Regrets?
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Mike Kayer
- Posts: 14
- Joined: Tue May 03, 2005 12:09 pm
Regrets?
If you could go back and fix any oversights before paint, what would they be? Getting really close to the paint stage on my 71 beetle, I'm at the point where I'm going over everything with a fine tooth comb, resanding tricky parts like around the hinges, body seams, etc. Just want to "pick the brains" of people who have been there, done that. Are there any small imperfections that you overlooked, and now drive you crazy every time you look at your otherwise perfect car?
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MNAirHead
- Posts: 9570
- Joined: Mon Sep 08, 2003 6:12 am
Welcome to STF.. clarification question.
Are you taking your car all the way down to steel or just touching it up.
My petpeeve is being all done and then finding rust.. OR painting the parts you can see and not those that are hidden...
First place to start is ensuring the "weep holes" are open.
Little clarifcation and we'll try to help.
Are you taking your car all the way down to steel or just touching it up.
My petpeeve is being all done and then finding rust.. OR painting the parts you can see and not those that are hidden...
First place to start is ensuring the "weep holes" are open.
Little clarifcation and we'll try to help.
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Mike Kayer
- Posts: 14
- Joined: Tue May 03, 2005 12:09 pm
Here's my last progress update from last year: http://www.shoptalkforums.com/viewtopic ... highlight=
To clarify, I'm through the priming, and blocking stages, most of the car went to bare metal, and now I'm "fine tuning" things before paint. Just want the input of people who may have some valuable hindsight after completing a project like this. For instance, I've spent a ton of time sanding around the drip rail where it goes along the front 1/4 panel. This is one spot I'll always inspect on other peoples repaints as I know what a bear it is to make it look nice. The louvers (the ones above the engine bay, inside), were also a major p.i.t.a. I had to make many a custom "sanding stick" to get all the flaky paint out of there. Wasn't willing to find the spotwelds and remove the piece, though.
I basically want to know, If you were being really critical of someone elses bodywork, what are the tricky bits you look at?
MK
To clarify, I'm through the priming, and blocking stages, most of the car went to bare metal, and now I'm "fine tuning" things before paint. Just want the input of people who may have some valuable hindsight after completing a project like this. For instance, I've spent a ton of time sanding around the drip rail where it goes along the front 1/4 panel. This is one spot I'll always inspect on other peoples repaints as I know what a bear it is to make it look nice. The louvers (the ones above the engine bay, inside), were also a major p.i.t.a. I had to make many a custom "sanding stick" to get all the flaky paint out of there. Wasn't willing to find the spotwelds and remove the piece, though.
I basically want to know, If you were being really critical of someone elses bodywork, what are the tricky bits you look at?
MK
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MNAirHead
- Posts: 9570
- Joined: Mon Sep 08, 2003 6:12 am
When judging.. I get under the car and look up.
Seems as if folks do not finish their filler around the perimeter... at the corners should be steel.. not bondo.
ALSO.. paint the underside of everything first.. can't tell you how many bugs have trashy looking fenders from the bottom.
Guess I"m also a freak for taking the body off and painting the entire underside satin black.
Overall.. seems as if bondo is the biggest culprit.
T.
Seems as if folks do not finish their filler around the perimeter... at the corners should be steel.. not bondo.
ALSO.. paint the underside of everything first.. can't tell you how many bugs have trashy looking fenders from the bottom.
Guess I"m also a freak for taking the body off and painting the entire underside satin black.
Overall.. seems as if bondo is the biggest culprit.
T.
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crvc
- Posts: 1564
- Joined: Fri Aug 29, 2003 2:37 pm
Are you saying to paint the wheel-side of the fenders? The same stuff you're painting the body, doors, etc with? Or a rust-inhibiting paint with an undercoating material over that to protect from chips?MNAirHead wrote:When judging.. I get under the car and look up.
Seems as if folks do not finish their filler around the perimeter... at the corners should be steel.. not bondo.
ALSO.. paint the underside of everything first.. can't tell you how many bugs have trashy looking fenders from the bottom.
Guess I"m also a freak for taking the body off and painting the entire underside satin black.
Overall.. seems as if bondo is the biggest culprit.
T.
Kevin
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MNAirHead
- Posts: 9570
- Joined: Mon Sep 08, 2003 6:12 am
Meaning just about anything.
Side story example... the difference between investment grade furniture and just furniture is the finishing details.
If you ever look at super high end pieces being put together.. they start with the insides, back and bottom.. THEN work on the "pretty sides"
Just about anything in the wheel wells and fender underside.... I'm fa fan of black stuff as it's easiest to touch up.
Timmy
Side story example... the difference between investment grade furniture and just furniture is the finishing details.
If you ever look at super high end pieces being put together.. they start with the insides, back and bottom.. THEN work on the "pretty sides"
Just about anything in the wheel wells and fender underside.... I'm fa fan of black stuff as it's easiest to touch up.
Timmy
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crvc
- Posts: 1564
- Joined: Fri Aug 29, 2003 2:37 pm
That was my plan. I'm a fan of RustBullet. I painted it on the frame three years ago and left it out in the weather without a tarp for much of that three years. It turned grayish but still looks rustfree. I plan to brush it on the underside of the fenders, three layers, up to one inch inside the lip. And once the entirc car is done and ready for the road, then treat the wheelwells and frame with undercoating.
Kevin
Kevin
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MNAirHead
- Posts: 9570
- Joined: Mon Sep 08, 2003 6:12 am
