Prepping metal for paint...eventually
 

I’m repairing body panels on my own for a professional to paint later. What can I put on the metal that I can do in my small shop, that would make it ready for the painter later? I don’t want it to rust after getting it right, but I also don’t want him to have to remove whatever I spray on it unless unavoidable. I’d expect rattlecan primer from the dollar store to be unadvised, for example. Thanks.

Re: Prepping metal for paint...eventually
 

THE MOST important coating you can ever put on bare steel is epoxy primer. No substitutes are allowed. You can buy it in Spray Max 2K aerosol cans or in gallon kits. Any brand in gallon kit is fine. Epoxy primer goes on before any other primer. It's the only primer that prevents rust. Doesn't matter what you put on after epoxy... use whatever you want. So, this is first step before "you get it right".

Yes, rattlecan primer from the dollar store is certainly not what you should use.

On an aside, most painters won't work on vehicles that other folks have prepared for a multitude of reasons. I mention this because you may not even bother starting it unless you are sure your painter will accept what you've done to prepare it for paint. Some painters will spray the paint, but you will own the bodywork if you did it. Some painters won't spray the paint because they will get blamed for the imperfections in the body work.

Re: Prepping metal for paint...eventually
 

Thanks. Epoxy primer it is. Does the Spray Max 2k go a long way? Seems pricey for a can, but I realize it’s quality stuff. My paint guy and I go back a long way, so I’m good there. It just could be several years before he gets this truck, and I’d like to fix areas myself during that time. I don’t own any spraying tools, so the 2k cans look like a good idea.

Re: Prepping metal for paint...eventually
 

I got my epoxy primer at the sherwin williams automotive store in huntsville.....over by where the big mall used to be on 72...in the shopping center where chilis is....they might have rattle can epoxy....I bought gallons so I'm not sure...might be worth asking.....

Re: Prepping metal for paint...eventually
 

They cover pretty good and you don't need a lot on the panels.
Getting into spray equipment and compressors will be more expensive in the short term, which you are in.

Re: Prepping metal for paint...eventually
 

Check out SPI epoxy primer. It is great stuff

Re: Prepping metal for paint...eventually
 

Any epoxy primer is good stuff. Brand doesn't matter one bit so don't get hung up on brand...just be sure its 2 part epoxy.

Re: Prepping metal for paint...eventually
 

For the underside, is that also what you’d recommend, or something like POR15 to get anything you might miss or cannot get to?

Anyone epoxied over POR15?

Re: Prepping metal for paint...eventually
 

if its bare metal, it needs the epoxy...im not sure of por15 but I used lizard skin and it says not to put on bare metal...it said at least have primer down...
it also says if its not fresh primed or painted it needs scuffed before applying...

Re: Prepping metal for paint...eventually
 

Don't ever put epoxy on anything but bare steel. It's designed to prevent rust on bare steel.

Also, there's no need for Pour 15 once you have epoxy. Epoxy is 1000 times better than pour15.

Epoxy prime then put any paint you want on top of it. No need for pour15 at all. Epoxy prime and an alkyd enamel is far better coating system than pour15. No question!

Re: Prepping metal for paint...eventually
 

So for hard to get to areas that could still have some rust (inside a frame rail for example), would it be best to epoxy them somehow or work in a rust neutralizer? Thanks for all the help. I’m new to body work and want to learn.

Re: Prepping metal for paint...eventually
 

For those areas that are impossible to prep for primer, use cavity wax. That's all that's all that can be done.

Re: Prepping metal for paint...eventually
 

this is what i have done, rust bullet on the bare metal, then epoxy, then the colour. rust bullets great stuff, and also has a rust killer in it.

Re: Prepping metal for paint...eventually
 

If you use Rust Bullet, don't waste your money on epoxy primer.
Epoxy primer prevents rust when applied to bare, clean steel. No point in applying epoxy over paint.

Rust bullet looks to me just like pour 15... I mean POR15... which is nothing like epoxy primer...Nothing replaces a 2K epoxy primer.