Paint contamination

[Jim H.]

Hi Group;
The previous owner of my Corvette (65/Convert.) dripped bake fluid on fender. The fluid ate to the fiberglass, no probelm sand down, clean area with Acetone, let set under heat for a few hours, clean with PPG product (DX330), wash, clean again, let dry for a few days, sand, clean. Then comes the painting. Everthing looks good until I spray the first cost - the areas that had contamination shows up right away. The gun (HVLP) is set fine and the paint PPG Delstar sprays well on to some old fiberglass test parts I have. However, the paint on the car SUCKS! If you have any suggestions I'm all ears. Gel coat?
Thanks,
Jim Hilton
43119

[Chuck S.]

Re: Paint contamination

What are you using for primer and sealer? Isn't Delstar is a catalyzed enamel?

I don't know that you would ever be able to feather edge gelcoat in a spot repair where it would not not be visible, and I don't know that gelcoat would stay on a spot repair even if you could. I believe I would only gelcoat whole body panels, stopping only at windows, door gaps, etc...not easy on a Corvette body, but the front fender would work OK.

I would probably be inclined to taper grind the area until there was no more evidence of the brake fluid stain in the fiberglass, and then build the area back up with resin and mat. This approach would have the same effect as gelcoating because of the resin, but if you grind the area you're laminating with 36 grit to 80 grit, it will stay. If necessary, you can then finish the repair to contour with body filler, after grinding the lamination just below contour. Be advised, any fiberglass repair will require that you NOT paint the area right away but let it cook in the sun for a while.

If you're going to use a primer surfacer, I would apply it over DP epoxy primer. You'll have to check the product sheet for compatibility, but I'm pretty sure K36 primer surfacer can be top coated with DP reduced as a sealer. If you're not going to use surfacer, then you can probably apply the Delstar right over the DP primer...again, check the P-Sheets for compatibility.

The bad news is, by the time you get through with this repair, the area to be painted will probably be 4X as large as your first color spot.

[Chuck S.]

Re: Paint contamination

What are you using for primer and sealer? Isn't Delstar is a catalyzed enamel?

I don't know that you would ever be able to feather edge gelcoat in a spot repair where it would not not be visible, and I don't know that gelcoat would stay on a spot repair even if you could. I believe I would only gelcoat whole body panels, stopping only at windows, door gaps, etc...not easy on a Corvette body, but the front fender would work OK.

I would probably be inclined to taper grind the area until there was no more evidence of the brake fluid stain in the fiberglass, and then build the area back up with resin and mat. This approach would have the same effect as gelcoating because of the resin, but if you grind the area you're laminating with 36 grit to 80 grit, it will stay. If necessary, you can then finish the repair to contour with body filler, after grinding the lamination just below contour. Be advised, any fiberglass repair will require that you NOT paint the area right away but let it cook in the sun for a while.

If you're going to use a primer surfacer, I would apply it over DP epoxy primer. You'll have to check the product sheet for compatibility, but I'm pretty sure K36 primer surfacer can be top coated with DP reduced as a sealer. If you're not going to use surfacer, then you can probably apply the Delstar right over the DP primer...again, check the P-Sheets for compatibility.

The bad news is, by the time you get through with this repair, the area to be painted will probably be 4X as large as your first color spot.

[Allan J. Wicklund]

Re: Paint contamination

Try this. Coat the damaged area with dry Talcum powder. Repeat several times and examine the removed Talc. for evidence of oily fluid debris. Talc is used to extract oil from Granite counters and may just help with your situation. Al W.

[Allan J. Wicklund]

Re: Paint contamination

Try this. Coat the damaged area with dry Talcum powder. Repeat several times and examine the removed Talc. for evidence of oily fluid debris. Talc is used to extract oil from Granite counters and may just help with your situation. Al W.

[Bill S.]

Re: Paint contamination

how did you resolve this?

[Stewart A.]

Re: Paint contamination

I read on the TDB that someone had brake fliud on there car somewhere he did every thing possible to fix the problem, but it kept revealing it's ugly head. So he got a hole saw and cut it out I never laughed so much in my life. But I bet it fixed the problem !!
I am astonished that the brake fluid has entered the glass. I'm sure a good gelcoat would of repelled it. This is a big problem and sounds like it has soaked the brake fluid up, it's going to be trial and error. High pressure wash with hot hot water and detergents might get a bit more out. Thinners, acetone probably acetone would be better I think thinners leaves a residue ? You have a real problem, I'd be doing the whole guard and sealing it with a gel coat or Polyester.
The worst case whole saw it !!!! LOL Stewy