I do a little bit of body work at home, usually make a reasonable job of it within my limitations, i.e. aerosols and a relative lack of knowledge but it suffices for what I need to do, I decided to do my alloys so I got the correct colour matched at the proper pint suppliers and the guy in the shop recommended 'Etch Primer', have heard of this but wasnt sure what it did, well it goes all crackly !

Used my usual procedure for doing wheels, sand, wash and degrease and mask, normally I get superb results but this time it looks a bit 'distressed' in places, what have I done wrong, too much paint or has it reacted with the old paint ?

More to the point how can I sort it out !

 

I think etch primer is for bare metal, perhaps that's why it's gone manky...assuming it was grease free etc

What was the temperature, it's best to use paints in the warmth, they don't like cold, damp conditions.

 

Oh, you'll have to strip it off and start again I'm afraid

 

Bugger, he didnt tell me that in the shop, its warm ish in our garage, have painted in colder temps so I suspect its a reaction with the old paint, I see where it gets its name, it seems to bite into the metal, have rubbed it down on the manky bits and given it a coat of plain old primer, will see what happens tommorow, looks ok so Ill flat it off tommorow and get it done.

 

Yes etch primer is for ali to provide a key for the top coat. This is used cos bare ali oxidises so quickly and then "ordinary" primer can't properly adhere. You should go back to bare ali then etch prime then top coats.

 

Whats the best way to getting back to bare ali, lifes a bit to short to sand it, would nitromors do it or could I just used cellulose thinners ?

CHeers for all the advice.

 

Etch primer bites in to the substrate to give a good key, needs to be the correct primer for bare alluminium or steel, it will have atttacked any paint left on.