Painting patina.

[uncletiffy]

After I get my gear work done, my suspension installed, my windows working, the interior replaced and the AC fixed, I plan on painting my Cherokee.

I watch lots of car resto/mod shows and every now and then you see one that looks like they have clear coated paint over the rust (patina).

How difficult is this?
My car has rust but its only surface rust (except for the rear fender flares) and I think it looks great, shows her age. But I don't want it to rust any more.

What are your thoughts?

[az chip]

Kind of a fad to me. Good solid paint, especially in a salty air environment seems better. But I was a US Navy aircraft mechanic and salt water was our worst enemy.

[uncletiffy]

I painted my Defender with boat paint,(Awlgrip) has held up really well. Shut the external corrosion off and is really resistant to bush scratching, its almost like a plastic coating.

[rocklaurence]

I painted my J10 to look like Patina. I got the idea front a couple shows on PowerNation TV--Trucks. I wanted to stop the rust but keep the old truck look. It only cost me $150 in materials and a little time:

[tgreese]

...
What are your thoughts?

Painting over red rust with clear coat is sure to fail within a short time. .

You can neutralize the rust with a chemical rust convertor, and then will stabilize the surface. You may not get the look you want, since all converting the rust changes its color from red to black. Try some Naval Jelly on an area and see if you like the result.

You could then matte clear-coat over the rust, and it would probably last for a few years. But clear coat is meant to be sprayed over a compatible color coat, not 'bare' steel. So I'm not sure what the durability will be.

[tgreese]

Some discussion here - https://www.google.com/search?q=site%3A ... ust+patina

JMO - if you like the look, I expect the only way to keep it is to park the car in a dry, cold garage and only drive it on sunny days. Once the rust starts, anything you do other than reduce to bright metal and repaint is just a delaying tactic.

[serehill]

Depending on the area but if it's in an area that you've treated the rust then it marches on. The clear will blister just like paint does when you paint over it. It will last a short while but will be harder to clean up. If you like the patina & only want the rig for a short time or a beater then why not.
The PO of my Cherokee painted it with hammer tone. If I would have known what I know now I would have never bought it.

[wewillsurvive]

Serehill I wish I had looked past the lipstick of the "pig" I bought two years ago she looked good, today all the rust is popping along with their halfasses attempts at filling trim holes with "mud" and the clear coat is peeling off the tops of most of the panels. Oh well she's mine now

[rocklaurence]

My only regret is that I sanded it too much [too much patina]. In the future, I will redo it and leave more of the paint.

[uncletiffy]

Thanks, I am going to paint her.

I sprayed over the rust with Zinc on the weekend to slow it down till I am ready.