Scotchbrite??

[Arthurdaily]

So, painting my car... starting on the engine bay next week, gunk it down, then I thought sandpaper / scraper for any tough bits, then clean off with thinners, let it dry, etch primer for any metal, then filler primer, sand that down with 300 paper, then topcoats... easy I thought but people keep talking about 'scotchbrite' pads... they are kitchen scourer type pads, correct? When do you use them?? DO you use them???

Confised! Thanks!

[MarkyB]

I found that a stainless steel pan scourer is almost infinitely reusable, just wash it out with thinners or degreaser if it gets full.
Sand paper will just clog up and be unusable.

Much prefer Jizer over gunk any day.

[Alec]

Hello Arthur,

are you doing this by hand, i.e no power sanders etc? If so I suggest you invest in some, even a small square sander. (The large DIY ones are too cumbersome.)

Go to a paint supplier or motor factors and ask for production paper, it comes in various grades. Any areas that need the paint removing, use 40 grit and on sound areas 180\240 grit. Production paper does not clog in a power sander, by the way. Any areas that need filling, fill onto bare shiny metal, i.e. do not primer first.

Scotchbrite comes in various grades, colour coded, e.g grey, purple etc but is generally too fine for what you are doing.

Alec

[Arthurdaily]

Hi ALec

Most of the car is okay - there are simply patches, mostly small, on each panel that need rust treating and sorting. The remainder of the paint is okay, if very dull - I Think for most of that it just needs keying, with 'whatever' grade I end up using... so complex lol... for that I think I might use my small 12 quid power sander... with, as you say, production paper - so you say 240 paper for sound paint to key ALec? Would that keyed sound paint then have primer or straight to colour do you think?

[Alec]

Hello Arthur,

the main concern is getting rid of the rust, Strip and Clean discs I mentioned in another post will do that, or else use a chemical treatment. Google Bilt Hamber for such products. I would primer everything once all the basic prepartion is done then colour coat.

Alec

[Arthurdaily]

Hi, I have taken previous advice and purchased ebrasive discs... expensive I thought at 15 quid for three, cheapest I could find - but you were right, great for quick removal of all material down to metal...

As for the rust itself, where pits remain... I have loads of chemicals for that, then encapsulator and then primer and then top coat.... I have had VWs in the past so am familiar with rust treatment lol