surface rust on rocker/door bottom -thoughts needed

[Cameron]

Hi

First off, sorry for not having pictures. If they're needed I'll get them.

I've been asked to repair the rockers and bottom/front of the doors on a 2005 Jimmy. This area has surface rust that has occurred due to continual splashing of water (snow in the winter) off the front tires. I've "known" this SUV since it was purchased (a friends) and he wants now to fix things up so that the car will last a couple of years longer, looking presentable. I plan on sanding off the rust, picklex-ing the area, epoxy prime, slick sand, prime, base/blend the repairs, clear the whole rockers and continuous section that wraps around, clear the whole door.

I've never used slick sand so I'm wondering about primer beneath, then suggested primer before base. I'm also wondering about the best way to deal with the inboard side of the door where the door skin wraps around the bottom. I don't want to take the doors off but do need to deal with them. Is there a standard way that people deal with this? I'm interested to hear about masking techniques etc. I plan on cleaning the rust off the rocker and priming/base/clear the door jamb.

So, if there's an excepted way to do this, I'd love to hear advice.

[Len]

Hi

First off, sorry for not having pictures. If they're needed I'll get them.

I've been asked to repair the rockers and bottom/front of the doors on a 2005 Jimmy. This area has surface rust that has occurred due to continual splashing of water (snow in the winter) off the front tires. I've "known" this SUV since it was purchased (a friends) and he wants now to fix things up so that the car will last a couple of years longer, looking presentable. I plan on sanding off the rust, picklex-ing the area, epoxy prime, slick sand, prime, base/blend the repairs, clear the whole rockers and continuous section that wraps around, clear the whole door.

I've never used slick sand so I'm wondering about primer beneath, then suggested primer before base. I'm also wondering about the best way to deal with the inboard side of the door where the door skin wraps around the bottom. I don't want to take the doors off but do need to deal with them. Is there a standard way that people deal with this? I'm interested to hear about masking techniques etc. I plan on cleaning the rust off the rocker and priming/base/clear the door jamb.

So, if there's an excepted way to do this, I'd love to hear advice.

Pictures would be best because I'm not sure of the extent and placement of the problems.

[Cameron]

Hi again

here are 5 shots. k4.jpgk3.jpgk2.jpgk5.jpgk1.jpg

as I said above, I'm pretty good with the repair, just wondering about the masking or what people generally do for the bottom inside of the doors. I really don't want to take them off if at all possible.

My plan (tho absolutely open to suggestions) is to sandblast/grind off the rust, pickle-x, fill any areas which need it, epoxy, slicksand, prime, base, clear.

Looking for thoughts and suggestions.

ps... the frame rail that you see is not part of the repair and while the photos seem to look like they are attached to the rocker that isn't the case. I'm gonna hit them with some black ZR just as a courtesy but the owner knows they aren't part of the job in any way.

[Cameron]

hmmm.. any takers on this?

[Bob K]

Your plan sounds good to me. That rust looks like it is forming on the outside of the metal due to the paint being chipped away as opposed to rust forming on the other side of the panel and eating its way through. I would try doing as you posted. If there becomes a problem with continued rust you can deal with it in the future but try what you were going to do and most likely you will be done with it for a long time.

Bob K

[Len]

I would probably prep everything then paint the jamb, rocker and exterior panel all at once then mask them off and paint the door jam and door exterior in a second spraying session.

[Cameron]

sorry to revive this thread Len but the owner just now has returned to me to do the work. Can you look at your last post and see what you've said as I'm a little unclear. I'm a bit confused as to what you're suggesting for order of BC/CC..

sorry for being so slow!

[Len]

sorry to revive this thread Len but the owner just now has returned to me to do the work. Can you look at your last post and see what you've said as I'm a little unclear. I'm a bit confused as to what you're suggesting for order of BC/CC..

sorry for being so slow!

Remove loose rust with a wire brush or grinder then apply a metal conditioner like Picklex 20 then scuff and apply an acid free epoxy primer. I would do this inside and out then apply a filler primer on areas that you want to look flawless then guide coat and block sand. I would paint the door jamb and rocker then close the door and paint the exterior blending the color and clear. Blending the color is usually fairly easy but the clear can be tricky, this is why many people will prep and clear the entire panel after blending the color.