Questions about primer???

This weekend I will finish stripping my Bel Air to bare metal. I want to be able to drive it while I attack the areas that need help. Would I want a metal etching primer? I want it to be sealed against the weather while I work on it. Is metal etching primer easy to use to touch up after patching spots. This will be my first attempt at spraying anything that's not in a can, so any help would be appreciated.

 

Epoxy primer is the generally accepted choice. Whats more important than that is surface prep. A good paint job is like building a building, it needs a good foundation. You want the surface as clean as you can get it, especially if you chemically striped the paint. A good wax and grease remover then condition the metal with something like a DA sander with 80-120 grit. NO MOISTURE in the metal at this point is your goal, so your're in florida, a couple hours in the hot sun should do it. Do not contaminate the surface, even something like your bare hand is a no no. Two good wet coats should do it. Now keep in mind the primer is going to continue to harden with age so when your ready to resume the work especially after a long period you should sand the surface and recoat with epoxy then go to your surfacer within 12 hours or so. This is a condensed quick co**** but will give you a great start on that paint job.

 

Thanks.

Anyone else have any advice?

 

Yeah: do a search. This has been discussed in detail here. I strip to bare metal, wash with laquer thinner, DA with 80 grit, & use epoxy primer. Everything else goes over the epoxy.
~ Paul
aka "Tha Driver"

You just shot an unarmed man!
"Well, he should have armed himself."

 

What Raffman said. Prep is the most important part.

 

In my 40+ yrs i have used and tried everything. yes everything! After working with PPG Chemistry Labs I had a chance incounter with a guy that work with Dupont and we got in to a heated discussion about this (this a few years ago). After some testing we came to the conclusion that the best thing you can put on bare metal is Dupont 615S. I am not a fan of Dupont products but this stuff is top notch for the job at hand. You will need to clean the surface with mild ivory liquid soap, get in all the tight areas. Then repeat the process again. I can not stress that enough! After you have it clean use a good commercial surface cleaner, since you will have to get the primer just pick up a can of Dupont 3939S. Read the label on the can and follow directions!!! I worked in the Chemistry Lab and we don't put those labels on as a guideline. Follow directions and it will be the best job you have ever turned. You will need to prime over it with a good primer as well. Then when yoy work your spots you will just have a prime/surfacer area to deal with, no big deal. If you need specific information email me and I will help you through it. Hope that helps, and don't let some of these "i have been doing this way for 10 years" guys tell you thier method. I have tested these in lab settings and know what is the best. So email me for info if need be.

Mike T