Need advice on Painting my k20

[Jaredchevyk20]

Hi, I need some advice on painting my 1986 chevy k20. I have some surface rust on the hood and bed (not rot). How will i sand this down? Also when i sand it down do i need to put epoxy primer on it? or could i just spray it with regular primer right after im done sanding and cleaning. Thanks

[WestButteTruck]

Sand it off to bare metal, clean, epoxy primer would be the best.

[65truckowner]

Sand it with 80 grit then what he said. I like to spray epoxy let it flash then go over it with omni 282 high build.

[hugger6933]

Regular primer is porous and will allow moisture through it and also absorb it where the epoxy will seal to the bare metal like a plastic skin to the panel sealing it from the elements. Now to get it clean the best approach would be an 80 grit 6 inch da sander disc. If that is not possible, get a paint removal disc from 3M, they are about 4 inches in diameter and fit into a drill motor and will suffice at stripping paint and small rust scale from body panels. Now you should not leave the panel in epoxy primer too long if you do you will have to sand it back with some 180 or 220 grit paper and re prime it then spray the high build primer over it. I also recommend the MP 282 high build from my good friends at PPG that bring me Omni. The epoxy I like to use is mp 175 [I think] it is a black epoxy the same as the DPLF 90. The reason I use black epoxy and grey high build is because of the sanding. I do my body work between the epoxy coats and the high build coats ad when sanding through I know I need to spray more epoxy to have that area protected for rust and moisture. If you need more help on this project feel free to drop me a note or PM and I'll be glad to do my best to help you out. good luck and happy sanding. Jim

[Jaredchevyk20]

I thought you were not supposed to sand epoxy primer?

[hugger6933]

Jared, I think you may be thinking of sealer, some people use a reformulated [remix] of epoxy primer as a sealer. Most all if not ALL sealers are non sanding, meaning that once you spray them your ready to lay some color and unless there is a mistake your done with the sandpaper for a while. Folks let me remind you once more to make a sealer from epoxy primer, you need to change the mixing ratios and the reducers[and in some cases the activators]. Jim

[Jaredchevyk20]

thanks guys