kafkaonwheels wrote:First, I am no bodywork technician or experienced painter. But I also did my G bodywork myself, currently under epoxy primer, needing still some pinhole etc. fixes and then it is ready for finer coats. It is a tough road to go, not sure if I want to do it ever again. I did read and watched lot of material before and during the job. There are various different approaches to do all this, I just chose what was available here and what I thought would give long lasting result.
It's not my forte either, but I don't have a choice at this point. Luckily I'm down to bare metal all around (well, epoxy primer now) and there's really only a few problem areas I need to worry about.
kafkaonwheels wrote:Hopefully you already know this, if possible stay in one manufacture products (sealer, primer, paint etc.) and read datasheets before use (they all available from online for major companies). MB itself approves Glasurit, PPG Refinish, R-M, Spies Hecker and Standoff.
This is all very good to know. Thank you!
kafkaonwheels wrote:With etch primer, you really want to find out the exact used product: first, some of them may cause problems to polyester filler when filler is applied directly over, compatible primer may be needed between; second, in datasheet there is recommended procedure for re-coating, some etch primers have no maximum time, some need just sanding, some need sanding and using one coat of same product etc. I think that to get it completely off you need to re-blast all the surfaces. I didn’t used etch myself, went for 2k epoxy.
I'm a little past this at this point, but I'll find out what etching primer the shop used after media blasting. This is really good to know, and luckily it's been very hot and very dry lately in SoCal.
kafkaonwheels wrote:I recommend keeping the doors to shell, getting them as flush and straight as possible and then doing least a rough filler work and sanding. Seen some trucks where doors don’t match the body, once the filler is on you cannot force adjust them.
Luckily for me all the doors are currently on the truck. I was thinking about removing them for painting -- er Rhino lining -- but I may just swing them open.
kafkaonwheels wrote:Wish I could say it is easy work but it is not true, sanding filler is so dull that in most car shows cut it just to 30 second clip. But overall, rougher the journey, more you will grow and appreciate all other things. After first year in my project, I stopped counting hours, money and setting deadlines, rather enjoy process by trying to make all as good as I can detail by detail.
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I have no choice but to enjoy the process. Some of the work at the base of the rock sliders is going to be particularly challenging, but past that, I'm not too worried. Gunna get some hammer time in before applying any sort of filler.
Thanks for the well wishes!