[Yoshi]

Once an area has been cleared of paint & down to bare steel then repaired & filled with p38 should I then use spray filler or primer then spray filler? Thanks

 

[hotrod matt]

I always use high build primer, then flat, then base coat and clear

 

[HotRod]

Spray filler then primer, get the best you can afford

 

[Yoshi]

What's considered a good make or cheap? Also what to use when rubbing down filler? Dry paper by hand? Thanks

 

[blackpopracing]

Upol Smooth 7, Rage fillers are excellent and there is another that is really good but I cannot remember the name right now. Avoid Upol Big Easy - it pinholes & sinks.
Always dry sand - water should not touch the car until gloss is applied.

You will be amazed how easy professional fillers are to use compared to P38.

 

[bunj]

Upol fantastic filler finished with 180 grit, then two coats of upol reface. ( it's a bit of a pig to block sand 320 grit but it wont sink )
Then a good quality high build 2k primer again block sanded something around 500/600 grit then finish with
800. Leaves you with a good stable base on which to apply top coat.
That's how ive done it for over 20 years.

 

[Yoshi]

Don't really want to get a 3L tin

 

[blackpopracing]

It lasts for years and 3L is probably cheaper the P38 in Halfrauds.

 

[HotRod]

Upol fantastic filler finished with 180 grit, then two coats of upol reface. ( it's a bit of a pig to block sand 320 grit but it wont sink )
Then a good quality high build 2k primer again block sanded something around 500/600 grit then finish with
800. Leaves you with a good stable base on which to apply top coat.
That's how ive done it for over 20 years.

Reface is a pig to block because some ingredients have been removed from it, try DuPont's polyester spray filler, it's better than reface and it costs the same so I am told.

 

[Yoshi]

I've also got a chip in my paintwork in the panel behind the drivers door, what's the best way to attack that? Should I feather it out around it then paint over it? No need to use any filler? Thanks

 

[blackpopracing]

If it's solid colour just clean it with panel wipe and touch in with a small artists brush. Do this several times to build up the paint till its just proud of the surrounding paint. Let it cure for a few days and carefully block sand flush with surrounding paint (start with grade 1200 and work up to 2000). Then mop paint to finish - it should be an invisible repair.

 

[Yoshi]

Finally got round to taking a pic

 

[blackpopracing]

That looks quite deep?
If you have a dremel I'd clean it out with a small ball mill (3mm ball tool) until you get back to clean steel. Then just carefully fill the hole with filler and block flush with the surrounding paint. A light blow over with primer and then blend the topcoat over the repair.

 

[Chunky]

If you don't have a dremel and are considering getting one. Lidl are selling a similar 150 watt version with a flexible wand for £19.99 on Bank holiday Monday.

 

[Yoshi]

I can get my nail under the paint around the chipped bit. I'm thinking of getting the whole car resprayed

 

[hotrod matt]

cant work out in the picture if the bottom left of the chip has paint fractures or if they are just scratches. if they are fractures you will need to sand these out too to stop them creeping further down the panel.

 

[streetfighter]

looks like broken filler to me.

 

[Yoshi]

I think I'll hit it with the sander then