Hey guys, I'm going to be repainting my Trans Am and for prep I'm sanding the body down to bare metal to start with a fresh, clean surface. The auto body supply shop told me I can get away with just standard primer on the bare metal because it's been painted before. They told me that only fresh metal that never saw paint before needs an etching primer. I'm a little skeptical about this, especially since the instructions (look under "data sheets" in the chart on the following link) for the Transtar primer I got says to use etching primer or epoxy to prepare the surface.

https://www.tat-co.com/products/prep...l-primer-6004/

I want to do things the right way and I'd hate to see my paint job fall apart, but I don't want to spend more than I need to as well. What are your thoughts?

 

Epoxy then primer surfacer.

I personally would recomend PPG or RM products.

Maybee worth a read

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/body...-yourself.html

 

I used all PPG products on my car. And I would never spray regular primer onto bare metal whether it's been painted or not. I've heard epoxy primer works great as a base layer as well, but I used a PPG self etching primer on mine and then sprayed the high build standard primer over that.

Make sure you read the directions well too before spraying! When I did the self etching primer, it specifically said to spray a full coat on, and then re-coat with the standard primer NO MORE than 24 hours after, since the standard primer needs to make a chemical bond with the self etching primer. Not supposed to sand the self etching primer at all either before spraying on the standard stuff. I'm sure every manufacturer has their own methods, but just be sure you've got the lowdown before doing anything.

 

I like epoxy as a first layer because it seals and it really adheres to the surface well. Read and understand the product information sheets. If you don't under stand, call them; they pay people to do nothing but answer questions.

 

EPOXY...

 

I been told and this is what I have done epoxy prime epoxy base clear

 

I used ppg dplf epoxy.
I'm not a professional painter, but I did a lot of research on modern paint and it seems self etching primer is obsolete. The only time it seems to be appropriate is on newly made steel because of the crap that remains from the steel production. Pretty rare you will need that working on cars, except where you have fabricated. Even in this case, it seems its not needed if the surface has been sanded or even chemically cleaned.
Epoxy seems to be the way to go now, and if there are concerns about new steel you should use the metal prep or cleaning products the manufacturer recommends.

 

PS. run away from Transtar. Inconsistent batches, gratuitous use of cheap fillers (talc), reduces with acetone.

 

N/M

 

I used Transtar Qwik Prime on my car. Some of it was bare metal, some was factory primer. The can says it's ideal for bare metal and worked well. Make sure you reduce it some or it's hard to get to lay flat. And once cured acetone didn't faze it..