How to fix rusty stone chips?

So I have two small chips in my Tacos paint on the access door. They really don't bother me from a visual perspective but the are rusting and that scares me.

Knowing the Midwest two such chips in 2 years time will cause the door to rot off the cab.



How do I fix this? Simply pulling out the sander and painting will ruin my paint job and it seems horrific to pay +$1,000 to have the door redone.

 

Once it starts rusting..not sure if you can reverse it minus sanding and painting..best find them before they rust!(I have a little chip on the hood i found brand new..i waxed over it..not sure if that will keep it from rusting..hopefully it will

 

I've got the rusted chips in the same location.

 

There's no way to "fix" it without completely refinishing the panel. But what you can do to slow the rust process, and not put a strain on your wallet is to get some clear coat, and dab it over the rusty chips. Clear will stick to the rust better than base will, and while it won't look the best, the rust will be sealed, preventing further growth.

I live in Alberta, Canada where we use rocks on the roads in the winter. My truck is chipped up badly. I use this technique, and it works like a charm. Good luck!

Oh, and you can get touch-up paint sticks that are half base/half clear. Use that. Or go to your local body shop, and ask if you can grab some extra clear. Every time a painter paints a vehicle, there's left over clear.

 

I had a paint chip a few years ago right above my windshield that was starting to rust. I ended up taking some masking tape and masking around the area nice and close. I then cleaned the area with sandpaper and a scotch pad. The masking tape protected the surrounding paint while I did this. After getting the rust off I removed the masking and cleaned the area well with a wax/grease remover. Then I put some touch-up paint over the area. The area has been rust free since and I don't even notice the spot anymore.

One tip: When I apply touch-up paint I like to use a toothpick. I'll dip it in the paint and get a little dob of it on the end then just apply the paint a little at a time to the spot. I can get fill in the area much smoother and without going over the edges this way. It only takes a little extra time.