Surface rust on new body panels

[nthomas1]

I got back from six weeks out of the country to find surface rust on the new body panels that I bought for my S2 coupe.   As I won't be getting the panels fitted to the car until the Spring it seems like I should treat the panels to eliminate the rust and stop further corrosion.  I've attached a picture of the panels showing the surface rust around the edges.  Can anybody recommend appropriate measures?  Is there a substance that I can use to clear the rust or should it be sanded off?   Should I then spray the panels with weld-through primer?   As always, advice would be very welcome.

[lancialulu]

carefully zip wheel (wire rotary brush that is attached to angle grinder) then wrap in catering cling film and store in a dry place like your lounge.....

[davidwheeler]

I would use a flap wheel as less likely to dint the panels and then some Jenolite to phosphate them then zinc undercoat - then wrap them in clingfilm behind the sofa!  But you will still need the wire brush wheel just use a fine not a coarse bristle.

[the.cern]

My favourite is a polydisc, removal of panel material is virtually zero and they are so quick!! They are unbeatable on flat panels for paint and light/medium rust. For heavier corrosion with evidence of material having been eaten away then the zip wheel favoured by lancialulu is probably the best bet. For more detailed areas and in the folds of panes I use circular wire brushes in an electric drill. There are many shapes and sizes of these brushes and it is just a matter of choosing the most appropriate one. They have the advantage of being smaller in diameter than a zip wheel which is usually around 115mm, being in a drill they have a lower speed of rotation, say up to 2000rpm compared with up to 15000rpm for an angle grinder and thus are easier to control are far far more forgiving when you inevitably catch the brush on an edge!!!!

Have a look here for polydiscs:-   https://www.google.co.uk/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=poly%20abrasive%20disc

                                   Andy

PS Storage once cleaned, not the bathroom or kitchen, but the bedroom, lounge, airing cupboard are all ok. Just make sure you have the tacit agreement of household management!!!

[stanley sweet]

What product do restorers use to prevent rust on bare metal? I remember when Graham Bates was rebuilding his Fulvia and it spent a long period in bare metal, often being rolled outside to make room for other work. When I asked if it was coated in something he said 'Yes, otherwise there'd be nothing left by now'. But I never discovered what it was.

[Barry.Cook]

Hi Norman,
                 Once you've killed the rust (Jenolite as recommended above is good) I wouldn't use weld thru spray to protect the panel. Its needed where you are welding two panels together but the level of protection is not great. The best two options would be bondaprimer (old school, but good) which you can get from Ebay or C&W Berry in Leyland stock it. Even better is epoxy primer. Epoxy primer is impervious to water and air which means the 'fuel' for corrosion is prevented from getting to the metal. I sprayed the body tub of my TR4a with it last October and stored it whilst the engine and chassis were restored. The tub has just gone off to be sprayed this week and the epoxy has done its job well. For what it's worth I used Lechlar epoxy which seems to get good reviews.

Good luck,
                Barry