I've stripped my new inner fender wells to bare metal and applied a self-etching primer. Problem is, it may not get warm enough to paint them until spring.

Can I just leave the primer on, and in the spring, wet sand and paint them?

Thanks,

If you keep the parts in a DRY climate you will be fine.

Now depending on brand of etch you have you need to scuff and or reshoot, check the tech sheet. PPG dx1791 is scuff and reapply one coat, Dupont variprime is just scuff.
The LAST thing to do to etch is wetsand, NEVER WETSAND etch primer. Id go with a gray scotchbrite pad to scuff up the etch, seal with a urethane or epoxy primer-sealer and then paint

Not sure about the "tech sheet"...This is just "Dupli-Color" self etching primer, right out of the can...It says it can be sanded or wet sanded....

Once I've got the self-etching primer smooth, should I put the primer/sealer ontop of it? I don't think the primer/sealer is sandable?

Thanks for all the help,

jerry, teh stuff produced my PPG, S-W that is comparable to your etch is thats lacquer based. PPG says NOT to wetsand the spray bomb etch and I imagine that S-W is the same. The regular etch that you apply by gun is also NOT to be wetsand.

I would not wetsand etch as it can absorb the water as its porous. Yes you are right primer sealer is NOT meant to be sanded. A primer sealer is applied in a WET on WET method. You spray the sealer allow the proper flash time of around 15 mins then topcoat with paint. The sealer aids in adhesion and seals the undercoats from solvents contained in the topcoats, but has little to no fill.

Now if I were to do this IF I was going to spray them a semigloss black finish, Id etch the part. After the etch allow 15 mins flash time, then come back with a epoxy primer mixed as a sealer, spray a good coat or two. Allow flash time then topcoat with a single stage urethane topcoat.

Since am a PPG fan I do the PPG numbers etch- dx1781(but you have this already). Epoxy primer sealer- DPLF 90. SS urethane-DCC mixed with dx685 in the proper ratio to achieve the gloss desired.

Now if I were to paint them body color, Id skip the epoxy primer sealer and prime them with k38 instead which is a primer surfacer. The surfacer will fill any imperfections but MUST be sanded prior to topcoating. Once sanded then spray my SS urethane or base/clear. The reason for that is cause with the low gloss black it will be hard to spot surface imperfections like you would if it were painted glossy body color...Eric

Thanks! I think I'm on my way now. I still have a little time to get this straight. Thanks again!