Paint prep
 

What do you clean car with before painting, after sanding?

Re: Paint prep
 

A Dupont product called PrepSol.

Re: Paint prep
 

Do they even make prepsol anymore? I use a product called 'final clean'. It was made by Dupont, but the last gallon I bought had a different manufacturers name. Everything else was the same, including the name and product no. I dont know if it is creative accounting on Duponts part or what.
I put the product in a spray bottle, and spray directly to the metal, then wipe down with a clean white cloth. When the cloth stays white after a wipe down I know its clean enough. I dont dip into the gallon can for fear of contaminating the product. May be a bit of overkill but it seems to work for me.

Re: Paint prep
 

Valspar makes a no voc prep solution,works good

Re: Paint prep
 

What brand & line of paint are you spraying??

Re: Paint prep
 

Wanda one step

Re: Paint prep
 

Surely your Wanda dealer has a recommended pre cleaner product?

Re: Paint prep
 

I "seem" to be having good luck with a rag, saturated in lacquer thinner. Maybe someone will tell me what I'm doing wrong (I'm no painter) and what and why it will happen. Then I wipe it off with a tack rag. It seems to be working.
Terry

Re: Paint prep
 

the idea is to get any grease and dust off prior to paint, thinner and a tack rag should do it as the soap and water they sell out here.

Re: Paint prep
 

Wipe down as above, but I also add a small amount of TSP with my bucket of water while wet sanding.

Re: Paint prep
 

The only right way to do it is use some kind of solvent, preferably enamel reducer. Then you tack it off with a tack cloth. That is the way I was taught and I have never had any problems.

Re: Paint prep
 

Their recommendation below ....

Re: Paint prep
 

Most of my model A's were covered in surface rust to start with . If it still has paint on it, the first thing that I do is wash the vehicle with soap and water . If the surface has had wax applied in the past, sanding doesn't completely remove the wax . Wax causes fish eyes in the new paint that will be applied . I then solvent wash after the soap and water wash . . Never wipe with a tack rag over a wet surface , especially a solvent wet surface . A tack rag is coated with a sticky substance that picks up whatever dust that remains on the mostly clean dry sanded surface , before spraying on the paint . Most if not all paint suppliers have a special solvent to use before applying the paint . It doesn't matter if the solvent is prep sol , final wash or whatever the brand calls it . I have often used enamel reducer as a final wash before applying the paint . Never use lacquer thinner as a final wash because it can loosen and smear the old finish and make a mess .

Re: Paint prep
 

I use PPG DX330 Wax and Grease Remover. never had any issues when painting

Re: Paint prep
 

I was always told to never use lacquer thinner or enamel reducer to wipe down before paint. Don't remember why, but if you do, you still need to clean with a wax and grease remover.

Re: Paint prep
 

Thanks I'll check with dealer

Re: Paint prep
 

Like Todd j I also use PPG DX330 with no problems. Never use a tack rag that you would use on wood work. After all my work in getting a panel ready, I used a tag rag and you could see all the places where the waxy substance was left. The paint would not stick and it pulled away leaving little holes to the primer all over the place! As I recall I re-sanded the panel and wiped down three times with PPG DX330 using two rags, one wet and the other dry for the final clean. Change the rags often. I buy a bag of 250 lint free rags from Home Depot @ $12.00.

Re: Paint prep
 

They make wax free tac rags. Last car I painted I just cleaned it good with final prep, did not use a tac rag and the paint came out perfect. I think it has more to do with the environment than the tac process. If theres dust/dirt in the air will fall after you tac anyway! I do the same with the rags though. I will wipe down turning the rag over a few times initially. Then I will fold the rag, clean one swipe, turn the rag. I keep at this until after wiping the rag comes up clean. At that point the metal should be ready for paint.

Re: Paint prep
 

NEVER use lacquer thinner. Even though it melts stuff off the surface it leaves residue and can cause fisheyes. A good name brand of automotive wax and grease remover will be fine. Make sure you wipe it on the panel wet and take a dry lint free wipe to dry it after. You can get disposable wipes at the auto paint store and you can get more than one use out of them if you’re careful not to tear them up. Blow it and tack it and you should be good to go.