Paint and Paint advice for a rookie......

[dads706]

First off two things.... 1.) Never done this before 2.) This is to just look better not a restoration.

I have an older livestock trailer that isn't used much. I'm making a list of winter projects and it fits the list. I'll put in a new wooden flour, re-wire, weld a little here and there, bushings in springs etc. Just kind of "fix up" stuff.

But it's rusty and needs paint. Like I said, not restoration, I just want it to look better. I don't know where /what/how to start. I've got an HVLP gun but have never used it. I was going to go to NAPA, tell them my situation, and just have the sell me 'paint'. But not sure that's the best option. The wife said to just get a case of rattle can RustOlem and call it good. 

Can I paint over rust? I've heard yes, and I've heard no.

I just need some direction, and thoughts from the experienced painters on here,

[stronger800]

You can, with rustoleum red oxide primer for rusted metal. But then you’ll just have painted rust, it’ll look as such, and here in NY it would be rusty again in six months. At minimum, you should pressure wash off the rust flakes and try to hit them with a wire wheel.  Then use the red primer. The transition line from bare metal/rust To the paint that’s still there,will rough looking, but should fit your needs.  A $19 quart will cover a lot more than 10-12 $7 rattle cans. But you should probably buy a gallon

[acem]

The most important step in painting anything is preparing the surface.  All dirt. Oil, rust, etc should be removed. Then prime and paint.

Painting is the glory, prep work is real work.

They make some material that converts rust into a paintable surface but I don't really trust it enough to use it.

[TroyDairy]

1 hour ago, stronger800 said:

You can, with rustoleum red oxide primer for rusted metal. But then you’ll just have painted rust, it’ll look as such, and here in NY it would be rusty again in six months. At minimum, you should pressure wash off the rust flakes and try to hit them with a wire wheel.  Then use the red primer. The transition line from bare metal/rust To the paint that’s still there,will rough looking, but should fit your needs.  A $19 quart will cover a lot more than 10-12 $7 rattle cans. But you should probably buy a gallon

This is good info.

 

Rustoleum rusty metsl is amazing but wheel it 1st and youll be happy for years.  Harbor frieght gun, decent brand of paint   Practice on scrap.  Youll be good

[Sask466]

With your HVLP gun, it can be intimating to start - all the settings and adjustments can seem intimidating.  If it has a regulator gauge on the gun, set to 25-30 psi at the gun with air flowing.  There should be an air setting at the back side section of the gun.  Set it wide open before you get your regulator set.  
 

There should be a paint volume setting near the front of the gun.  Start about half way open with it.  I find 25% acetone to thin typical enamel paint is a good place to start. 

 Then get a piece of cardboard.  Blow some paint on it.  If the pattern is a circle, probably means too much paint setting.  Screw it in and it should get a vertical/oval pattern.  If you cant get there with the paint setting, play around with more or less air setting. 
 

I used spray cans way too long.  Truth is even a poor HVLP gun set poorly, still paints much better than a spray can.  And like it was mentioned in a previous post, so much more economic.  I bet half the volume in spray can is propellant.  

[stronger800]

A livestock trailer that was rusty and had some new panels welded in was the first thing I painted before I was even in high school. I learned to paint way back then with a Siphon style gun and honestly, that is the way to go if you’re not concerned with a little wasted over Spray, and have never done it before. I have a harbor, freight gravity feed that I occasionally use for primer, and I have two relatively overpriced, more professional type guns that I now use, but they can be tricky. The old fashion siphon gun is a lot easier and will get the job done. They used to be $15 at Harbor freight, so they are probably 30 now