Thread: Prep Question

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I want to take all my primer back down to metal. What can I spray on a sanded down, bare metal pannel that will keep it from rusting while I go ahead and work on the next pannel? My goal is to do one pannel at a time, then take it to be painted as I am told the sanding part will save me some $$$ in prep time?

I would go to the paint shop where you plan to take it to be painted, and ask them what primer they prefer to paint over. Then re-prime each panel as you get it prepped... with their brand/system of primer. Maybe metal prep and an epoxy primer?

.......Do you plan to do the body work also? straighten panels? Any rust repair?

I am going to leave the body work to the shop that paints it. I dont really have that much experience with it so I'd hate to mess something up. But I guess that's how we learn. No rust to worry about, but I am going to have the rear driver-side quarter replaced(hit and run damage ) Thank you for your help

To put pro's comment a different way, have the shop that's going to do the work tell you how they want you to protect the surface, and what they want you to use. That way you avoid two problems. One where they end up charging you to un-do what you did, thus undermining your "cost saving " efforts, and two, if something goes wrong later on with the body or paint work they don't have what you did to use as an excuse.

That's why some shops have signs like this:

Labor rate: $75/hour,
$150/hour if you watch,
$300/hour if you help.

HAHA

Maybe just let them do it all then

Originally posted by DanMoore80
HAHA

Maybe just let them do it all then

That may be best. That way they have full responsibility for any warranty.

Yep, save your $$ and let them do the whole job. Sanding the car is a lot of work, but they also have the tools to do the job relativly quickly.
If you chose to do it, follow ProZ's advice. For protection, primer is a porous paint and is not a good cover for bare metal as it has little in the way of sealers. So you will have to paint each section after priming to seal it. In essence you will be painting the car, and then having the shop repaint it.
Check out some of the work the shop has done to make sure they do it well. Try to meet the person that is actually going to do the work. The reason? I took a car to have painted by a local 'custom' painter. His work was excellent. But he had his helper/trainee do the actual work, and I never saw such a bad paint job,...scratchs like a cheese grater, bare metal showing thru, orange peel. We made him repaint it, free or course.