[Shop-talk] Etching bare metal

[Jim Stone]

The last time I painted a car was in the 1980’s, which I’m pretty sure is before the invention of self-etching primer.  If it was around then, I didn’t know about it.  I learned everything I knew from reading DIY books and used a phosphoric acid solution to etch bare metal before priming.  I haven’t heard of anyone doing that anymore, but need to prime a trunk lid and am thinking it might be worth a phosphoric acid wash first.  I had the lid dipped about 10 years ago and it was left untreated all this time.  (Not by me, but that is a different and longer story.)  The lid has been sitting on the car and the underside still looks nearly perfect.  The car with has always been garaged but the top had a light coating of rust.  I’ve removed that now but there are some pits here and there (probably from before the dipping) and I would like to be 100% sure it is rust free before priming it.  

I have a gallon of this sitting around: https://www.amazon.com/Klean-Strip-GKPA30220-Gallon-Phosphoric/dp/B00945D15I <https://www.amazon.com/Klean-Strip-GKPA30220-Gallon-Phosphoric/dp/B00945D15I>  Is there any reason not to wash the surface with a diluted solution before priming?  Or, should I just use something like Rust-Oleum Rust Reformer (https://www.rustoleum.com/product-catalog/consumer-brands/auto/removers-and-chemicals/rust-reformer-spray/ <https://www.rustoleum.com/product-catalog/consumer-brands/auto/removers-and-chemicals/rust-reformer-spray/>) and call it a day?
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