fibreglass panel colour

[james3004]

I'm going to paint my roadster, so what colour fibreglass stuff would it be best to get?

[David_17]

White will be the easiest to paint, why not get the fiberglass the colour you want though?

[james3004]

cos the colour i'm doing it is a pearlescent, and it won't match the painted ally if i get it pre coloured

[David_17]

Ah, you may have to check with the paint supplier then, as some pearlescent need a coloured base cote if i remember rightly.

[james3004]

they recomend a white primer, so i guess white it is:)

[Talonmotorsport]

You have to be careful when painting fibreglass parts. How are you intending to paint your parts ie outside, in the garage or in a heated paint booth/oven?
During the laminating process you get small air bubbles trapped between the layers which will expand when they get warm or in the case of a paint booth/oven hot. It is adviseable to pre heat the parts to cause the bubbles to expand before you prime the parts, this way you can fine fill all the blisters before they are painted so they don't break through your finished paint.
Also beware 2 pack hang overs if thats what you have in mind for home use they're a killer!

[Locky]

Also beware 2 pack hang overs if thats what you have in mind for home use they're a killer!

2 pack paints can be cyanide based so decent respiratory eqpt will be needed and not the paper mask

[spud69]

I have had them sprayed using acrylic paint James with a lacquer finish over the top. For best results try a local body shop with a ventilated booth - i'm sure they wont be too expensive if you have all the parts available and they can spray them in one go.

The most important thing is to have a completely dust free environment as any impurities will show through the finish and a white gel coat finish will be fine with no need for a primer.

All the Best....AndyH

[fabbyglass]

You have to be careful when painting fibreglass parts. How are you intending to paint your parts ie outside, in the garage or in a heated paint booth/oven?
During the laminating process you get small air bubbles trapped between the layers which will expand when they get warm or in the case of a paint booth/oven hot. It is adviseable to pre heat the parts to cause the bubbles to expand before you prime the parts, this way you can fine fill all the blisters before they are painted so they don't break through your finished paint.
Also beware 2 pack hang overs if thats what you have in mind for home use they're a killer!

Only true if the laminating isn't that clever in the first place...:D

[james3004]

The paint I have in mind is single pack, haven't decided on the laquer yet.

What is the best sort of etch primer to use for the alli?
Ii have been told by several people that it tends to srape off easily with your nail?

I pan to paint in my garage as i haven't had bad results in there in the past:)

[Talonmotorsport]

If you just spray primer on ali then yes it more or less just full off, it's basicly like a non stick pan. One way to deal with ali is to prep it throughly with a body shop DA or random orbit sander with a very fine grit pad. You need to make the whole surface uniformaly flat, this is a not a job you want to do by hand. You could use a jitter bug or sheet sander but they are hard work compared to a DA sander. Next step would be to use etch primer flat off then start with colour then clear.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/New-Sealey-DAS150T-Random-Orbital-Dual-Action-DA-Sander-/350395988057?pt=UK_Body_Shop_Supplies_Paint&hash=item51953a7859

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BERGEN-AIR-TOOLS-6-HEAVY-DUTY-DA-ORBITAL-SANDER-/250694512814?pt=UK_Air_Tools_and_Compressors&hash=item3a5e8eb0ae

[flyerncle]

Fine Scotchbrite (green) then highbuild etch, use stopper on any imperfections and paint/laquer.

I have just polished a piece of ally sheet as a test to see if it will hold laquer and if prepared properly it can be pressure washed with no ill effects.