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Primer question

hymodyne

Senior Member
Offline
I shot the firewall and interior of my MK III GT6 with Self etching primer about a month ago as part of a frame off restoration. When I went back to NAPA to get more paint to do the same to the outside bare metal, I was told that I didn't buy the proper thinner/reducer previously.

I used the standard thinner NAPA sells with their paint, not the special reducer for self-etching paint. What I have found out is that the "etch" in the self-etching paing is actually <span style="font-style: italic">in</span> the reducer, so when I applied the paint to the inside, I was just basically applying a generic primer, nothing else.

I would like to just shoot the 3-part epoxy primer over this paint, and keep moving with the restoration. The areas inside that I painted will mostly be covered with padding, carpet and my headliner, so I'm wondering if teh NAPA tech suggestion to "strip it all and paint again" is really necessary.

hym
 
I'd say if there is no rust bleeding thru you should be fine. I usually metal etch bare metal with acid, clean and spray with a two-part epoxy primer. Since the area is inside that should also help and not be an issue.

Marv
 
I might also try to see how well it appears to be adhered to the metal. Try some scratching/scraping to make sure it doesn't peel off easily.
 
Thanks for the replies. I tried to scratch my way through the primer in a couple of places and wasn't able to without a good deal of pressure, so I think I'm going to spray over and not strip to bare metal again.

hym
 
Put a piece of duct tape on it and then rip it off band aid style. If the primer lifts, you will have problems later after the car goes thru several heat cool temp cycles. If the primer stays intact, you should be good to go.
 
you should also scuff it with a scotch bright pad, the metal etch primer I used was Dupont and you had to prime it with epoxy primer within a few hours, any later and you had to scuff the metal etch and then prime

Hondo

just make sure you read the directions carefully and do exactly as it says
 
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