Live Autobody Work On The Good Van Project "DIY" and Auto Body Q&A

As an automotive painter, I am constantly trying to come up with new and innovative ways to show off my work. I recently came across this van that I think would look great with a new paint job. Stay tuned for more videos and posts as I go through the process plus Live Autobody Q&A that might be helpful in doing your own project. Don’t forget to sign-up for to Learn Auto Body and Paint FREE COURSE for the step-by-step autobody work/process of “The G.O.O.D. Van Project”. Please also LIKE and SUBSCRIBE to my YT channel for new videos coming out.

QUESTION: What grit are you using (on the van)?

I’m using 80 grit for most of the shaping. Most of the auto body shaping 80 grit is a good grit. You could use 40-60 grit, it depends on how much body filler you got to cut down. We’re doing body-cutting down the filler the way we are right now and 80 grits fine. You don’t want to overdo it and use a 40 because you’re going to cut down really quick. 60 cuts down really quickly as well, only if you’re laying a lot of filler then I would recommend using a 60 grit.

QUESTION: What body filler are you using?

I’m using 3M Platinum Plus filler, it’s pretty good, creamy, and has a yellow tint to it. I like it treats me good.

QUESTION: Working on a car roof with surface rust. What is the best rust treatment to use? After rust treatment, should I use etching primer?

You can just go over it with an epoxy primer. I like epoxy better, it just cures better and it’s all you need. And then you could put a 2k filler primer on top of that without sanding up to 24 hours later. So, as far as rush treatment, you could use any type of naval jelly. You just put it on after you get it down to the bare metal. You got your little rusty areas, you put it on and then you scuff it back up with 80 grit before you body fill it. So if you’re going to be doing body filler, you’re going to want to make sure to wipe that off.

QUESTION: How many coats of primer are generally recommended and so on and so forth etc (base coat and clear coat)?

Primer- the unit you cover or until you fill, so you put enough. Enough, that make sure you’re covering or feeling the scratches that are on the panel. So normally you are putting filler primer over sanded scratch marks to fill because you wanted to get it smoother.

Also, if you’re using cheap sandpaper you get an inconsistent cut. Using good/regular sandpaper gives you a consistency even cut so you could fill over it with 2k. You could paint over it, it’ll have good adhesion -it’s even.

QUESTION: Is a gunmetal paint job hard to spray? Any tips?

Absolutely not, I think the hardest color to spray is black because your bodywork/ prep needs to be dead on because it will show every little imperfection and dust. Whites the probably the easiest to spray. Red is the most expensive due to the pigments in making the color but not very hard to spray.

QUESTION: Have you ever done or heard of spraying a single stage and then adding a little single stage in the clear?

Yes, it gives an extra gloss. You could even spray single-stage, let it cure for 2-3 weeks or even a couple of months, clean it down, scuff it with 1000 grit give or take. Anywhere from 800-1000 if you’re going over a black or darker color. But a lighter color can go a little coarser, 800 if you want, and then you could spray clear on top of that.