MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGA - Touch-up painting...?

I am near the end of my restoration and I have several scrapes and scratches here and there. I have enough that I think I should repaint the entire car. I have primered and wet-sanded the damages spots but am not sure how to prepare the undamaged areas. Please advise!

Thanks as always!!
gerard hutchinson

It's a great opportunity to improve the surface flatness and finish quality, if that is required. For that I would wet sand with block and about 1200.

If the paint has not been polished and it is as near perfect as you want (no orange peel etc.) it actually just needs "de-nibbing" and lightly abrading to give the topcoat a good adhesion. I have seen that done in the paint shop with a scotch pad (one of those green scouring pads the wife uses!) Personally I have been nervous to use that as I dont feel in control of the abrasive quality and an scared that micro scratches would show through the topcoat. Maybe someone else can advise on that.

Another simple tip is to machine polish your primered repairs to check that all the scratch/dent/reairs are completely fixed. After polishing check how the surface reflects objects through movement at a wide angle (if that makes any sense).
Neil McGurk

Thanks Neil,

Actually the current paint job is less than a year old and has not been outside ever, so its fairly perfect. If I use 1200 on it how should it look when ready?
gerard hutchinson

Gerard,

Actually I was referring mainly to the quality of the original job rather than aging.

After sanding it should look matt and very flat! If there is no wax (or oil and grease from the rebuild), then basically all you need to do is remove the shine.

Make sure you confirm that the new top coat paint is compatable with the old paint!
Neil McGurk

Gerard,
I would check with your paint supplier to find out if you need a sealer coat. You might also ask if 1200 might not be rough enough for the final coat of paint. I have always used 600 to scuff for the final finish. Have a good day!

John
John Progess

Gerard, what I do is clean with solvent to remove wax. fill the scratch with color (Hopefully you got extra from shop). Let the color settle to the bottom of the scratch. ever so lightly sand 1200 to remove any paint from ouside the scratch. I then start fillig the scratch with clear. It will require several applicantion of the clear untill it sticks up above the surounding paint. I then block sand and buff. Nobody but me coud ever tell were it was. Good luc!
WMR Bill

This thread was discussed between 25/03/2009 and 30/03/2009

MG MGA index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG MGA BBS now