Paging Lars - Paintingg question
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 34
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From: Reno NV
Paging Lars - Paintingg question
Lars or anyone else knowledgeable:
I am sanding off the old paint on my 70. The original color was Cortez Silver. It is now black. There is no sign of the silver so I am assuming when it was painted black they removed all of the old paint.
After I get through black paint I hit a rust colored, I assume, primer. This is very soft and comes off fairly easily. When I wipe an area with a damp cloth I see small spider cracks in this coating. It also smells like body putty of some sort though I hit the glass directgly under it.
In view of the spider cracks, etc., should I go down to the glass? If so, should I spray on some temporary protection over the glass that removes easily prior to bringing it to the paint/body shop? I pull the car out in the driveway when sanding to reduce the mess in the garage and we have lots of sun here. Will the sun damage the raw glass? It is garaged other than the time I am sanding off the paint.
I am not equipped to do any of the painting nor do I have the knowledge/skills. I am just trying to get the body ready to go to a high quality shop that will repair the minor imperfections and/or damage and do all of the paint work.
Thanks
I am sanding off the old paint on my 70. The original color was Cortez Silver. It is now black. There is no sign of the silver so I am assuming when it was painted black they removed all of the old paint.
After I get through black paint I hit a rust colored, I assume, primer. This is very soft and comes off fairly easily. When I wipe an area with a damp cloth I see small spider cracks in this coating. It also smells like body putty of some sort though I hit the glass directgly under it.
In view of the spider cracks, etc., should I go down to the glass? If so, should I spray on some temporary protection over the glass that removes easily prior to bringing it to the paint/body shop? I pull the car out in the driveway when sanding to reduce the mess in the garage and we have lots of sun here. Will the sun damage the raw glass? It is garaged other than the time I am sanding off the paint.
I am not equipped to do any of the painting nor do I have the knowledge/skills. I am just trying to get the body ready to go to a high quality shop that will repair the minor imperfections and/or damage and do all of the paint work.
Thanks
Racer
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 324
Likes: 0
From: port jefferson station ny
Re: Paging Lars - Paintingg question (NEVR L8)
I'm not a body man but I used to do corvette repairs and dabble in body work years ago. the rust colored material you're talking about may be spot putty that was used years ago to fill in small inprofections. If you're sanding down the paint make sure you're usining a sanding block or else you will cause high and low spots. also make sure you don't sand throught the gel coat exposing the fiberglass matting material other wise you will end up with at big problem. air will get trapped in these spaces and when you shoot primer or paint they will tend to bubble. putting your car in the sun to sand shouldn't cause problems. I would probably learn to at least use a spray gun and prime the surface since it will be easier to see what you left behind and needs more sanding. remember use a flat surface to sand with or if your are sanding contours use contour blocks so that you don't cause more damage than what it's worth. what you save on removing the old material you may spend double by the time the body shop finishes fixing up your mistakes. hope this helps and doesn't scare you off. pick up a book at at bookstore to help you. wcj :chevy :chevy :chevy
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 34
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From: Reno NV
Re: Paging Lars - Paintingg question (wcj)
Thanks wcj:
It appears someone did put a thin layer of filler over the entire surface. It smells like filler when sanding. Maybe they were correcting imperfections over the whole body? Considering the small spider cracks in whatever this is would it make sense to remove it to the glass to assure it doesn't transfer through? Undoubtedly this could cause some minor damage, at least, to the gel coat. The cost isn't a huge consideration though I don't want to create more problems that don't already need to be addressed. I want this to be done once, correctly, even if it means some moohla. Maybe I just remove the paint to this coating and let the experts decide what to do from there. It comes off easily where the paint is the challenge, as far as time.
I am using a sanding block everywhere possible. On the small areas, curves etc., I am using sponge pads being very careful not to groove or cause valleys.
Thanks again for your help
It appears someone did put a thin layer of filler over the entire surface. It smells like filler when sanding. Maybe they were correcting imperfections over the whole body? Considering the small spider cracks in whatever this is would it make sense to remove it to the glass to assure it doesn't transfer through? Undoubtedly this could cause some minor damage, at least, to the gel coat. The cost isn't a huge consideration though I don't want to create more problems that don't already need to be addressed. I want this to be done once, correctly, even if it means some moohla. Maybe I just remove the paint to this coating and let the experts decide what to do from there. It comes off easily where the paint is the challenge, as far as time.
I am using a sanding block everywhere possible. On the small areas, curves etc., I am using sponge pads being very careful not to groove or cause valleys.
Thanks again for your help
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,556
Likes: 0
From: Seattle WA
Re: Paging Lars - Paintingg question (NEVR L8)
the putty is typically called bondo. what your talking about isnt bondo. if it is you have problems. take it down to the glass. if you paint over cracks, crack will come through. we went through this layer on my paint job alot. i think its actually a layer that smooths out the body. if you can post some pics that will help :cheers:
forgot, bare sun dosent not harm glass. dont use chemicals and dont sand in circles. wet sand whenever possible and use power tools sparingly. :cheers:
[Modified by '79ProwlerOrange, 4:59 PM 12/14/2002]
forgot, bare sun dosent not harm glass. dont use chemicals and dont sand in circles. wet sand whenever possible and use power tools sparingly. :cheers:
[Modified by '79ProwlerOrange, 4:59 PM 12/14/2002]
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 2,144
Likes: 195
From: Englewood FL
Re: Paging Lars - Paintingg question (NEVR L8)
At one time, a product called feather fill was used over bare fiberglass
when repainting. It is a sprayable body filler. I used to use it and
it was gray in color. You did mention a different color but it sounds
like a similar product as it sands very easily and and has a strong
smell.
when repainting. It is a sprayable body filler. I used to use it and
it was gray in color. You did mention a different color but it sounds
like a similar product as it sands very easily and and has a strong
smell.
