My frame wasn't all that rusty and no is isn't any tougher to work with. I brushed mine. It's pretty thick. the marine kleen and metal prep worked great. Just wear long sleeves crappy clothes and those thicker yello dish gloves not those thin neoprene blue ones. I did driveshaft, springs but no moving areas obliously. It can take a topcoat if it will see the sun much. I would use it again