My chevelle is down to bare metal. I have striped & sanded it this summer in my garage. I want to prime it to seal it from moister.
Should I use metal prep or not?
Some say yes because of microscopic rust. Others like my nieghbor say no, "We never used it years ago, why do we need it?)
I'm not to crazy about rinsing my bare metal with water (that what the directions for metal prep say to do)
Also can I go strait to a epoxy primer over bare metal after metal prep? Is that the way to go? :confused:
Anyone have any info on this?
Thanks!

OK, first off water WILL NOT harm the metal when you rinse off the prep. The 2 stage metal treatment process cleans, removes very SLIGHT surface rust, etches for proper paint adhesion and aslo coats the metal with a phosphate coating. This coating is applied to the metal when you spray on the conversion coating. The coating is ON THE METAL PROTECTING IT when you rinse with water, all you are doing is washing off the excess phosphate coating.

Yes you can apply epoxy over the coating ONCE the metal is dry. I believe every company that supplies this process recommends epoxy, I know PPG and dupont do. Wipe it dry try not to blow it dry. Appling epoxy over the prep is what I would do.

A few things to note when using the prep. DONT apply an etch or wash primer over the prep, the acids in the 2 products will react with each other. Also DONT apply body filler over the prep, filler can ONLY be applied to BARE metal or cured epoxy primer. You must use both products together, the cleaner cleans the metal for the conversion coating without the cleaner you have NOTHING.

In all reality you can apply just wash primer like PPG dx1791 or dupont variprime over the bare metal also and skip the 2 step process, as basically its a sprayable version of prep...Eric

Something I just remembered, metal prep can only be used on metal. Dont apply prep when you have filler on the metal, dont apply filler over the prep.

If you go the wash/etch prime process filler cant be applied over that either. But you can apply etch OVER the filler, just never filler over etch. Remember that filler can ONLY be applied OVER bare metal or epoxy primer graemlins/beers.gif

In all reality you can apply just wash primer like PPG dx1791 or dupont variprime over the bare metal also and skip the 2 step process, as basically its a sprayable version of prep...Eric

Just so I have this corrrect you say, I can apply variprime over the bare metal without using a
metal prep? :confused:
What exactly would I have to do the metal before I use this stuff? :confused:
Is this veri prime a epoxy primer?
What do you mean by wash primer? :confused: :confused:
Thank you so much for your input!

yes a etch or wash primer can be applied over the bare metal without the prep. In fact you choose one or the other NOT BOTH as the acids in the products will react with each other causing problems.

Like I mentioned before the prep cleans, etchs, applies a phosphate coating etc. An etch primer does the same thing all without doing the 2 step process like the prep involves.

Now is one better then the other its kinda your choice but I use etch primer, ex Dupont's variprime. Wash primer and etch primer are kinda thrown into together alot, both similiar products but have slightly different chacteristics.

Variprime is NOT an epoxy primer. Before using you need to remove any surface rust(etch will dissolve slight surface rust like prep will) with a da sander. I would try 180 grit first, if that doesnt work go to 80 grit. Once doen with 80 grit you NEED to go over the 80 grit scratches with 180 grit, you DONT WANT those 80 scratches on the metal.

Clean the metal REAL good with a wax remover and apply one coat of variprime or etch of choice. Allow a flash time of 30 mins then apply 2 coats of epoxy primer.

Now you can leave the car without worring about flash rust. When time comes for body work you can apply filler right over the epoxy, just slightly scuff with 80 or 180 then apply filler, BUT MAKE SURE THE EPOXY IS DRY AND FULLY CURED . Have seen cases of filler peeling right off epoxy because it was applied over uncured epoxy, allow atleast 2 days for cure