Repainting front valance

[Raven Tooth]

Just a quick question about painting. I've done some decent paintwork in the past with just spray cans, but I wanted to get some other opinions.

I have a new front valance for my car. It is currently grey - looks like it's maybe already been repainted once before. I need to paint it zinnoberrot red to match my car.

My question is: Should I just wet sand it to get some grip for the paint to stick to and then paint it red? Or should I wet sand it, prime the whole thing, then paint? Or do i need to get crazy and use paint stripper to strip the old paint off then prime and paint?

This has got to probably be one of the easiest parts of the car to paint since it has that orange peel texture already pressed in the metal. Not many surfaces I need to worry about getting mirror-like finishes on.

I'm sure this has been answered before but I've already went to search route and couldn't find any direct answers. Thanks in advance.

[THE FEZMAN]

if the paint is already in good shape i would scrub the hell out of it with red scotchbrite and cleanser wash it off and shoot it. if its all chipped up and rusty only then i would think about stripping it

[Raven Tooth]

Yeah, it looks pretty good. Just need to degrease the heck out of it probably. You don't think I even need primer? (By the way thanks, I don't know what the hell I'm doing and I appreciate the advice.)

[THE FEZMAN]

if you dont sand through it and the paint that is already on the part is in good shape there is no need to prime it.

[Raven Tooth]

OK cool, thats kind of what I thought. Sounds like I got my weekend project planned. Thanks Fezman.

[THE FEZMAN]

no problem, im a professional painter..

[1koole30]

Comet works great!

[dnova89]

Sorry to threadjack but just wondering, how do some people get rid of that 'orange peel' texture and paint it smooth, like the rest of the car? I want to do that with mine.

[Raven Tooth]

On the valance currently on my car (it's jacked up - hence the pending replacement), the previous owner have this orange peel texture bondoed to make it smooth. I wouldn't recommend this because as soon as you knick a step driveway with it, it's going to shatter. Mine is cracked in several places. But it does seem to work in the other areas. I am by no means a pro and just thought this was relevant. There might be a better way.

Sorry to threadjack but just wondering, how do some people get rid of that 'orange peel' texture and paint it smooth, like the rest of the car? I want to do that with mine.

[Jonny Cash]

You should absolutley prime it. Primer is porous, it will give the paint a much better surface to bond to. It will also be alot smoother granted you give it a light scuff between coats. No point in wet sanding, just hit it with 320 after its primed, and then 400 after the first coat of finish.

[Bimmerfreak87]

If paint is good condition then primer isn't needed. Scuff, clean, and paint will stick and look fine. Less work is always a + :up: Work smarter, not harder. :D

[THE FEZMAN]

exactly, priming the surface is a wast of time and materials, also it opens up an entirely new can of worms because your adding another coat of failure.

sanding/red scotch brite, is an industry accepted practice when the existing substrate is in good condition.
now if there is bare metal, or body work any break in the existing substrate then some spot priming might be in order, but to just prime a part to repaint the same color is is a wasted step. i was digging around duponts web site for the TSM for croma base but since the new EPA rulings are going into effect 2011, they took down most of them. stupid EPA..... now i have to learn how to paint all over again. :(

[Raven Tooth]

What about if I'm not repainted the same color? The valance is currently painted silver. I need to paint it Zinnoberrot. Any issue here or does everything you both said still apply?

but to just prime a part to repaint the same color is is a wasted step.

[Raven Tooth]

Sorry to threadjack but just wondering, how do some people get rid of that 'orange peel' texture and paint it smooth, like the rest of the car? I want to do that with mine.

Turns out this is just undercoating like the rest of the car. i.e. it's like a rubbery coating that's sprayed on to try to stop it from rusting. It would be possible to somehow scrape this off but I have no idea what an easy way would be. No idea if paint stripper would work.

[Jonny Cash]

Everyone has their own way of doing things. But Ive been painting for over 16 years, ive witnessed every paint failure there's known to man.
so take it for what its worth.

Especially considering a drastic color change.. Prime it, it only takes 5 minutes. The paint will adhere and cover alot nicer. This wasted step Fezman speaks of is just saving you a finish coat- we all know which material is more expensive.