I'm prepping the frame for a gloss black paint so I want it to appear smooth.

My plan was to sandblast and grind down to bare metal with a D/A and 50 - 80- grit paper, prime, and then probably sand down again with 320 or even higher grit paper to make sure there is no orange peel looking surfaces.

The problem is my Dad is old school so he still has lacquer primer in our garage but I know they're using self-etch now. He doesn't want me to use the lacquer anyway because we cannot buy it anymore. I need some basic guidance on what to use and what to buy. Do I even need to use self etch since I'm grinding to bare metal? Also if any of my process sounds wrong please help.

What do I need to buy in terms of primer? Epoxy primer with a can of self etch? Brands?

Also do you know if you have to use a top loading spray gun with the new primer? We have only bottom loading guns, again because my pops is old school.

By the way. I'm not against old stuff. If there is something that will work with what I have, let me know what others have done.
Thanks for the help.

best thing to do is find a supplier in your area of quality products. PPG, Martin Sr, Dupont, whatever. Just pick a system to work with. For bare metal a etch primer, then a 2 part epoxy is the base for all your other work.

For frames, lots of people like produts like POR-15 and Rustbullet for their toughness and ease of use.

You're in the right place graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Like this? Love it! ;)

http://www.zefhix.com/images/DSC03491.JPG

Ya. Thats exactly what I want. I've been advised to use and do the follow.

1. Sandblast and Grind to bare metal
2. Prime with PPG Self Etch
3. Once dry Prime with PPG Polyester
4. Wet Sand with 600
5. Paint with Acrylic Paint
Omni single stage eurethane

Sound good?

If you are going for factory correct, I'd stay away from gloss.

Originally posted by Guitarca18:
Ya. Thats exactly what I want. I've been advised to use and do the follow.

1. Sandblast and Grind to bare metal
2. Prime with PPG Self Etch
3. Once dry Prime with PPG Polyester
4. Wet Sand with 600
5. Paint with Acrylic Paint
Omni single stage eurethane

Sound good? Nope...
step one:
have entire frame blasted
step two:
two coats of Por15
step three:
marvel at all the time and elbow grease you saved yourself. Frame cost me $150 to blast. Por15 cost $30 and misc painting crap $5. Don't forget to use compressed air to clean all the sand off. Voila!! Good Luck! graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Z, I checked out your site. It shows two pics of your blasted frame. What did they use for a blast medium? It looks nice and satiny. Did you sand it afterwards?

Did you consider the semi-gloss POR-15?

Originally posted by lcamino:
Z, I checked out your site. It shows two pics of your blasted frame. What did they use for a blast medium? It looks nice and satiny. Did you sand it afterwards?

Did you consider the semi-gloss POR-15? They used a fine-bead glass which I was suprised to see did not leave a porous finish. It was very soft to the touch and the frame literally looked brand new from the assemble line. As for the finish, I'm building this car to look good underneath too. I figured their regular coating was fine and since it would never see daylight no topcoat...