Painting a car from bare metal

[InterceptorXR7]

Ok, so im beginning to paint the MGB. I laid down some primer on the metal to protect it from the elements. Should i take off the primer, then put on some body filler, or can i put the body filler over the primer?

[xjoewhitex]

Ok, so im beginning to paint the MGB. I laid down some primer on the metal to protect it from the elements. Should i take off the primer, then put on some body filler, or can i put the body filler over the primer?

The last time ive done something like that i just put the BodyFill over top of the primer, sand it down the reprimer it to see if it is all level.

[Feedman]

Not that I am a professional or anything, but I would putty all the places first and prime/paint last. @ least thats how I have seen it done numerous times...... 8)

[narfdanarf]

Werd, from my past experience, you definitely want to put the bondo down first then primer. Reason being, if you put bondo down on primer it sets on top of the primer and will sometimes cause a reaction and will mix with the primer and you will have a big gooey mess on you car that will never harden. Then when you realize what is happening it's like trying to sand super sticky grease off. If you put the primer on top of the bondo, the bondo is usually dry already so you don't have to worry about that.

[xjoewhitex]

Werd, from my past experience, you definitely want to put the bondo down first then primer. Reason being, if you put bondo down on primer it sets on top of the primer and will sometimes cause a reaction and will mix with the primer and you will have a big gooey mess on you car that will never harden. Then when you realize what is happening it's like trying to sand super sticky grease off. If you put the primer on top of the bondo, the bondo is usually dry already so you don't have to worry about that.

Sounds like a better plan than mine altho i never had the gewy problem, but just in case put the bondo down first. 8)

[daveb91]

primer alone will not protect bare metal from rusting.

[xjoewhitex]

primer alone will not protect bare metal from rusting. But it is needed for the base coat to stick to..

[daveb91]

Ok, so im beginning to paint the MGB. I laid down some primer on the metal to protect it from the elements.
8)

[C_Note]

It's done both ways, actually. For your major problem areas, if you've already got it down to bare metal, then apply filler to said areas. Once you think it's close to smooth, and prime with a dark color (black, red/brown). After your base coat of primer, go back over with a light color (white, grey). After allowing it to dry, block sand the entire vehicle until the dark primer shows through. Any low spots on the body will still have patches of the light primer, indicating which areas need to be touched up (thus, applying filler/spot putty on top of primer). Dry, grate, and apply dark primer to those new spots, and after drying, another coat of light on top of that. Rinse and repeat.

In regards to the order of the primer, it doesn't really matter as long as there is contrast between the colors. After you've got all the low spots smoothed out, then the top coat of primer should be the same as the base coat. I like to match the colors of primer with the paint for a truer depth, so if the final color (after paint) of the car is light, then start/finish with grey/white and use the dark in between for color sanding. If you're going with an earthy color (red, green, brown, etc), then use the red/brown primer. Black primer for the dark colors.

[Feedman]

It's done both ways, actually. For your major problem areas, if you've already got it down to bare metal, then apply filler to said areas. Once you think it's close to smooth, and prime with a dark color (black, red/brown). After your base coat of primer, go back over with a light color (white, grey). After allowing it to dry, block sand the entire vehicle until the dark primer shows through. Any low spots on the body will still have patches of the light primer, indicating which areas need to be touched up (thus, applying filler/spot putty on top of primer). Dry, grate, and apply dark primer to those new spots, and after drying, another coat of light on top of that. Rinse and repeat.

In regards to the order of the primer, it doesn't really matter as long as there is contrast between the colors. After you've got all the low spots smoothed out, then the top coat of primer should be the same as the base coat. I like to match the colors of primer with the paint for a truer depth, so if the final color (after paint) of the car is light, then start/finish with grey/white and use the dark in between for color sanding. If you're going with an earthy color (red, green, brown, etc), then use the red/brown primer. Black primer for the dark colors.

Sounds like you have painted a few cars before?? 8)

[InterceptorXR7]

Yeah, i have to redo some spots. I had someone come over yesterday and look at it. they pointed out what i was doing right and wrong, more right though. 8) But thats a good thought C-note. i might as well get some dark primer, go over it with that, then spray it again with gray to wetsand. Im gonna paint it the orginial color, which is blue, and then wetsand the blue, then clearcoat, then wetsand that. i got a gun (high Volume, low pressure), water separator, and a tank. Painting should be done here soon, maybe within a couple weeks. if anyone wants to help........