Td5 touch up help...

Hiya

I am looking for any advice on how to touch up my Oslo blue 2002 td5 defender. There are a few points where the alu has corroded and bubbled the paint. There is salt or some form of crystals below the paint. I have scraped back to alu and then sprayed with etch primer and now the advice...

I want to touch up small areas of panels in Oslo blue. Is it best to roll or paint on with brush or can you not do this with metallic paint? I have some Oslo blue in a spray can from Halfords and my last efforts on a small area weren't great....it is a defender but want it to not look too amateurish!

Any advice greatfully received!

The white crystals/powder is the aluminium oxide. You need to rub down the affected area until you get shiny aluminium, then etch prime it. I'm no painter, but you will not get as good a finish with a brush.
It's customary to go to the 'introduce yourself' section and post a hello comment there first, before asking people for help.

Al2O3 said:

The white crystals/powder is the aluminium oxide. You need to rub down the affected area until you get shiny aluminium, then etch prime it. I'm no painter, but you will not get as good a finish with a brush.
It's customary to go to the 'introduce yourself' section and post a hello comment there first, before asking people for help.

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Thank you really appreciated!
I will go introduce myself now, wasn't aware of the customs etc.. apologies.
What would you do as a paint method for small areas like that?

Where is it? Bottom of door? Side of seat box?

Al2O3 said:

Where is it? Bottom of door? Side of seat box?

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In quite a few places... spots generally on body work above gutter, at back above wheel arches on both sides and just above number plates and along bodywork above the tub.

Have now introduced myself as well. Sorry

Brent Peal said:

In quite a few places... spots generally on body work above gutter, at back above wheel arches on both sides and just above number plates and along bodywork above the tub.

Have now introduced myself as well. Sorry

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I think you'll find the corrosion goes deeper than you first think. There will probably be an underlying issue that you will want to sort too. eg loads of mud build up in wheel arch lip, mud build up in rear wing corners, the tub blistering may mean that your tub cappings are starting to rust (they're steel). and this reacts with the aluminium causing the aluminium to corrode.
Blending in across a panel can be done, if you don't want to do full panels. I would youtube it, there will be plenty videos showing how on there.
This corrosion is a very common problem.

Al2O3 said:

I think you'll find the corrosion goes deeper than you first think. There will probably be an underlying issue that you will want to sort too. eg loads of mud build up in wheel arch lip, mud build up in rear wing corners, the tub blistering may mean that your tub cappings are starting to rust (they're steel). and this reacts with the aluminium causing the aluminium to corrode.
Blending in across a panel can be done, if you don't want to do full panels. I would youtube it, there will be plenty videos showing how on there.
This corrosion is a very common problem.

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Thank you for your help really appreciated. Will have a look on you tube.

What is the best way to get it back to metal? On the alu and steel sections? Is a sander drill bit the best way?

Depends on the shape and position of it. I use a range of things such as abrasive flap wheels, wire wheels, abrasive paper in hand or wrapped around blocks for flat sections, hand files, sanding discs etc