I'm currently stripping all of the old paint off my car one panel at a time down to bare metal. My plan is to save some money by stripping and priming the car myself before I send it to a paint shop.

My question is what order should I use the different types of primer?

Should I follow these steps:
1. Put self etching primer on the bare metal
2. wait a day or so
3. Put sandable primer on top of the self etching
4. Wet sand the primer to a smooth state
5. Put primer sealer on.
6. Sand out any rough areas
7. Take to the paint shop to shoot the base coats and let them take over.

I don't know if this is the proper order or not. Please let me know if there is a better way.

Also, I'm using rattle can primer from AutoZone.

Thanks,
Kris

 

It is not gonna be the best paint job if you use rattle can paint.

 

What would be the best way for me to prep things before I send it to the paint shop?

 

strip the metal wash and grease the surface(wipe on with one rag wipe dry with another) next step is to get some real primers the stuff out of the rattle can might not be compatible with the final top coat this is defintely something to consider! (nason from dupont is a good buy) primer with the acid etch primer most of them have a time on the can after which u spray the highbuild/sandable primer over the acid etch probably about 30minutes(check the can). wet sand the primer take to a paint shop they will spray it with sealer then paint u dont sand the sealer this is all asuming u even need to sand to bare metal? is there a problem with the current paint?


Thanks,
Kris
[/quote]

 

You need to know what paint products the paint shop uses so that the primer will be compatible. It's best to use the same product line throughout the process unless you really know what is and what isn't compatible. There is a pretty good introduction to paint basics in last month's issue of Hot Rod magazine (Oct) followed by the spraying in the this month's issue. The whole series on body restoration goes back several months. Worth checking out if you can find a copy (Library maybe). Many good books on the subject are available.

 

Have you checked with the paint shop to even see if they will paint it, some shops will not paint it unless they have done the prep themself. Maybe a Maco type of paint shop will.

 

I just finished up priming all the body panels on mine. I did the best I could with rattle can, but Im going to have it sanded off when it goes for paint and redone professionally. Im just protecting it now

 

baddog,

Did you use self etching primer first and then something else afterwords?

 

No, I sanded it smooth and then used Krylon primer. Self ecthing would be the best way to go, but it is also about 4 times more expensive.

 

primer doesnt protect the surface its not made to be rained on it absorbs moisture wich in turn will lead to rust again