Painting GRP Hardtop

[MG David]

I have an old hard top for my MGB. The paint was peeling so I took it all off. I have make some modifications to it as well, flush rear 1/4 windows. It now has a lightly sanded finish that I want to paint.

On steel I would put on a couple of coats of etch primer of epoxy primer before high build and then colour. Given that GRP is not going to rust can I go straight to high build and miss out the etch/epoxy? Or perhaps straight to colour if the finish is good enough to skip high build? In reality that would be high build around the mods only.

 

[pedrobedro]

I've painted quite a lot of fibreglass for kit car panels and just use cellulose primer then painted them and have never had any problems. If they are gel coated make sure you key them well.

 

[jaykay]

the book says etch grp.

 

[brightspark]

the book says etch grp.

i once made my own grp etch primer mixed some resin and styrene hardener with celly primer and thinned it . sprayed a speedboat with it . it worked great and cheap i wonder why instructions say dont mix stuff . as if we didnt know ££££££££££££££££££

 

[MG David]

the book says etch grp.

Is that etch as in wiping it over with an etch solution or is it etch as in using an etch primer? Sorry to be thick.

The hardtop is for use in competition (hence the flush glazing mod) so I don't want too many layers of paint on it although I do want it to look good.

 

[jaykay]

use a etch primer.upol8 will do the job.
dont need a heavy coat.i put it on so as it fully covered.but can still see thru it.

 

[langy]

I paint a lot of GRP cars and i use Epoxy after keying with 120

 

[steveo3002]

ive always used etch on fibre glass...spray it on