Filler over old paint

[Elkie885]

I'm restoring my old campervan and have finished all the welding ( I hope) and am now onto putting filler on and flating back. I'm loathed to do a full rub back to bare metal but under the old paint are some dents that I'd like to address while I'm at it, do I have to remove all the old paint and any filler under it or can I rough up the old paint and apply filler to it.
Chris

 

[scotty-stoke]

just give it a scuff with some 80's paper. it should be fine

 

[jaykay]

the proper way is to remove the paint first.
not hard to do,take a flap disc to it,go beyound dents and feather edges well or it will always show up.

 

[malcolm]

Agreed - might depend a little on the type of paint you use, but cellulose especially is bad for settling and after a couple of weeks a step will appear around the edge of the filler if you don't remove the existing paint before filling.

I've got around that by leaving the top coat for a few weeks, sanding it down, then spraying a final coat. I've also got around it by putting enough top coat on to allow the ring to be polished out.

 

[Chickenjohn]

Remove all the paint from the areas to be filled, then feather the edge of the paint so it is a totally smooth transition to the cleaned area. After cleaning off any rust, give the area a thin coat of etch primer before filling.

I have learnt the hard way that taking shortcuts in painting is not a good idea if you want a good finish.

 

[mike os]

agreed... espescially after all the hard work that goes into a project it is just stupid to not finish it properly

 

[langy]

Agreed, filler goes under paint

the proper way is to remove the paint first.
not hard to do,take a flap disc to it,go beyound dents and feather edges well or it will always show up.