Do you really need to strip all the paint off??

[Gary Schisler]

Re: Do you really need to strip all the paint off?

I have only used the very fine wet dry sandpaper, the 1000 and 1500, with a wetting solution of a few drops of dish soap and water. This was on a NEW lacquer paint job as I was getting it ready to buff out.

Gary

[Gary Schisler]

Re: Do you really need to strip all the paint off?

I have only used the very fine wet dry sandpaper, the 1000 and 1500, with a wetting solution of a few drops of dish soap and water. This was on a NEW lacquer paint job as I was getting it ready to buff out.

Gary

[Ray C.]

Re: Do you really need to strip all the paint off?

Steve, Be careful with your selection of sand paper. International grades differ from US grades, they will run courser per grade number than US grades. I like the 3M brand sand paper. I would also start with a very fine grade like 1500 or 2000 grit and work a small area. You can always go courser if you are not happy with the results of the finner grit.

Ray.

[Ray C.]

Re: Do you really need to strip all the paint off?

Steve, Be careful with your selection of sand paper. International grades differ from US grades, they will run courser per grade number than US grades. I like the 3M brand sand paper. I would also start with a very fine grade like 1500 or 2000 grit and work a small area. You can always go courser if you are not happy with the results of the finner grit.

Ray.

[Chuck S.]

Re: Do you really need to strip all the paint off?

Personally, on an existing lacquer paint job, I wouldn't use ANY sandpaper, wet or dry. Even on a new paint job, 1000 grit is pretty aggressive...it sands out the defects quicker but you also are putting deeper scratches you are going to have to compound and polish out.

Liquid rubbing compound used with a gentle orbital polisher should be all you need on old paint, and I would be real careful with that.

[Chuck S.]

Re: Do you really need to strip all the paint off?

Personally, on an existing lacquer paint job, I wouldn't use ANY sandpaper, wet or dry. Even on a new paint job, 1000 grit is pretty aggressive...it sands out the defects quicker but you also are putting deeper scratches you are going to have to compound and polish out.

Liquid rubbing compound used with a gentle orbital polisher should be all you need on old paint, and I would be real careful with that.

[Greg L.]

Re: Do you really need to strip all the paint off?

Thanks guys...I guess...

I was thinking that since I had no failures of my 20 year old paint job that the original paint underneath it all would be good enough to carry on as it was...oh well. Better safe than sorry.

For those that suggested I try and preserve the original paint it is long past that. The car had mostly original paint back in 88 when I bought it but it had lots of chips, scratches and a couple areas that needed repairs so I did the repairs and then sanded out all the little nicks and bumps. Then sanded it all over with 320 so the original paint is far beyond repair.

The only reason that I'm doing the paint again is because I'm doing a body off and had to fix those all too common little bumps that form between the headlights and hood on the early C3s. Plus it never really was the right shade...always a little too dark.

[Greg L.]

Re: Do you really need to strip all the paint off?

Thanks guys...I guess...

I was thinking that since I had no failures of my 20 year old paint job that the original paint underneath it all would be good enough to carry on as it was...oh well. Better safe than sorry.

For those that suggested I try and preserve the original paint it is long past that. The car had mostly original paint back in 88 when I bought it but it had lots of chips, scratches and a couple areas that needed repairs so I did the repairs and then sanded out all the little nicks and bumps. Then sanded it all over with 320 so the original paint is far beyond repair.

The only reason that I'm doing the paint again is because I'm doing a body off and had to fix those all too common little bumps that form between the headlights and hood on the early C3s. Plus it never really was the right shade...always a little too dark.

[Allan J. Wicklund]

Re: Do you really need to strip all the paint off?

Hi Gregg, I'm an "Old School" kind of car guy, but, I've painted lots of Vettes over the years and highly suggest you use the most modern Tech. available. Think in terms of the future not yesterday. You can Seal the old paint with a coat of Epoxy primer to save time if you wish. Learn as much as you can before getting too deep into your project. The new Urethane BC/CC systems out perform Lacquer any day of the week. Trailer Queen? Do it in Lacquer. Al W.

[Allan J. Wicklund]

Re: Do you really need to strip all the paint off?

Hi Gregg, I'm an "Old School" kind of car guy, but, I've painted lots of Vettes over the years and highly suggest you use the most modern Tech. available. Think in terms of the future not yesterday. You can Seal the old paint with a coat of Epoxy primer to save time if you wish. Learn as much as you can before getting too deep into your project. The new Urethane BC/CC systems out perform Lacquer any day of the week. Trailer Queen? Do it in Lacquer. Al W.