In Georgia, it can take twice as long, if not longer, for rust to form on our vehicles.
But when it’s finally time to patch that unsightly hole in your floorboards, rocker panels, wheel wells, fenders, or quarter panels, look no further than Car Crafters.
Our expert auto body technicians can have your vehicle looking as good as new in no time. Bring your vehicle to one of our two locations in either Blue Ridge or Blairsville, Georgia, today to speak with one of our experts and get a free estimate.
For more than 20 years, Car Crafters has been North Georgia’s trusted leader in auto body and collision repair services. Because with us, you’re not just our customer—you’re our neighbor.
Contact us to schedule an appointment today.
Prepare your car for winter: Essential tips for Georgia drivers
Is your car ready for winter in Georgia? From black ice to occasional snow, be prepared with these must-know tips!
