This is topic sanding fiberglass (paint prep) in forum Tech Talk at Northern California Ford Owners  .


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Posted by Blown GR40 Mystic (Member # 476) on :
 
what is the best way to sand down fiberglass for prepping to primer and paint?
 
Posted by Blown GR40 Mystic (Member # 476) on :
 
ttt
 
Posted by ON N2O (Member # 2067) on :
 
use sand paper and go in a circular motion
 
Posted by Blown GR40 Mystic (Member # 476) on :
 
how far down do i sand it? and what needs to be done before primer?
 
Posted by sn8k (Member # 2350) on :
 
Well, depending on the quality of the glasswork (and gelcoat if so prepped) - you may have a lot of pinholes to fill. This is best done with some thinly mixed bondo and with you hand (in a glove of course) just grab a dolop & rub the bondo over the entire surface of the fiberglass (remember, you are just trying to fill the pinholes here - nothing else). Allow to dry and then wet sand the entire piece using 220 or 300 grit. Do NOT sand the fiberglass to the point that the cloth material is exposed - just enough to take off the excess bondo and high spots (use a stiff rubber sanding block on flat surfaces too) . Now paint the first coat of primer and wet sand until you have sanded off just about all of the primer - allowing the primer to fill in the low spots. Sometimes this will take as much as 6 or so coats of primer - and each time, sanding most of it off. Obvious low spost can be filled with bondo - but keeping it thin and using care when doing so will mimimize the number of coats of primer. Now after you are satisfied with the look of the piece, apply a final coat of primer & very light wet sand the entire piece using 600 grit. Now get the entire piece wet (use a wet rag and wipe it over the glasswork), and now look closely at that slick-as-a-puppy's-peter creation you just made. If it doesn't look dead nutts perfect, then repeat the primer, wet sand, and inspection routine until it is smooth. Preping fiberglass for paint isn't hard, it just requires a lot of patience, elbow grease, and a good eye. The better the quality of glasswork and gelcoat, the easier it will be - and you do get what you pay for here.

Happy painting bro [Smile]
 
Posted by Blown GR40 Mystic (Member # 476) on :
 
[worship]
 
Posted by 4.6GT (Member # 2643) on :
 
[patriot]
 




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