steps needed before you can spray primer?

[xcelr8n]

alright, my body works done, i want to go ahead and primer the whole entire car. well everything but the black roof. so, for the part of the car that is untouched, what should i do before i primer it?
i was thinking a nice sand with 180 would do the job by removing the old clear coat, and roughen up the surface?
is 180 to low, should i just use 320 or something?
any opinions welcomed

 

[dave99gst]

180 sounds a bit abrasive. but im no painter. maybe 220? dont forget to use a tack-cloth b4 you spray.

 

[sherfield2002]

wet sand with 400 grit until clear is gone. this means there will be no shiny spots on the car. a pretty easy way to see if the clear is gone is to spray it with water and if the water beads up in a spot, then that spot needs sanding some more. but just make sure that all the clear is off or the primer may not stick good. be sure and wash it with a soap that contains no wax after sanding.

 

[IMMORTALSPYDER]

Dry sand it with 500.

 

[xcelr8n]

ok guys, i think im gonna go with 500 dry first. thanks

after i spray it all should i wet sand it entirely, or should i wait until its almost ready for a paint job and do it.

 

[sherfield2002]

well if i were u i would wet sand with 400 but i have never tried to drysand with 500. i'm in a collision repair class at my local community college (but have been doin paint/ body work long before that but i'm still no expert) and i have never heard of dry sanding with 500 but by no means am i saying its wrong b/c i've never tried it. to answer the other question though, i'd wait til almost time to paint it before i wet sanded the primer. also how long are u going to leave it in primer? if u plan to leave it for a while and it will be in the weather i would use a good epoxy primer b/c regular primer will absorb moisture.

 

[sacestar836]

400 grit wetsand the hell out of it

me and my buddy just primed his nx2000 like so, and it looks like a damn gray paintjob instead of primer
gotta get ready to put that 350Z red on there

 

[fwdtsi]

220 will get the job done quicker and its fine enough

 

[xcelr8n]

whats a epoxy primer?
i was planning on leaving it for maybe a month tops.
i was also planning on using tremclad automotive rust inhibiting primer.
so will that still absorb moisture?

 

[sherfield2002]

well i would use an epoxy primer if u plan to leave it that long. its kinda a waterproof primer. it will be a little harder to wet sand smooth before u paint it though. i usually use ppg epoxy primer. it comes in gray, black, white, blue, green, and red. just go to ur local body shop suplly store and tell them u want some epoxy primer. they will know what your talkin about. i'm about to use the ppg blue epoxy primer on my talon and am going to leave it for a looooooooong time. i've never heard of the primer you are talkin about but epoxy primers are the only kind of primer i know of that seal out moisture

 

[IMMORTALSPYDER]

PPG=

 

[Raph]

500 dry then 800 wet....

 

[Defiant]

You're spraying in Canada in February? You must have a heated booth. Otherwise, you're in for blushing.

 

[Tallen]

If you plan to get it professionally painted, dont bother doing it yourself. My dad's friend is a painter. Normally people who try to do their own prepping end up paying more b/c they mess it up.

 

[xcelr8n]

Originally posted by Defiant
You're spraying in Canada in February? You must have a heated booth. Otherwise, you're in for blushing.

i spray in my heated garage, and its been like 5-10 degress celsius here lately, and sunnnnny.
ive had no blushing as of yet, and ive done alot of primering.

 

[sakrafice]

That’s primer.., its not shiny; You wont see most blemishes

 

[xcelr8n]

and of all the primers ive used, this stuf goes on the easiest, and never runs or bubbles, its excellent stuff, i believe it is similar to your "rustoleum" primer.
ours is called tremclad auto primer.