Paint Prep / Body Work Tips

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

OP
OP
Matthew Jeschke

Matthew Jeschke

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2017
Posts
1,836
Reaction score
1,230
Location
Sahuarita, Arizona
Okay so novice question. How do I sand / prep the tight radiuses? I'm currently using scuff pads (all be it ultra fine), sand paper, and lots of determination. It's slow going though, is there a better way?

 
OP
OP
Matthew Jeschke

Matthew Jeschke

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2017
Posts
1,836
Reaction score
1,230
Location
Sahuarita, Arizona
Lates progress. Still trying to answer questions,

1. Final gritt sandpaper before color coat? Note using original factory paint for primer.

2. Process to sand panel edges and tight radiuses?

3. Retouching / sealing exposed parts of frame. See pic... might as well so ling is taken apart :)

136b0d4f25152d79e094a94791d07028.jpg

Sent from my SM-A505U using Tapatalk
 
OP
OP
Matthew Jeschke

Matthew Jeschke

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2017
Posts
1,836
Reaction score
1,230
Location
Sahuarita, Arizona
I'm going to save my notes here. Perhaps they'd be helpful to somebody else. I just went into the paint supply store and drilled them with questions. If you are in Tucson or around here, make sure to speak with Dan at KC Auto Paint & Supplies. They are AWESOME!

Little background info, I'm painting over existing factory paint job. Prepped bodywork down to a 320 Grit. Here's things I asked about and the answers I wrote down as pertains to my project:

Purpose of Guide coat? To know exactly what grit you have prepped surface to. Spray guide coat sand with say 320 to remove guide coat. After you know entire surface has been prepped to that grit. Additionally, may reveal imperfects you may want to fix with spot putty.

Purpose of high build primer? to hide deeper scratches. Say you need to sand a surface with something courser than 320 grit. You can hide say 120 grit scratches with high build. High build primer can then be sanded with say a 400 grit paper and still adhere.

If no high build primer, how to seal spot putty? can use etching primer to save myself from having to buy another primer.

Purpose of a seal coat? to hide what is behind the paint. Say you have some spot putty or even gray primer and are painting black. These things may show through the high color coat. The seal coat ensure they are hidden. Additionally, it fills in 320 grit scratches.


Max time between coats of: (1) etching primer no max time, hit surface quick with 320 grit then can paint over it. (2) High Build Primer this would be applied second in the process if necessary. However, I'm not really using it in my project as was able to obtain 320 grit surface prep without deeper scratches. So not for sure how long you can wait in this. (3) Seal Coat, (4) Color Coat, (5) clear coat max 48 hours to obtain chemical adhesion.

How do you use seal coat? seal coat comes before color coat. It's to provide hiding of whatever is underneath including scratches up to 320 grit (no deeper). Seal coat entire surface you are painting. I was told to use 2 coats of seal paint. Then immediately follow by color and clear. I believe you must purchase a compatible seal coat for the paint and possibly even color you are painting. I am using PPG OMNI line so I just purchased seal coat from same manufacturer.

Sanding door jams and tight radius's: use the scuff pads. They make three (or at least sold three at the store). Ultra fine, e.g. for blending into an existing clear coat. Course, for roughing up existing paint to get adhesion with new paint. Great for those radius's I need to get into. Very course, for stripping paint.

Does all shiny / clear need to be removed when painting over? I was especially interested in asking this because I spent a huge amount of time making sure any glossy finish was removed no matter how small. Dan said yes, there's no shortcut there. Gloss must be removed to ensure adhesion of new paint.

Plugging holes in body work for plastic rivets? my truck has none of rocker panel trim or running boards. However, the old rivet holes are there. I wondered if they could be closed with body filler. He said no because the body filler would crack and fall out. That those would really need welded shut. I will leave them be ;)

Hope these things help somebody. I know I'll be looking back at them. Let me know if maybe you have some other or additional tips. As always I really appreciate your help :)
 

HiHoeSilver

Away!
Joined
Feb 28, 2017
Posts
10,919
Reaction score
14,571
Location
Chicago
I'm going to save my notes here. Perhaps they'd be helpful to somebody else. I just went into the paint supply store and drilled them with questions. If you are in Tucson or around here, make sure to speak with Dan at KC Auto Paint & Supplies. They are AWESOME!

