Club 80-90 Forums

is there a guide anywhere, to the best way to prepare bodywork before painting? ive had a look around on the interwebby, but have not found anything that great.

i'm gonna do the majority myself and i just wanna read a guide just to make sure i do the best job of it i can.


i get the jist, but a step by step would be great.

Haynes do a bodywork manual, that should get you started.

Mike.

cool cheers mate.

i'll scout one out on flea-bay

There's a guy on here who does that for a living "preper boy" give him an e-mail or pm

prepping is hard work, it has to be 110% in every way, thats why the jobs cost so much. painting is easy but it will not hide bad prep work, just make it stand out, which makes you feel a bit sick when you consider all the graft you put in. look on ebay for dvds or videos (or amazon) etc, books will not show enough detail. (even better get on a college evening course).

dont i know it i've just spent 5x 12 hour days rubbing down my van and my painters still went over it again for at least 10 hours before the primer went on then its a full rub down again on the primer the prep work is 99% of the paint job the actual top coating is the fastest part of it all only taking a few hours

I'M SOOOO confused about all the different stages.. i bought the anti rust paint/treament , primer, filler and wet and dry paper... it gonna be a laugh.. i'm a total novice, but i'll get the idea... i hope

i'm not scared of having a go.. wont learn anything if i dont have a try.

best thing to do is have a go,
anything you get stuck on just post up on here,
from what ive seen the peeps on here (myself included) will help out as much as they can,
theyre a good bunch on here!

If its your first time then its going to take longer than you think, and you may have to have a few goes at it until you get it how you want it. Bodywork repair, painting etc is one of those things you have to practise IMHO, you can read the books, watch DVDs etc, but hands on experience is what is most useful. I've made a right pig's ear of a few vehicles in my time I have to admit.

Mike.

go into a car paint supplier and ask them what tools you will need for the size of your job. you may need a good compressor to run your DA sander, body file(for large panels) a smaller compressor may not be up to it. dont buy cheap sandpaper (or sanding blocks) you will have a nervous breakdown with the amount of grit coming off all over your pride and joy(scratches) !!! you can get some cheap stuff from sellers on fleabay, 3m wet and dry is good. and like before, have a go, you may surprise yourself.

thanks for all the advise guys..

i had a go at the rear arch yesterday.. it had a couple of nasty dents in it and it was quite rusty..

i knocked out the dents, got rid of all the rust, i spent an hour cleaning out a section of the seam, as the rust had got in there. then covered in it hammerite rust treatment primer... i was really pleased with how it came out. next job will be to smoothe it out will the filler.

i am really enjoying it.. i'm just gonna work from panel to panel and get what i can done, bit by bit.

Cool, don't forget photos!

will do, i've split up with my missus and she has my computer/ digi camera etc.. gotta get them back.

i'll get them posted asap.