panel prep

[maxxpaane]

my buddy brought me some galvanized sheet metal for practice. I have a qt of hok BC-25 black I can use as a base coat, but I don't have any primer. If I do need to prime first what would be a cheap brand to practice with? Also I will need sandpaper, what grits should I get?:smilingface201097jq Thanks MP

[ABD]

Probably many a way to do it....I'd clean the snot out of it with a good degreaser..Sand it with 80 grit..Degrease again...Cheap primers, i'd look for something that has etching properties, Omni, Transtar are a few i use on the cheap..bout 40 bucks a quart with hardener round here....Then i'd wetsand sand the Primer with 400 and base:D

[Shiva]

FIRST THING./.. if this is NEW steel, its got an oil film.. DEGREASE with your favorite car wash.. or equal..

part 2.. it needs ETCHING.. vinegar works, or the 'Prep Sol' metal derust stuff used on car bodies.. Phosphoric acid solution..

then a good etching primer on top, then have fun.

I made a solar panel using galvanized roofing-the corigated stuff, did this and the paint held up to almost 200 degree heat.

[Cowboy]

Like said degrease & Clean Really Well, I,d sand it With 180 grit. Get You a can ( Aeresol ) of Zinc Chromate . A Really Ugly shade of Green & Stinkier then Hell , So Wear a Respirator . But This is what its designed for. Then a Regular primer over that if You wish. Sanded with 4 or 500 first . Should be good to go then. Best of luck .

[maxxpaane]

Thanks guys looks like I need to make a trip to the autostore. I wonder if Pep Boys sells stuff like that? MP

[ABD]

I wonder if Pep Boys sells stuff like that? MP

No clue, don't have those places round here..LOL..happy hunting:D

[Shiva]

Like said degrease & Clean Really Well, I,d sand it With 180 grit. Get You a can ( Aeresol ) of Zinc Chromate . A Really Ugly shade of Green & Stinkier then Hell , So Wear a Respirator . But This is what its designed for. Then a Regular primer over that if You wish. Sanded with 4 or 500 first . Should be good to go then. Best of luck .

I would NOT sand that with 180.. that is not good dust to have in the air floating around, plus it defeats the reason for the galvanizing.,
if you got to sand- because of rough plating, then knock off the high spots, and then the Zinc Primer, then primer/filler if you need..

[maxxpaane]

the sheets are real smooth except I need to deburr the edges a little from them being cut. And man are they heavy!! I got about 8 sheets and it feels like 100lbs. MP

[Shiva]

the sheets are real smooth except I need to deburr the edges a little from them being cut. And man are they heavy!! I got about 8 sheets and it feels like 100lbs. MP

a coarse file and a quick swipe down the edge to get rid of the cutting burr is ok to do.. those edges are SHARP!!!!

[Skids]

If they're that heavy I'd sell em as scrap and go buy some sign blanks! Metals are sellin high right now!

[maxxpaane]

yeah thought about that, but my bud says his boss said that if I was plannin on scrapin them he wants them back!! So I guess I'm better off savin my money and using these. MP

[knucklehead]

Shove em back somewhere, the boss will forget about them sooner or later. Go to the sign store, and get a couple of aluminum sign panels, ready to go. Dollar wise, I believe you'll come out ahead, when you figure the money you're going to spend on primers, and sandpapers, let's not forget labor, unless you just want to learn how to sand, which everyone needs to know. Just clean em', and paint em'.After a while, take the steel to the scrapyard, and get your money back.