there is prep stuff just for this i forget the technical name of it but we have some over at the shop, any paint place will know what you mean and have some.

i never use it but you probably should if youre seriously painting it with $$ paint and such.

i never do, as i just paint flat black or something cheap usually, rustoleum quart cans usually with some mid temp reducer and slap it on real quick.

peace

 

Prep Sol is what you should use. Also after that a tack cloth. Autobody for the prep sol the tack cloth you can get at H/D

 

is prep sol a name brand or who makes it?

 

Prep sol was a name Dupont used. Diffrent mfg may use a diffrent name. But if ask for it they will know what you want.

 

I used a wax & grease remover before I started sanding,but thought maybe for final wipe before tack rag maybe I shouldn't use the wax & grease remover---maybe something milder----someone told me to use windex??/

 

Windex won't have the evaporation ablity as prep sol. I use prep sol before sanding, before prime and before top coat. Just cheap insurance

 

I used a wax & grease remover before I started sanding,but thought maybe for final wipe before tack rag maybe I shouldn't use the wax & grease remover...

I was under the impression wax and grease remover was just fine for final wipe down prior to tack cloth. Is that incorrect?

 

Shouldn't he also use a metal prep prior to tac cloth. Neutralize the metal I believe.

 

I was under the impression wax and grease remover was just fine for final wipe down prior to tack cloth. Is that incorrect?

Its fine. Waterborne however I've been told the solvents are too strong.

DX330 is PPG's wax and grease remover.

 

I wrote this article about five years ago so some of the part numbers may have changed but you will get a better understanding on what exactly you should do regarding "surface cleaners".

http://autobodystore.com/ms8.shtml

Brian

 

... you will get a better understanding on what exactly you should do regarding "surface cleaners".

Right you are...that does give a better understanding. Thanks Brian.

 

what is the best thing to use to wipe a car down with before painting? I've heard of everything from alchohol to specially made stuff

I think this will help. This guy has been painting a Long time and did Very High end cars..even has his own show now
52F1



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9rb...8QvtHs&feature=PlayList&p=ACF2781A74A8C2C4&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=39

 

This is the problem I have with using a WINDOW cleaner,

1. What else in the stuff? Do you want to use "RainX" before painting, I don't think so! But that WINDOW cleaner may have something in it that you don't want anywhere around your painting, after all it is a WINDOW cleaner not an automotive surface cleaner for use prior to painting.

2. Do you think that if this was the "cat's meow" for cleaning, that this guy is so brilliant that he has found the magical "holy grail" to cleaning prior to paint that the PAINT companies wouldn't have the same stuff in a can for you go buy from them?

3. Why do you think the PAINT companies are keeping this little secret to them selves?

Listen, pure "window cleaner" is nothing more than water and ammonia I would think, is that going to "hurt" something? No, I don't imagine so. But I am sure the blue color in Windex is NOT from water or ammonia, so what is it? Dye, some "water shedding" component? Why in the hell would we want to use something that is not only not designed for the job, but NOT NEEDED either?

Your paint company be it PPG, DuPont, or ANY other has surface cleaners, and they have waterborne ones that do everything that this guy says WINDOW cleaner does.

The difference is it costs more, HOWEVER, it is designed, and backed by the people who make (or at least market) the $1000 in paint that you bought to apply after cleaning! Why in the world would we want to save three dollars and twenty five cents (I made up that number ) on the proper surface cleaner and then apply a thousand dollars in paint over it?

For God's sake, FOLLOW THE TECH SHEETS of the $1000 paint products you are using and use what they say!

Brian

 

Good grief - I thought this subject was dead and gone!!!

Most paint manufacturer's make a product. Your local paint supplier can sell you one that works just fine either water or solvent borne. I prefer the solvent version because I don't feel comfortable that water will remove my sticky finger prints, that silicon spray you should never have used near any body work or road oils or even rubber kicked up by tires(rubber really isn't rubber any longer - its a mixture of chemicals that might just have some rubber mixed in as a small adder). While I'm probably wrong about the water borne, I need some warm and fuzzies that my painting surface is as clean as I can make it. Prepsol/Metal Etch - it's seldom used any longer with the new urethanes and epoxies.

Wipe your surface down with lots of rags - I generally do, as a minimum, 3 times over the surface, and use a 1/2 pound bag of rags each time.

Dave W

 

it is a trade secret that has never created a headache or a fish eye..

http://www.a2zautoforums.com/showthread.php?t=2838&page=1&pp=20

Here's what to look for as the skin of the water breaks on a preped panel...

...then re wash/scuff and wet again