Little background info, I'm painting over existing factory paint job. Prepped bodywork down to a 320 Grit. Here's things I asked about and the answers I wrote down as pertains to my project:

Purpose of Guide coat? To know exactly what grit you have prepped surface to. Spray guide coat sand with say 320 to remove guide coat. After you know entire surface has been prepped to that grit. Additionally, may reveal imperfects you may want to fix with spot putty.

Purpose of high build primer? to hide deeper scratches. Say you need to sand a surface with something courser than 320 grit. You can hide say 120 grit scratches with high build. High build primer can then be sanded with say a 400 grit paper and still adhere.

If no high build primer, how to seal spot putty? can use etching primer to save myself from having to buy another primer.

Purpose of a seal coat? to hide what is behind the paint. Say you have some spot putty or even gray primer and are painting black. These things may show through the high color coat. The seal coat ensure they are hidden. Additionally, it fills in 320 grit scratches.


Max time between coats of: (1) etching primer no max time, hit surface quick with 320 grit then can paint over it. (2) High Build Primer this would be applied second in the process if necessary. However, I'm not really using it in my project as was able to obtain 320 grit surface prep without deeper scratches. So not for sure how long you can wait in this. (3) Seal Coat, (4) Color Coat, (5) clear coat max 48 hours to obtain chemical adhesion.

How do you use seal coat? seal coat comes before color coat. It's to provide hiding of whatever is underneath including scratches up to 320 grit (no deeper). Seal coat entire surface you are painting. I was told to use 2 coats of seal paint. Then immediately follow by color and clear. I believe you must purchase a compatible seal coat for the paint and possibly even color you are painting. I am using PPG OMNI line so I just purchased seal coat from same manufacturer.

Sanding door jams and tight radius's: use the scuff pads. They make three (or at least sold three at the store). Ultra fine, e.g. for blending into an existing clear coat. Course, for roughing up existing paint to get adhesion with new paint. Great for those radius's I need to get into. Very course, for stripping paint.

Does all shiny / clear need to be removed when painting over? I was especially interested in asking this because I spent a huge amount of time making sure any glossy finish was removed no matter how small. Dan said yes, there's no shortcut there. Gloss must be removed to ensure adhesion of new paint.

Plugging holes in body work for plastic rivets? my truck has none of rocker panel trim or running boards. However, the old rivet holes are there. I wondered if they could be closed with body filler. He said no because the body filler would crack and fall out. That those would really need welded shut. I will leave them be ;)

Hope these things help somebody. I know I'll be looking back at them. Let me know if maybe you have some other or additional tips. As always I really appreciate your help :)

Awesome post. Saved.
 
OP
OP
Matthew Jeschke

Matthew Jeschke

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2017
Posts
1,836
Reaction score
1,230
Location
Sahuarita, Arizona
Anybody know how to get RTV sealant off bodywork lol I RTV'd my sunroof shut as it leaks. Now I need to get RTV off to paint that area :(

Then remove headliner to fix sunroof (another project for another day *ahem* month lol)

UPDATE: I used WD40 and plastic razor blades worked like a champ.
 
Last edited:

08grey

Full Access Member
Joined
Jun 17, 2012
Posts
4,596
Reaction score
725
Dont forget to get some tach rags.

Sent from my SM-G973U1 using Tapatalk
 
OP
OP
Matthew Jeschke

Matthew Jeschke

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2017
Posts
1,836
Reaction score
1,230
Location
Sahuarita, Arizona
I have a small pack of tack rags but assuming i will need to order more. Not sure how long one rag lasts? Can you putnit in a ziplock and use it again or do you have to throw them awaynpretty quickly?

Sent from my SM-A505U using Tapatalk
 
OP
OP
Matthew Jeschke

Matthew Jeschke

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2017
Posts
1,836
Reaction score
1,230
Location
Sahuarita, Arizona
Anybody know how to remove the upper piece of reveal molding (rubber molding around windshield) for the windshield? I want to remove mine so I can paint to the edge of the roof and pillars.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
129,220
Posts
1,812,328
Members
92,321
Latest member
rick3645
Top