14 replies to this topic

[Icey]

Hi All,

I have done a search and can't really find my answers.

I have a F/G front to spray and a bootlid - do the same principles and materials of spraying metal apply to fibreglass?

I'm using 2k for the body

Thank you in advance for your replies!

Icey

[Paul Wiginton]

Dont use acid etch primer as it eats the fibreglass. Other than that exactly the same proceedures apply. Key it well, degrease and paint

Paul

[Frog]

Dont use acid etch primer as it eats the fibreglass. Other than that exactly the same proceedures apply. Key it well, degrease and paint

Paul

Yeah just key the fibre glass off with some 800 then use normal 2k primer & paint.

[Tomf]

I dont agree with the above answeres, use a plastic primer first (its like a clear primer, put this on as a dust coat, then paint as normal over that)

When my front end was painted this wasnt done and the paint soon came away from the fiberglass in a grazed sort of effect...

And my front end was preped as with normal metal, then given a final rough up with 800, all the paint on the metal is still in top condition, but everything that went on the fiberglass went bed...

I got the advise to use the clear plastic primer from both the top painters on the forum and three local paint shops.

Edited by Tomf, 11 May 2009 - 08:23 PM.

[Frog]

I dont agree with the above answeres, use a plastic primer first (its like a clear primer, put this on as a dust coat, then paint as normal over that)

When my front end was painted this wasnt done and the paint soon came away from the fiberglass in a grazed sort of effect...

And my front end was preped as with normal metal, then given a final rough up with 800, all the paint on the metal is still in top condition, but everything that went on the fiberglass went bed...

I got the advise to use the clear plastic primer from both the top painters on the forum and three local paint shops.

I have sprayed several fibreglass front ends, wheel arches, motorbike fairings etc & have never had any concerns using the method I put earlier. It's all in the prep.

[Tomf]

I dissagree, speak to ant paint shop and they will tell you that when spraying large fiberglass panels you need to do more than you would compair to painting metal.

For small things like wheel arches and bike fairing they dont really flex much atall, but with mini front end there is alot of movment that is put through it unless you have it secured with about 50 bolts so it doesnt move!

If using a mini with a glass front end yes you migh get away with it if you drive the car like a 90 year old, but anything other than that after time the paint will come away over time.

Nothing to do with the prep, otherwise in my case the paint would have come away from the metal panels. And when i re-painted my boot using the plastic primer iv not had a single problem since then.

[Frog]

I dissagree, speak to ant paint shop and they will tell you that when spraying large fiberglass panels you need to do more than you would compair to painting metal.

For small things like wheel arches and bike fairing they dont really flex much atall, but with mini front end there is alot of movment that is put through it unless you have it secured with about 50 bolts so it doesnt move!

If using a mini with a glass front end yes you migh get away with it if you drive the car like a 90 year old, but anything other than that after time the paint will come away over time.

Nothing to do with the prep, otherwise in my case the paint would have come away from the metal panels. And when i re-painted my boot using the plastic primer iv not had a single problem since then.

Maybe we should agree to disagree but I have been spraying for over 15 years & have never had any of my paint come of fibre glass panels !!!

[midridge2]

back in the day before plastic primer was invented we use to paint a lot of f/glass stuff, eg, ambulances, cars, racing motorbikes etc and we never had paint come off.
that was using all types of paint except fpr water based.

[Paul Wiginton]

I am Aston Martin trained, I know what Im talking about, you do not put plastic primer on fibreglass, I dont care who told you to.

The paint suppliers themselves say key it properly, degrease and prime, thats it.

Obviously whoever painted your front end didnt prep it right.

I always prep fibreglass with P180 before a good quality primer, flat with P360 the P600 then colour.

Paul

[Element_01303]

Sorry to hijack, but this is very relevent to this thread, I am using the u-pol fiber filler for some body work on my car and was wonder if etch primer is ok over this. I did a test patch and it seemed to work fine with no reaction??? Just curious as in smoothing the filler I have re-exposed metal surrounding the patch work and would like to get the etch back on there before the hi-build goes on...any thoughts?

[Paul Wiginton]

Just a dusting of overspray will be OK as U-Pol isnt very agressive but dont get too much on it.

Paul

[Element_01303]

Thanks Paul, just wanted to make sure I was'nt going to bugger myself up for later on down the road and have to start over, all you body work tips throughout various threads have really helped me along

-Christian

[Matrix]

I have painted quite a few car with fibreglass panels and agree with Paul here! never used a plastic primer before??? just good prep work it all I ever do! never had any paint crack or react. See a few people use a flex agent in the paint before...I guess it also depends on what kind of gel goat has been use on the panel.

[commander]

Dont use acid etch primer as it eats the fibreglass. Other than that exactly the same proceedures apply. Key it well, degrease and paint

Paul

hmmm im glad i read this post now as i was advised by my paint supplier to use acid etch ...
cheers paul

[Paul Wiginton]

Acid etch is exactly what the name suggests - Acid.

It sticks to the metal by eating into the surface so it actually is in the metal aswell as on it, then the primer sticks to that.

Imagine what it does to softer fibreglass

Paul