What's the best way to plan a paint job?

[Greg L.]

This is something that I should have asked four years ago when I started my restoration but to honest I hadn't even heard of the NCRS then....wish that I had though.

Since my last post about lacquer primer I've been doing a lot of reading online about paints...what to do and what not to do and it would seem that I went at this all backwards in going from the substrate up instead of the topcoat down. Seems that topcoat choices is based on what's underneath it...right?

SO now I'm thinking that what I should be doing is trying to source the most correct 69 Cortez Silver (code 986)paint that I can whether it be lacquer or not. Then once I find this elusive paint with the right tint, shade, flakes, etc, simply use what they recommend for primers and or sealers. Is this how I should go about it?

What I still don't understand though is that a lot of the tech sheets that I have read say that "such and such" a product(mostly primers and sealers) can be used over "properly sanded OEM finishes". To me Dupont 80S lacquer primer is an OEM finish because that was what was used back then. I don't know if GM used Dupont specifically or not but they did use a lacquer primer and this 80S is/was for auto refinishing. Could someone please explain what the the difference between the two is?

Thanks,

Greg Linton
#45455

Oh...ummm.... what would be the proper size sandpaper grit to strip my old Dupont 80S lacquer primer off so that I can get the body ready for some "good" primer?

[Wayne P.]

Re: What's the best way to plan a paint job?

The referenced OEM finish would be the top coat, not the primer. I wouldn't use anything coarser than 220. Too easy to ruin the body lines.

[Chuck S.]

Re: What's the best way to plan a paint job?

"Since my last post about lacquer primer I've been doing a lot of reading online about paints...what to do and what not to do and it would seem that I went at this all backwards in going from the substrate up instead of the topcoat down. Seems that topcoat choices is based on what's underneath it...right?

Now you're getting it...you pick the topcoat material you want to end up with, and then you work backwards selecting each preceding coat for compatibility with the covering coat. Manufacturers often have several products that can be used for sealer, primer, etc...once you read the data sheets, it's more likely to become obvious which product you need to use for each coat.

In your position, Greg, I would probably see about having your DuPont paint dealer either put you in touch with DuPont's technical service, or have them contact them. It's possible they will have a "final answer" for you, and I would take their advice. I have had good luck with PPG's tech service, but DuPont has always struck me as discouraging the hobbyist...they seem to cater strictly to the professional.

BTW, the factory primer on 70s was a red oxide; the sealer was gray, at least for a white car. I thought you said you applied this primer (Evercoat) in 1988 with an "air hose"?...If it's factory primer, I've heard of some owners painting the sanded factory primer with success. I wouldn't do it...I would still take the old primer off, particularly if DuPont says to do it, but I'm a masochist where work is involved.

You might also try the AutoBodyStore forums (see link below). You can start a thread just like here, and crusty old painters will tell you what you can get away with. Like most other discussion boards, the skill and knowledge of the responder is sometimes debateable...ask him for a resume.




AutoBodyStore Forums

[Dick W.]

Re: What's the best way to plan a paint job?

Greg, I probably would use red 3M Scotchbrite pads and MEK to remove the old primer. Red is fairly fine and the MEK will soften up the primer

[Greg L.]

Re: What's the best way to plan a paint job?

Thanks guys, I'll try and track down the Dupont tech guy tomorrow and maybe a PPG guy as well. I also have a lead on a lacquer source and I'll also look into autocolor library for a lacquer source as well. I'll get this this figured out somehow.

220 sounds good for stripping if I have to go there but Dick are you sure about the MEK? Why not just use lacquer thinner. We use MEK at work sometimes and it's pretty nasty stuff....almost like 100 proof MEK by the smell of it.

[Dick W.]

Re: What's the best way to plan a paint job?

We'uns in this part of the country was weened on 100+ proof rat straight from the fruit jar

Seriously I use MEK because of the cost factor.....cheaper!

[Timothy B.]

Re: What's the best way to plan a paint job?

What is MEK? Sorry, but I really don't know? Tim

[Joel Falk]

Re: What's the best way to plan a paint job?

methyl ethyl ketone. basically a solvent.

[Chuck S.]

Re: What's the best way to plan a paint job?

One BADA$$ solvent...lacquer thinner is mostly MEK. I wouldn't use it...Pappy's been sneaking too much of his profits.

[Dick W.]

Re: What's the best way to plan a paint job?

Chuck you are thinking about MEKP, methyl ethyl ketone peroxide real bad stuff!

[Tracy C.]

Re: What's the best way to plan a paint job?

Believe it on not, I used to work with a guy who repetedly used a MEK soaked cheesecloth to swab his athlete's foot. He said it worked pretty good. However, at the time he eventually retired, he wasn't too healthy.

Wonder why.....

tc

[Chuck S.]

Re: What's the best way to plan a paint job?

No, I wasn't thinking about the catalyst for the resin, but true, it's bad stuff too.

I'm talking about MEK; I've seen the stuff made at Esso's Sarnia plant...they freeze the crystals out of solution onto revolving perforated drums inside reactors with portholes; you can see the crystals forming. The crystals are scraped off the rotating drums into a product stream.

Not nearly as exciting as making "White Horse" back in "them thar hills".