Paint Job Saga Continues

[martx-5]

Well, if anyone has followed my paint job saga, and all the tales of woe I've had, I just went downstairs where the external panels are to start bringing them up to put on the car, and discovered a real heart wrencher. One of the panels (right rear wing) is all scratched up. Some of the scratches are deep enough that they will require some filler. It's my own fault, as I didn't have all the panel covered, and it looks like the cat might have gotten to this one...but the cat won't fess up. :eeek:

Since yesterday, my head's cleared up enough that I can just go ahead and fix it without getting stressed out anymore. I'll have to fill and re-paint the entire panel, so here's the question. After scuffing up the paint and re-filling the scratches, should I re-prime with the epoxy primer that I used originally, or should I just re-paint. It's not a problem re-priming. I just want to know the right way to do it.

Thanks

 

[PeterK]

I blame everything on the stupid cat and usually I am correct in my assumptions.

I like all cats really. They taste just like chicken. It just depends on how you cook them.

 

[TR6oldtimer]

Depending on the the paint manufacture, you may get along by sanding the entire panel and scratch areas, then apply a high build primer to the entire panel, then sand smooth and top coat.

Body fillers should only be applied to bare metal, while some do (and I have) apply it over paint, it is not advised. But if you go the filler route, it will need to be sanded and sealed, which means a new coat of primer. If it were mine, I would start over rather then having a so many coats of paint and fighting feathering everything in.

A word of caution, I am not a painter, but I am in the process of painting mine myself and have learned the hard way.

Then I would shoot the cat, well, not really, it was just a cat doing what cats do.

 

[Brosky]

That explains a lot about the "no cats around restaurants" theory.

 

[2wrench]

Heinz Cat Soup.

 

[Mark Jones]

Body fillers should only be applied to bare metal, while some do (and I have) apply it over paint, it is not advised. But if you go the filler route, it will need to be sanded and sealed, which means a new coat of primer. If it were mine, I would start over rather then having a so many coats of paint and fighting feathering everything in.

I don't think this is right. It is my understanding that body filler absorbs water and should not be applied directly to bare metal. Body filler should be applied once primer has been applied.

 

[BryanC]

I think there is some debate about putting filler on metal. Some of the paint companies say that you should only put the filler over their epoxy primer (some other primers are porous and absorb water, too). However, I think you will find that most shops will only put filler over metal. This choice appears to be due to speed, cost and concern about adhesion to the epoxy. I think that in most shops the filler doesn't sit around for more than a day or two before being painted so it doesn't have much chance to take on moisture. For some of us doing work in our home shops, it might sit for weeks so it might more of an issue. I put the filler directly on metal on my cars. In any case, you must put primer over the filler before the topcoat goes on.

Bryan

 

[Mark Jones]

Bryan, you are definitely right, it depends on the product(s) that you are using. Some companies recommend applying filler directly to bare metal, others say bare metal of 80 grit scuffed paint/primer.

I just called the manufacture's help desk for the primer and filler products I'll be using tomorrow andi n my instance it is okay to use the filler over the primer.

 

[martx-5]

Good news...I won't have to use any filler. I hit the panel with some 320 grit all over, and the scratches just disappeared. When I first ran my fingers over them, they felt deep. Just goes to show you how sensitive your fingers are. I scuffed off most of the paint and am pretty much down to primer, so I'll shoot some more primer and topcoat. I'm glad I didn't have to use any filler.

 

[TR6oldtimer]

Sometimes things do go right.

 

[Brosky]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]Sometimes things do go right.[/QUOTE]

Now, that's a phrase not commonly used around here......

 

[tdskip]

Art - any pictures for us?