Do you guys epoxy primer EVERYTHING including new aftermarket stuff?

Or just the old treated cleaned metal?

If you coat the aftermarket ecoated parts, do you completely strip them to apply the epoxy or just scuff them and go over top?

 

In believe it is necessary to completely strip any part you want to coat. Any finish is only as good as the substrate applied to the metal.
Hope this helps.
Mike

 

I just bought a qt of epoxy primer to use on the rear axle Im working on. I stripped to bare metal, now Ill degrease again then primer. I kind of learned my lesson wasting so much money on rattle can paint. Now that I have the equipment to paint I try to use it. EDIT When you say everything, Patch panels, tranny cover, sheet metal etc, yes, nuts and bolts no. Also I do clean and prep new bare metal to remove any shipping coatings that may have been applied. Sorry for the choppy answer, I misread your question the first time I read it.

 

A lot of new stuff is already e-coated.

 

Test the e-coat by wiping down with lacquer thinner. If it comes off, strip it. Some of the older stuff will. When you do your final sand, do the e-coated panels at the same time. This will insure equal mechanical adhesion. I've seen too many e-coated panels that peeled after a few years due to improper "scuffing". Too much time and effort in painting a vehicle to short cut anything.

 

My plans were epoxy primer, followed by a high build.

So, If the e-coat panels check out after lacquer, scuff them and go right over top with the high build?

 

If it comes E-coated I leave it and clean it then prime with a 2k and paint (base/clear coat)

If it is bare metal I will clean and scuff then prime with Self etching primer.

It seems that I hear a lot of older guys completely strip and reprime all parts but new guys say it isnt needed. Technology and quality have made some repop parts that are better than original factory coatings so there shouldnt be a need to strip it down.

 

I e-coat everything because of the time it takes me to complete anything. Mother nature always beats me

 

Ok as usual Im learning more info than I have to offer. Feeling embarrassed and stupid I had to look up E coat on google. Im sorry to hijack your thread but I have a related question, Is there a way to tell if something has been E coated or not?

 

Well if it is black aftermarket, it is typically ecoated, as stated above use laquer and scrub it to see if it is ecoat, or cheap primer. The Ecoat wont leave any residue, the primer will wipe right off.

 

Thank you for the explanation.

 

I assume that the quality of the primer is right there with the metal quality and fabrication quality. I took the fenders and other misc body parts down to bare metal and I intend to prime it all myself.

 

I agree with this answer with the following additional procedure; I sand the panel to test the adhesion of the black coating (it may be e-coat or it may be some cheapa$$ Chinese paint)...if the paint feathers nicely then it's a good coating, sand prime and paint. If the sanded edge leaves a sharp lip and/or flakes off then remove the "e-coat" and start from scratch.