Switch to a 120 grit self adhesive sandpaper disc and go over the freshly rust removed area and smooth out the area and any remaining deeper scratches from the 40 or 80 grid discs.
Grinding rust off metal.
These work well but they re highly toxic and give off lots of fumes.
Bear in mind that this.
If you want to remove rust from metal marred not only by corrosion but also a great deal of flaking paint there s really no substitute for good old fashioned elbow grease.
Then drop the item into the vinegar and let it soak anywhere from 10 minutes to 6 hours depending on how rusty it is.
Grind the rusted area right down to the shiny metal and work outwards with less pressure into the painted area until you have feather edged the shiny area slightly into the painted parts.
Some are acid based using either muriatic or hydrochloric acid.
So you ll first want to put on your dust mask and then remove any large chunks or loose bits of rust corrosion with the steel wire hand brush or bench grinder wire wheel if possible.
For the smoothest paint job finish sanding with 400 grit wet dry paper.
Whichever tool you choose always start with the coarsest abrasive to for how to remove rust from metal and pockmarks.
The chemical removal method.
If grinding and sanding isn t for you there are several chemical rust removers that work well.
Once the rust is gone switch to a finer grit to smooth out the swirls and grooves caused by the coarse grit.
A grinding pad also works for thicker layers.
Use a 4 inch angle grinder for large jobs and a rotary tool with a grinding accessory for small ones.
Grinding will be the most aggressive abrasive that you can apply to metals so use extreme caution when you apply an angle grinder on a rusted object as it can damage the metal if it is still there underneath the rust use the grinder for the heaviest accumulation of rust to remove it quickly.
After it soaks put on a pair of rubber gloves and scrub the metal with steel wool or a stiff bristled brush.
To remove rust from small metal items first fill a container with undiluted white vinegar.
With or without a machine sanding removes rust from most surfaces and it s the best option if it s important to leave delicate surfaces smooth.