Any recommendations on removing rust small rust spots that won't scratch up a whole area on the paint?

(On the hood of my car)

I'll clean up the deteriorating paint with a small knife, like an X-acto craft knife, leaving sharp edges to the paint chip, and using the blade to scrape the rust off of the bare metal.

Then, I use a small bottle of "factory" touch-up paint: the kind that comes in a bottle with a brush in the top, like nail polish. But I don't use the brush for these small paint chips: I'll use a toothpick to transfer drops of paint onto the chip.

This works for me. It's not an invisible repair, of course, but from ten feet away you can't see it. Work carefully, with good lighting.

Yeah - whenever I try to touch-up a small spot I take a small bit of xtra fine sandpaper.......and do more damage to the good paint than good.

You could clean the worst of the scale off......seal the rust in with some clear finger nail polish, Rustoleum or whatever, paint over in touch-up paint. Will be far from perfect but less noticeable than bare rust spots - and will keep it from spreading.

try soaking in vinegar then lightly rub it off with some baking soda. Maybe it'll work, maybe it'll won't.

Watch YouTube videos that show you HOW. Then you can pick and choose from the technique that is most suitable.

Any recommendations on removing rust small rust spots that won't scratch up a whole area on the paint?

(On the hood of my car)