If I use a chemical stripper to strip my car to the metal what do I need to do next? What would I use to wash the car after stripping it? Would I then have to use a etching chemical on the car and then primer or would I just use a etching primer.


I am new at this and I want to do as much as I can before I take my car to the shop to get painted.

Thanks for all the info!

 

In my resaerch I have found that Expoxy primer is far better than self-etching. It offers better protection and is has great "grip" on bare metal. Good luck with your car!

 

Would I just use soap/water to prep before applying the primer? Also, would car quest carry the expoxy primer?

 

I am new to this too and what I have done so far is strip the roof of my 68 to bare metal, then use phosphoric acid etchant that I bought at Home Depot. Then I used a rattle can automotive grade primer and primed it. I really like how it has turned out. Eventually I will get all sheet metal done the same way, but the key I think is the phosphoric acid etchant.
Gordon

 

On my aircraft stripper it said you can use laquer thinner to wipe it off, I believe water will neutralize the stripper. But I would also believe it would cause surface rust.

 

Yes, you will want to use soapy water and clean the hood before priming. This gets off oil, dirt, and other things that may mess up the primer. My dad uses this primer ==> http://www.evercoat.com/productDetail.aspx?pID=261

It works really well. You have to add paint thinner to it.

 

Did you use a gun to apply the etching chemical?

 

I didn't use a chemical. All I did was sand down to metal, clean with soapy water, dry off, prime, wet sand with 400 grit sandpaper, and then paint.


You don't have to sand down to metal, just rough up the area and then do everything else. I went to metal because it was sandblasted and rust started to come back.