collision repair and auto painting

[bmwstephen]

Oliver,

do you recommend using paint stripper products when trying to strip prepainted parts, especially plastics? or would they eat through them to

[oliver.r]

Oliver,

do you recommend using paint stripper products when trying to strip prepainted parts, especially plastics? or would they eat through them to

NEVER USE PAINT STRIPPER ON PLASTIC
It will destroy it, even paint stripper made for plastic will deform the surface, if you want to strip a plastic part you have to sand it off.
You also have to sand it as uniform as possible.
If you stay in one spot too much it will heat up and make the plastic swell

[bmwstephen]

Oliver,

I know this question is beating the dead horse but regarding respraying parts that already have been resprayed... with the exception on metal panels, do you use the same process where you are stripping off the paint down to the surface? or do you simply sand it down the resprayed coats to where the original base paint was for a proper job?

[oliver.r]

Oliver,

I know this question is beating the dead horse but regarding respraying parts that already have been resprayed... with the exception on metal panels, do you use the same process where you are stripping off the paint down to the surface? or do you simply sand it down the resprayed coats to where the original base paint was for a proper job?

it depends on how many times it has been resprayed, if it has only been resprayed. you want the least amount of paint as possible on flexible parts to prevent them from stress cracking.
you can just sand it down to the original paint but it is usually pretty dificult to make it uniform so its sometimes easier just to completely strip the part.
metal parts are a bit diferent, the do not flex as much so paint build up isnt as much of a issue when there is only a low number of resprayed

[oliver.r]

cabriolet just dropped off a bunch of parts for hiz mtech vert !

[bmwstephen]

it depends on how many times it has been resprayed, if it has only been resprayed. you want the least amount of paint as possible on flexible parts to prevent them from stress cracking.
you can just sand it down to the original paint but it is usually pretty dificult to make it uniform so its sometimes easier just to completely strip the part.
metal parts are a bit diferent, the do not flex as much so paint build up isnt as much of a issue when there is only a low number of resprayed

what would you say is the respray tolerance on metal parts? In my experience, even respraying it once has adhesion issues on the the edges of panels (ie, the corners, edges, pillars, etc..)

[SteveJ]

Btw want to sell it?

No chance. I've had this one for over 20 years. It's a labor of love.

Thanks for the input on body and paint.

I did discover rust in the passenger floor. Pretty bad, will need to be cut out and patched. Just now in the wire wheel phase to see how extensive it is, but it is perforated in the area between the inner frame rail and the transmission tunnel. I'm going to drop the transmission and maybe pull the passenger fender just to have unencumbered access to do the repairs. I'm sad I found rust on my otherwise rust free car, but I'm glad I found it before I sent it to paint.

[oliver.r]

No chance. I've had this one for over 20 years. It's a labor of love.

Thanks for the input on body and paint.

I did discover rust in the passenger floor. Pretty bad, will need to be cut out and patched. Just now in the wire wheel phase to see how extensive it is, but it is perforated in the area between the inner frame rail and the transmission tunnel. I'm going to drop the transmission and maybe pull the passenger fender just to have unencumbered access to do the repairs. I'm sad I found rust on my otherwise rust free car, but I'm glad I found it before I sent it to paint.

thats gonna be fun, glad to here youre picking it up, doing the same with my 02 takes a lot fo time but in the end its all worth it.
good luck!

[Cabriolet]

cabriolet just dropped off a bunch of parts for hiz mtech vert !

thx for getting to it so quickly. it was a huge pita to get off the car w/o breaking the clips.

[SteveJ]

My 02 has been in daily driver mode (and weekend fun ride) for the last several years. It will be ready for motor #3 by the time I get the M3 rolling.

[oliver.r]

Let me drop some knowledge on ya!

[Thizzelle]

any experience with the rust to primer converters, ie rustoleum stuff?

[oliver.r]

any experience with the rust to primer converters, ie rustoleum stuff?

some uy just called the shop asking the exact same question like 5 minutes ago, in short no, at the shop we dont use aerosol anyting except trim paint. it is worth a try tho, it cant look any worse than dirty dirty rust

[Cabriolet]

I have used the rustoleum rust converter primer on 3 cars. my dad's battery tray, an old american car and a vw cabriolet windshield seal. it kills the rust nicely. it turns black once it has done the job. although once its on, you still have to sand/fill the areas.

[oliver.r]

well i hope that answered your question