Bodywork advice for a n00b

[robwizard]

I joined this forum so as to learn about welding up the massive rusty holes in my car.. but since I have found it a great resource for many other things!

I now have a welder and am getting set up at the moment to begin work on the car, and I am curious about painting. I have read lots about primer, fillers, rust eaters etc but their is so much information that nothing seems conclusive.

I was going to use bondaprimer red oxide+zinc but after reading a few threads on here it seems people favour epoxy for initially coating the metal? Obviously I intend to cut all the rust and rot out and weld in new metal but I would like to know the best method for building it up from there.. do I want top put filler straight over the top or use epoxy/bonda/bilt hamber first?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated as I hate rust with all my heart and never want it to return!!!!

Cheers

 

[tux]

My take is to weld up the damage, grind and dress and then put on primer before anything else. I would favour epoxy first or acid etch as a second choice. Others will doubtless have different ideas.
After it is primed you can go to seam sealer/filler or whatever else.

 

[robwizard]

Mhmmm that sounds good.. after some further reading I have heard good things about lechler epoxy primer but only the 2 pack stuff and seen as I planned on doing the priming work at home and I don't want to get poisoned I may have to think a bit harder lol

Another question.. I am going to buy a DA sander tomorrow to continue flatting the old paint down but I'm not taking it down to bare metal, if I were to just coat the exposed metal with the epoxy primer would that be sufficient or will I have to cover the whole car?

I should probably buy a book about this sort of stuff..

Cheers

 

[the snooper]

Any advice would be greatly appreciated as I hate rust with all my heart and never want it to return!!!!

Cheers

when you find out how to stop it patent it you will be loaded and ps let the forum know

 

[tux]

Localised priming on the bare metal with epoxy will be fine. As long as the remaining paintwork is sound and scuffed well (it will be with a DA) then it shouldn't need primer at all.

 

[Weldinator]

This place is all you need, although i use Granville rust converter which is used by the shipping places. They have very good weld though primer as well as other high quality products, check it out.

http://www.bilthamber.com/coatings.html

 

[robwizard]

I'm pretty sold on the epoxy primer to be honest.. Though I am still uncertain about a few things and I really don't want to make a mistake so this is what I'm thinking..

1. Do all the welding that I need to do and clean all the remaining rust from the car.
2. Remove the underseal from the wings/arches and beneath the car.
3. Apply the epoxy primer to the underside and the exposed areas of metal.

The only issue I have is that I have read that people have trouble keying up the epoxy primer due to how tough it is? and also people keep turning me over to epoxy mastic on the rust.co.uk site, but I can get lechler at trade price so thought I might try their epoxy primer instead? or is it totally different?

Sorry if I'm being an idiot..

Cheers

 

[sprayerDrew]

I use lechler epoxy on all restorations. Its the toughest peimer i have ever come across but it is easily keyed up not as easy as some but i wouldnt let it put you off. It adheres as good if not better than etch too. .

 

[langy]

Filler is not designed to go over primer, although you can put it over epoxy primer.
You can brush or roller the epoxy but the finish won't be as good as sprayed, Key it next day with 120 or 150 for filler

Wear a mask even when mixing and applying the epoxy, fumes are given off even when mixing.