Painting Dash Frame-need advice

[john108]

These picture shows my dash frame with the top resting on the table.
There are multiple parts to my question.

1. The internal rusty area shown in the top picture is difficult to totally sand.  Other posts recommended painting it with POR-15.  Is this still the recommended approach and would you do this directly over rusty areas, sanded clean areas, and remaining scuffed original paint area?  Is this better than prime (Rustoleum Rusty Metal Primer or Epoxy) and paint?

2. The exposed top surfaces of the frame had some minor pitting but overall not bad.  The color is Burgundy and I know the top surface has to have a paint with a totally flat finish so not to cause glare.  Do you paint all exposed surfaces with the same paint?

3.  I was not planning to try to sand all the exposed surfaces to shiny metal.  Light sanding (most frontal areas) seemed to give a good surface.  The top surface can be sanded better.  How should I prep and paint these surfaces?

4.  I could use some help generating a 4th question.

[bill440rt]

These picture shows my dash frame with the top resting on the table.
There are multiple parts to my question.

1. The internal rusty area shown in the top picture is difficult to totally sand.  Other posts recommended painting it with POR-15.  Is this still the recommended approach and would you do this directly over rusty areas, sanded clean areas, and remaining scuffed original paint area?  Is this better than prime (Rustoleum Rusty Metal Primer or Epoxy) and paint?

2. The exposed top surfaces of the frame had some minor pitting but overall not bad.  The color is Burgundy and I know the top surface has to have a paint with a totally flat finish so not to cause glare.  Do you paint all exposed surfaces with the same paint?

3.  I was not planning to try to sand all the exposed surfaces to shiny metal.  Light sanding (most frontal areas) seemed to give a good surface.  The top surface can be sanded better.  How should I prep and paint these surfaces?

4.  I could use some help generating a 4th question.

The dash frames were painted quickly, the factory was concerned about the outside surfaces more so than the inside. Hence the flash surface rust on the inside (very common). Think, these cars were mass produced on an assembly line. Get 'em built & out the door as fast as possible. Extreme care was not taken as when one restores a car better than factory.

If you're concerned about rust I would have it blasted.
If that is not an option, I would prep-sand and/or scuff the outside surfaces. Clean off the surface rust on the backside/inside as best as possible. Then spray a metal prep/etch solvent & allow it to penetrate for a few minutes. Wipe dry.
Apply a good epoxy primer or zinc-rich primer, scuff, & paint.
I think Herb's is one supplier that offers interior paints. If you can't get textured paint, you can duplicate the texture by using a "dry-spraying" technique. Apply a medium wet coat, let it flash. Then apply your final coats holding the can further back, misting the paint on evenly & lightly. This will closely duplicate the texture.

[john108]

Bill
Is the entire frame textured?  Some of it just looks flat. 
Comment: I get a textured finish without trying.  I need more practice.  I am not very skilled at painting.

I have used acid to help neutralize rust.  Would that be equivalent to metal prep/etch solvent?
Spray the epoxy primer/sealer Inside and outside?
Is there a specific type of paint to use for the entire frame? Not the Base used for the exterior (too Glossy)??

[sanders7981]

I had my dash media blasted... There were too many nooks and crannies that I couldn't get into to sand.  Then I primed and painted it. 

[bill440rt]

Bill
Is the entire frame textured?  Some of it just looks flat. 
Comment: I get a textured finish without trying.  I need more practice.  I am not very skilled at painting.

I have used acid to help neutralize rust.  Would that be equivalent to metal prep/etch solvent?
Spray the epoxy primer/sealer Inside and outside?
Is there a specific type of paint to use for the entire frame? Not the Base used for the exterior (too Glossy)??

John, I'm not sure what "acid" you would be using, so I have no idea if it would be equivalent. DuPont used to make a good one called Metal Prep, ready to spray (like a Windex bottle). Look into POR-15, they also make metal prep solvents.
You can prime the whole thing if desired.
Again, the dash frame was painted in one passing. Same paint. Factory concentrated on visible surfaces only. Perhaps some of the texture faded over the years.
The paint would have been a flat/semi-gloss slightly textured paint.
Talk to Herb @ Herb's Auto Parts about his line of interior paints.

[green69rt]

Most of the "metal prep" solutions that I have seen are a combination of Phosphoric acid and zinc phosphate.  It does leave a residue so if you use them you will have to lightly sand them before priming or painting.

If you use a degreaser on bare metal it may leave the metal in a basic pH state, then a metal prep is really recommended to get the metal back to an acid pH.  At least that's what POR 15 customer service told me..