10 replies to this topic

[Pooky]

Hi all!

When I went to my local body/spray shop to get the stuff to spray my fibreglass front they gave me 2 pack paint and said that I won't need primer just to 'dust' a thin layer on first then put a final top coat down. Now this is a well reputed body shop in Hastings so I do trust their advice but I just wanted to see what you guys thought.

Like most flipfronts it's finished in a white gel coat will this require keying first? Will the 'dust' coat or the final coat?

Ta!

[Retro_10s]

I totally disagree with them

The gel coats needs keying with 400-800 wet and dry used wet. should be left with a Matt finish Gel coat when it's keyed rather than gloss If that makes sense.

Then, after a good degreasing and very thorough de-dusting spray your Plastic primer on.

(at this point there is conflict, some say lightly flat it back, some don't)

Now you're ready for colour

[blue redtop]

u do need to sand it to get all the shine off the fiber glass and prime it with plastic primer or it will flake off in a couple months.
and you dont really want that happening.
like matey above said its up to you if you sand the primer.i always do as the finish result is much much better.

[Pooky]

Ok that's great. Can you get plastic primer from a body shop or just in rattle cans from Halfords?

[Bungle]

to go a bit off topic but retro 10's might know

do you need any primer on fibre glass with rustoleum ?

[panelbeaterpeter]

Bungle, yeah you do.

Retro, plastic primer isn't really neccesary ontop of gelcoat. It's not a plastic, more of a very thick layer of 2k! it definitely wouldn't do any harm to plastic prime it, but I personally never bother. Regarding rubbing down plastic primer, there are two types. You can get an aerosol plastic primer which has a high build much like normal primer, which is best flatted to get a nice finish. The other type which most bodyshops use, is very thin, like water, and has to be sprayed on with a gun. You dust it on as it will run very easily due to it beng so thin. As you can imagine, if you touch this type of primer with even a scotchbrite, you will go through and it'll need re-priming.

[Bungle]

my fibreglass is gell coated

its the pop top off Dolly the camper

[panelbeaterpeter]

Yeah it'll need primer, not plastic primer. You could put the paint straight on, but you'll get a better finish if it's primed and rubbed down first.

[Bungle]

OK thankyou

sorry pooky

[Ethel]

Fibreglass & gelcoat is polyester just like body filler isn't it?

[panelbeaterpeter]

Not sure to be honest Ethel. Ok, just been on google, yeah it is.