Useful tools for car paint prep?

[conor1n]

Hi guys,

I have an upcoming paint job on my Clio and trying to figure out what will be helpful when prepping for paint.

The entire car is currently painted and clear coated. I plan on painting new filler primer, base coat and clear coat all over. I don't plan on bringing the entire car down to metal.. (Should I?)

Considering what I already have, I feel like a pistol grip grinder/sander would be useful to me, but I can't figure out what to get.

Should I be getting a pistol grip rotary grinder/sander or a DA sander? It will be air powered. I can't figure it out.

I feel like it should be rotary as I have a DA already.. and also rotary with a reasonable grit would really cut off that clear coat quickly..

I would really appreciate any and all feedback on what you find useful.

Thanks a lot


I currently have:
* DA air sander
* Selection of sandpaper grits
* Starter kit of Durablock
* Orbital sander
* Scotchbrite red/grey/green
* Rotary polisher (non DA) various speeds.

* I also have 4.5" angle grinder, air die grinder, power file - not that are useful for this, just saying.

 

[norsa]

Sounds about all you need. Why are you stripping the car?
Nick

 

[a111r]

I wouldn't bother with a bare metal repaint on a Clio race car, nor use a base and clear system, tbh.
DA sand it down so it's both flat and keyed

There's a good thread on here about an Iso-free 2K paint by @charlysays, which seems to have a lot going for it and will allow you to use simpler PPE and 'booth'.

 

[a111r]

Here:

Merc C250 TD Blowover with non iso 2k nisocoat

Thought it was time to post a thread about this. Had some fantastic advice on my other thread "first respray tips" so thanks everyone. Here's the project car. It's my daily. Runs on WVO, has been really reliable and comfy and surprisingly is better underneath than most other w202s I've had. It...

www.mig-welding.co.uk

 

[bert]

A flat long and short block and various grades of paper is all you need.

I don't really use a DA or powered sander

 

[Onthespotwelding]

I wouldn't bother with a bare metal repaint on a Clio race car,

It’s only gonna get scratched and bent anyway!

 

[Burdekin]

Dry sanding with vacuum extraction seems to be the current way body shops prep for paint.

I'd put a coat of epoxy down once you've keyed the old paint so you're then unlikely to get a reaction. If the old paint is sound and if not bothered looking for any old bodges under the paint, key old paint and straight on with epoxy and then your top coats.

 

[James87]

As above really sand it all, we usually sand to 320, do any repairs filler, dings etc, 2k primer air dry (unless you have access to a booth) guide coat, then block it all back 400 then 600 and 800 if doing base and clear, if painting in 2k you can stop at 600