Naval Jelly

[jhartley111]

I've been using http://www.multigame.com/cp.html as a basic guide to working on a metal CP. I finally got my CP sanded and it was nice and shiny.  Then I applied Naval Jelly to eat up the remaining rust that I missed. It worked great on the rust but when I washed the jelly off, the CP was all dark and dingy like it had been held over a smoky camp fire for a few hours. 

I'm doing this to get the panel in shape before I paint it. Am I overreacting to the appearance caused by the Jelly or should I resand it before painting.

I've never used Naval Jelly before so I'm not sure how it works

Thanks

[Ken Layton]

It will do that on shiny metal. The container warns about leaving the Naval Jelly on too long causing discoloartion.

[jhartley111]

Thanks for the info. I didn't notice that warning before. Do you think it would cause any harm painting over this discoloration?

[SavannahLion]

Thanks for the info. I didn't notice that warning before. Do you think it would cause any harm painting over this discoloration?

Not at all, if you don't do something with the metal it'll start rusting all over again.

[Ummon]

You might prime it first I'm thinking as the discoloration is due to the surface being chemically scored.

[shinhed]

That dull complexion is what you want. The metal has now been etched and has a rust prohibiting phosphorus coating, ideal for paint.

I've been painting parts like this for years.

[Crowquill]

I've been using http://www.multigame.com/cp.html as a basic guide to working on a metal CP. I finally got my CP sanded and it was nice and shiny.  Then I applied Naval Jelly to eat up the remaining rust that I missed. It worked great on the rust but when I washed the jelly off, the CP was all dark and dingy like it had been held over a smoky camp fire for a few hours. 

I love that page. It seems that info about working on metal panels is very scarce. I just realized that his panel is having the same reaction as yours. If you compare the step after the naval jelly and the one before painting it's definitely not as shiny. Could be the photography, but I doubt it.

My Frogger panel had a similar reaction with the Naval Jelly. I just painted over it and moved on.

[SavannahLion]

That dull complexion is what you want. The metal has now been etched and has a rust prohibiting phosphorus coating, ideal for paint.

That's interesting. I've had the exact opposite experience.

I treated an old joiner with rust speckles and got the same reaction. My cats, favoring tall horizontal surfaces, decided to use the joiner as a resting place. Within a few weeks, I had rusty paw prints. I talked with someone who worked on cars about it and he made some recommendations. So I retreated, then sprayed a thin oil which kept the rust away.

I ended up with oily paw prints everywhere though. 

[jhartley111]

Thanks for all the advice. I didn't think it would be a problem with painting it but I'd rather be safe than sorry