Advise on Body Work

thomasarnold · Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2007 4:32 pm Post subject: Advise on Body Work

Folks,

I need some expert advise concerning the right sequence of body work. I have sand blasted the tub of my Jeep, replaced all rusted areas with new sheet metal and just got done grinding the welds down.

Now I need to know the correct order of the next steps:

- Should I use body filler next to even out the grinding over the welds?

- Do I use the body filler before the primer?

- Can I use glazing putty after I apply the primer (since the imperfections become more visible after primer is applied and dries) or does it have to be applied directly onto the body filler?

- After all this work I am concerned that there might be some bleed-through where body filler will be applied so: Is 'Rust-Oleum Primer for Heavily Rusted Metal' (the brownish/grey stuff) sufficient as a sealer over the body filler?

I searched several posts on several forums but ended up with some contradicting answers. Seems to me that different people prefer a different order. That is fine by me but I am no body repair man so I need some advise from the people that already done this job.

Thanks for the help!

DMCarpenter · Member Joined: May 28, 2007 Posts: 97 Location: Denver, NC

I am about to make a suggestion that I should follow myself, but hey...

You might want to look into a body repair course at your local community college. Fall is coming and those courses are typically cheap, very hands on, and you can generally get some work done free/on the cheap. Welding courses can also be useful as well.

To answer at least one question, filler goes on bare metal, and less is usually more.

Just a thought

GregS · Member Joined: Apr 13, 2005 Posts: 174

In the body shop world it is a wide debate if filler should go on bare metal or not. I have done both with excellent results. If you spray the body with epoxy primer, the filler will adhere just fine and should moisture get underneath your filler, the epoxy primer will protect the metal underneath. When you often see filler bubbling, it is because moisture has gotten underneath the filler and is rusting the metal away.

My favorite procedure is:

1. epoxy primer over prepped bare metal
2. filler
3. spray sandable primer
4. block sand
5. After block sanding you will be able to see your high and low spots and determine if you need more filler or two-part glazing. Use the two part glazing. All other glazing is junk and will shrink.
6. Spray primer and block sand
7. Spray epoxy primer
8. Top coat X3

Do not use Rust Oleum, it is not very compatible with auto paint. Epoxy primer is execellent stuff and will stick to anything.

The key is to spray primer, block sand, and fill repeadily until you have a flat surface that blends perfectly into the surrounding area. If it doesn't it will stick out horribly when you spray the top coat. Patients is a must.

thomasarnold · Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2007 4:20 am Post subject:

Greg, Thank you very much for taking time and giving me a detailed answer to my question. That was exactly what I was looking for. Regards - Thomas

GregS · Member Joined: Apr 13, 2005 Posts: 174

Below is an excellent forum for autobody. Do a search or read old pages and you will find excellent resource material.

There are some real pros on here.

http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/body-exterior/

BEAR · Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2007 6:44 am Post subject:

Hi, I know I 'm a bit late to put my bit in here, but Ive been in the panel & paint game for 38 yrs now, and I just wanted to say how we do it. The body filler is put in after you have ground to bare metal, it is then filed & sanded flat before being sprayed with a 2 pak hi-build primer, the primer is only to fill any small imperfections & scratches left from sanding the filler. (not to fill dents etc) the primer is then blocked flat before your colour coat is applied. Hope this is of some help to you if it is & you want any more info please let me know. Good luck Bear

thomasarnold · Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2007 6:51 am Post subject: Thanks!

Just wanted to thank everybody for the infos. I will get started with it this weekend!

Greetings,

BEAR · Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 7:14 am Post subject:

Good Luck with it all and happy repairing Very Happy

thomasarnold · Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2007 4:46 pm Post subject: Got The Tub Back On...

Hello everybody.

The last three weeks have been pretty busy and I wanted to thank everybody for all the hints and tips. After a lot of new sheet metal, many feet of welding wire, a contractor's pack of grinding discs, countless sheets of sand paper and several gallons of primer and OD paint the tub is finally back on the frame. I think it turned out pretty decent and I am glad that I didn't decide to buy a reproduction tub. It would have been a lot less work but I just could not bring myself to get rid of the original tin can. Now it's starting to look somewhat like a JEEP again...

.

I wish I would have taken more pictures before I started. Probably got too exited tearing the rust bucket apart...

.

Greetings

Thomas

Cacti_Ken · Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 9:18 pm Post subject:

Thomas, you have done a lot of work in such a short time. And with the hot temperatures around the states. Great work.
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35th Inf. Reg. "CACTI" 4th I.D. VN
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BEAR · Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 6:37 am Post subject:

Hey Thomas you've done a great job there mate, it's a credit to you, Very Happy

I know what you mean about wishing you'd taken more photos, I do that every time, just to keen to get into it! Anyway be proud mate you did that.
Cheers Ray (BEAR) Cool


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