Advice needed on bodywork

[jimbomcgrimbo 0]

Hi all -

 

I spent the weekent trying to tidy up a bonnet for my mk3. I was sure that we were doing everything correctly - we spent hours sanding with wet and dry paper via a DA, Using finer and finer paper.

 

We filled a couple of areas, and again worked on getting the problem areas as flat as possible, and really took our time.

 

After a coat of primer it looked absolutely amazing - but then the top coat of matt black went on and all of the repair work stood out like a sore thumb.

 

We really did take our time, and used proper gear with a compressor. I have some more work to do around the arches and the bottom of the doors, and before i go ahead, i was hoping for an influx of advice on how to get a great finish!

 

Thanks in advance!

[phorbiuz 38]

Hi all -

 

I spent the weekent trying to tidy up a bonnet for my mk3. I was sure that we were doing everything correctly - we spent hours sanding with wet and dry paper via a DA, Using finer and finer paper.

 

We filled a couple of areas, and again worked on getting the problem areas as flat as possible, and really took our time.

 

After a coat of primer it looked absolutely amazing - but then the top coat of matt black went on and all of the repair work stood out like a sore thumb.

 

We really did take our time, and used proper gear with a compressor. I have some more work to do around the arches and the bottom of the doors, and before i go ahead, i was hoping for an influx of advice on how to get a great finish!

 

Thanks in advance!

 

Its very difficult to say what's gone wrong without pics, but in general for me (and I'm no expert!)...

 

When using filler it's better that this goes onto bare metal, followed by etch primer, high build primer, then paint. Normally I'd use 2 light coats of etch, and 3 of high build, flat that down, then 2 coats of paint, flat again, and a final coat of paint.

 

The key is that everything is *absolutely* flat/smooth as the slightest difference in profile will show when the paint goes on.

[Bangar 7]

Did you take all the paint off the bonnet, or just take it back to metal where you used filler ? If you did the second route did you feather it back so you couldnt see any edges ?

[AutoFive 0]

jimbomcgrimbo: you didnt mention sanding back the primer.........

Edited June 15, 2009 by AutoFive

[V8IAN 0]

coat of Primer/sealer may have been the answer, not just primer.

[sebspeed 23]

YOU ONLY USE A DA TO GET THE FILLER INTO THE RIGHT SHAPE AND DEPTH,THEN YOU USE A FLAT BLOCK[iDEALY 12'' LONG] WITH PAPER[60-200-400 ECT] WRAPPED AROUND IT TO GET THE FINAL FINISH.

[GXLE 2]

If you can see it before the paint goes on,you will see it after, "The Golden Rule", paint hides nothing.

[richard 2509 0]

i did a bonnet on an escort in matt blackand i found the best way was to repair then put a coat of 2k primer over it ...did you use that? flatted back with 320 on the repairs and then 500 on the da..the black went on and had nowhere to sink into...the next problem was getting all the airborne crap out of it...

[COLIN RNK 2]

HI JIM I AM A PAINTER BY TRADE JUST RUB DOWN THE REPAIRS WITH 400 WET AN DRY WET, PUT ON AT LEAST 3 COATS OF 2 PACK PRIMER LETTING IT DRY BETWEEN COATS ,WHEN DRY SPRAY A HALF COAT OF BLACK OR DARK COLOUR OVER THE TOP AS A GUIDE COAT ,BLOCK DOWN WITH 400 WET AND DRY AGAIN WET TILL THE GUIDE COAT GOES THEN RE GUIDE COAT AGAIN AND RUB DOWN WITH 800 WET USE SOAPY WATER, MATT BLACK AINT THE EASYEST COLOUR TO DO AS U CANT POLISH IT AFTER SO CLEAN IT VARY WELL B 4 SPRAYING GOOD LUCK .