Painting help

[Mizzery]

Ok, i was an idiot and decided i knew everything and didn't read the stickies before i started, but i didn't so here I am. I started sanding down my case to get the panels flat to paint it. I started going through to the metal in a couple of spots and an idea dawned on me. I would sand down and polish the metal sides. I've got one panel to an almost mirror finish. Then chemistry set in. Unfortunately exposed steel oxidizes. I was going to clear coat it but realized that it probabally wouldn't stick too well.
I have now decided to paint it and get the paint to a mirror finish. So here is my question. How do i prepare the case sides for primer so that it sticks? I was thinking of just roughing it up with 400 gritt. Would that work?

[Oni]

The primer will stick to the bare metal. No worries there.

After you prime it, sand it down smooth again, and prime it again if you like. Sand it smooth again, and paint it, making sure to follow the directions on the can as closely as you can.

Good luck!

[Mizzery]

thanks, i got worried after reading on of the links in the stickies about the metal needing to be treated with chemicals for paint to stick.

[CrystalMethod]

You need a good primer is all. If you've really gone down to the bare metal, through the maufacturer's etching. Get yourself a primer that will etch the surface, so it will stick better. I use Tremclad red oxide primer. The only draw back is that it takes a lot longer for it to dry than a normal primer. Keep in mind that you're painting primer, not metal. It's the primer you REALLY want to stick to the metal. By the way, if you haven't already started, you can still keep your side panels polished looking. Just after you finish polishing, apply a coat of car wax to protect and seal the surface. After that, it should be as suseptable to oxidization.

[Mizzery]

I have some muriatic acid (hydrochloric) that is used for etching concrete floors for painting. Could I use that?

Also, i did wax it and there are little oxidation spots that keep popping up and I don't want to keep sanding them away.

I will post pics as soon as i figure out how to resize stuff in paint shop pro, i prefer photoshop, but thats on the rig that is dead.

[Mizzery]

Here's the pics. As you can see the one on the left is the one i've gone down to 2000 gritt on. I can part my hair in it. Hopefully when I get paint on it i will be able to get as nice a mirror.

[CSaddict]

Wow great job! That's gonna be sweet. Post em up when your done.

[Mizzery]

Thanks!!! I deffinately will post pics showing the progress of my work. No work today done though :(, had lots of errands to run.

[Wolverez]

Originally posted by Mizzery
Ok, i was an idiot and decided i knew everything and didn't read the stickies before i started, but i didn't so here I am. I started sanding down my case to get the panels flat to paint it. I started going through to the metal in a couple of spots and an idea dawned on me. I would sand down and polish the metal sides. I've got one panel to an almost mirror finish. Then chemistry set in. Unfortunately exposed steel oxidizes. I was going to clear coat it but realized that it probabally wouldn't stick too well.
I have now decided to paint it and get the paint to a mirror finish. So here is my question. How do i prepare the case sides for primer so that it sticks? I was thinking of just roughing it up with 400 gritt. Would that work?

You can find this in the Forums, use search, just type in:
Case painting (how to guide) and you will see one sweet case.

http://www.pc-workshop.net/articles/paint101/paint101-1.shtml

This has to be one of the best.:D :D

[Mizzery]

Thats the one i read that made me realize i shouldn't have sanded through the chemical etching if I was going to paint it. It is a great article and I hope i can get my paint to as nice a mirror as the panel in the article.