18 replies to this topic

[ToM 2012]

hi i am going to be putting a mk1 bootlid on my mini but it needs a couple of repairs before filler and painting.. i want to know once i have done the welding and its ready to filler do i put the filler straight onto the bare metal? or do i zinc primer it first then filler then primer then paint? i will be doing all the prep my self and i might even give the painting ago myself. thanks tom 

[benjy_18]

Filler straight onto clean bare metal, just give everything a good wipe with thinners and a tack rag before you stick the filler on

[Daz1968]

Filler best either on bare metal or over epoxy primer. Just remember filler absorbs moisture from the air so needs over coating if leaving the car for a while.

[kezzkitkat]

Put filler straight on to bare metal sand with a block then any bare metal around the repair use etch primer either rub through etch (aerosol) or spray gun ( etch primer ratio 1:1 ) then high build it, guide coat (contrasting aerosol) then either dry sand or wet sand then it ready for top coat and clear unless your using direct gloss or 1k paint

[ToM 2012]

ok lads cheers will put it straight onto bare metal. 

[kezzkitkat]

Spend quite alot of time with the repair peice and the welding personal I would stich weld as doesn't warp and plus your dont want be putting 10tons of filler on it

[Artful Dodger]

bare metal / etch primer, it doesnt matter:)     as long as its clean and you dont scoop it on.  build it up in thin ish layers, so filler sand filler sand ect ect.  but when rubbing down, a doog flat block, ideally wood, is 100% necessary. or else you go nowhere.  DAs do not sand it flat, they just follow the contours of the bent steel.  so ideally a block of wood 3/4 thick, inch and a half wide and as long as a piece of an A4 sheet of sandpaper is wide.   thats the best size i feel

[ToM 2012]

ile try my best to get it all flush so i will only need a light skim of filler over the top. its mainly across the bottom its rotted away. and i have a sanding block i can use. if its no good i have some pieces of timber lying around. cheers tom 

[midridge2]

I was always taught to put filler on bare metal, the trouble with using etch primer first is that if it has not dried before you put filler on is that the chemicals can bleed into the filler causing soft spots.

[jaydee]

You can put filler on whatever surface, as long as its clean, but its better to key down to metal to have a fresh surface to work with, there must be anything covered by paint, primer and filler, you never know..

[myredmini]

You can put filler over 2k but not over celly, it can soften the paint with it not being chemically hardened and can cause issues, its always safe to fill bare steel though.

[kezzkitkat]

I wouldn't recommend filler over any paint ^yes its true about 1k paint but 2k can give you problem as adhesion from filler to paint so best to feather the paint out as much as possible that you think you can do the repair with out filler over existing paint however you can use a 1k stopper or putty on top of primer for say like pin holes and scratches

[myredmini]

I wouldn't recommend filler over any paint ^yes its true about 1k paint but 2k can give you problem as adhesion from filler to paint so best to feather the paint out as much as possible that you think you can do the repair with out filler over existing paint however you can use a 1k stopper or putty on top of primer for say like pin holes and scratches

This is very true. I should have said, filler over 2k is to be done at your own risk.

[kezzkitkat]

I wouldn't recommend filler over any paint ^yes its true about 1k paint but 2k can give you problem as adhesion from filler to paint so best to feather the paint out as much as possible that you think you can do the repair with out filler over existing paint however you can use a 1k stopper or putty on top of primer for say like pin holes and scratches

This is very true. I should have said, filler over 2k is to be done at your own risk.

I was just adding to your comment :)hope you didn't mind

[Minilegs]

That's spooky, as I've just started the exact same repairs myself !!

Wish there was a steel boot skin available to buy, as reaping the original is gonna be tricky, far to many curves for my liking !

Can't help you filler though mate, as I'm yet to pop my cherry in that department !!