Sanding

[robertha]

I have decided to sand the hood of my 84 instead of chemically stripping. I have gone into gray color then back into a black. Does anybody know what layer I might be in and do I need to stop? It appears to be the original paint and it was black , so would you think that the black under the gray would be some sort of sealer? I am using 320 paper to sand with and do not appear to be damaging anything yet. I hope to be able to sand the whole car this way except the bumpers which I am in the process of chem stripping now and prime it, then give it over to a pro for the paint job. I just flat do not have the money to spend on the labor these shops want for prep work.

 

[paintdaddy]

Interesting info c5d.Its harder than you think to damage the top layer of the glass.The top layer itself is a dark gray?black color so its hard to say if youve sanded down to it or the original paint.Just keep sanding until you see the alternator.

 

[robertha]

paintdaddy

Thanks for the insite. I am totally confused now. Nothing I have sanded appears to be the actual fibergrass itself so I think that I am ok. I am stopping when I get down into the black after the greenish gray coat.

Robert

 

[paintdaddy]

I am not for sure.I work on more c3s than c4s but the ones Ive worked on usually has a dark gray or black fiberglass.If you look close you can see the strands of glass .Sooo I would asume that the urethane surface coat is either clear or a transparent gray.

 

[robertha]

What happens if one does reach into the forbidden gray fiberglass coat? Would a flexable primer be ok to use over those areas? I am sending a picture of what I have done so far, so see for your selves.

 

[paintdaddy]

Its hard to tell in a pic but it looks like your doing fine.Flexible primer is ok but not necessary.After sanding I use an epoxy primer then a urethane primer over top of that wet-on-wet.The epoxy primer is kinda over kill but I like to be safe.You really only need the epoxy primer when your dealing with metal but it does promote adhesion between the fiberglass and the urethane primer.On the dark spots in question,can you look real close and see fibers?

 

[robertha]

No I do not see any fibers in the dark spots. I am using 180 grain do you think that is to agressive? I would actually like to use something heavier to speed the process up some. Thanks for your help . Robert

 

[paintdaddy]

180 isnt too agressive.Once you know exactly where the fiberglass is and where the first coat of primer is ,You can sand it with 80 grit to sand it to the first coat of primer and then sand the primer off with 180 or finer.Sounds like your doing a good job.As I said,fiberglass is more forgiving than you would thing,ecspecially c4s and c5s.

 

[robertha]

I am feeling better already. I went to the paint store last night and picked up some 80 grit. That should make this job move right along. Thanks . Robert

 

[robertha]

sanding

I got around to the rear quarter panels and when I started sanding them they got down to the fiberglass real quick. What should I do as far as sealing that off before I prime it? I think that it might have been because the paint back there was deteriorated worse than any where else. The rest of the car seems to be fine. I need to get the doors taken apart and that damn rear bumper off then I will be happy. Still no advice on how to get the bumper off since it seems that the bolts are spinning and not comming off like they should. I was thinking about drilling the little _ astards off. I am starting to think that I am to impatient to do this kind of work. I think I would be better off having someone do this stuff for me but the only problem is I am broke.

 

[paintdaddy]

I understand what ya mean about not having the money to have someone else do it.Thats how alot of bodymen and painters end up in this profession.
As far as sealing it off before applying some sandable primer ,put some epoxy primer down first .Its not a must but its always a good insurance policy.I dont know much about removing that rear bumper but a freind of mine once told me that its such a pita ,once you get it off you may decide to leave it off.

 

[robertha]

Thanks Paintdaddy,