Final Prime? Don't Let Ghost Scratches and Other Things Ruin Your Paint Job!

[@Working-man-p9j]

Travis this was an awesome video you helped me so much. I been working on cars for over 30 years. I find your videos very informative. I would like to see your views on ghost lines from welding. By the way that 55 Chevy you did is amazing.

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

Watch the video on the 61 impala gas door removal. It covers that

[@deankay4434]

A great step by step lesson including explanations for each. Thanks kindly for sharing your experience and knowledge! DK

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

Glad it was helpful!

[@tfs1150]

Great video, excellent suggestions. Cheers.

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

Thanks for watching!

[@MH-on8ol]

These steps can save some serious heartache and come backs. I have worked at several shops and they all seem to have a different system. The one rule that pays is SEAL it before base/clear or single stage. Please do a video on how to blend in a repair in the middle of a flat panel painted silver.

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

We have a video on that. It’s a pearl blue fender on a fairlane. Silver is no different

[@haveacrack]

A great explanation as usual keep up the good work.

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

Thanks, will do!

[@stevenrobinson4643]

I literally just said to my brother I need Sylvester's to put out a video on wet sanding because I'm scared of ghost scratches on my bel air project. I just started wetsanding today, perfect timing!

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

Perfect!!

[@TheInsaneShecklador]

The black shirt and the rotisserie behind your shoulder kinda give off ninja vibes with a katana hanging on your back.

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

🤣

[@chancegood262]

😂 read this looked up laughed

[@TheInsaneShecklador]

@@chancegood262 🥷

[@BKMDano17]

? Guide Coat gets into deep scratches. If you keep sanding until it's gone, you're going to create more low areas! the question is do you need to remove every single Speck of guide coat ???

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

You should be sanding everything evenly so you’re not creating inconsistencies however, yes, I make sure that majority 99% of the guide coat is completely removed. The only area that typically gets left minimally is in the jams where your fingers cannot get to and then we use a red scotch pad.

[@edgarasvas]

A few years ago paint seller offered me a polyester primer. As he said: "you can paint directly on this material, cause it is very dense, like primer". Ok, I thought. But, after starting using that material I noticed, that if I sand trough it to epoxy primer, which was sanded with 80 grid and those scratches were filled with polyester primer, after spraying base and clear, all those scratches would be seen next day. It would help a bit if I spray very thin same epoxy just before spraying base, but not all the time. Also, if there was no long window(more then week), after spraying polyester primer, in areas where it had edge lines, like where was no need to spray polyster primer and just first layer of epoxy was, around that line bubbles popped out.

[@mrwick2186]

Hello everybody. New to the channel

[@jacko6652]

Thank you!

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

You're welcome!

[@jackwitterstaetter1668]

Travis I recently striped a hood and then sprayed 2050 block sanded ,guided coated ,body filled dents ,used your pencle method block sanded to 150 and reaplyed 2050 but my filler spots show through like shadows what can I do to fix this ,thanks all your vidoes are so helpful keep up the great work Jack

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

That’s normal. You should be applying at least three coats of the 2050 and then you will have to block sand it again with 150 grit until it is completely smooth and uniform if you have to prime then do so.

[@stevenrobinson4643]

Can you use a quality 2k aerosol epoxy primer to cover any breakthroughs in the final primer? Then guide coat and wetsand 600 over that, before sealer? Another awesome very thorough video, wouldn't expect any less from Travis

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

I don’t recommend aerosol cans in anything you want to last honesrly

[@toodjackson4438]

You have answer to the questions I had .. like how long can I wait between body filler and and primer

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

Longer the better

[@ajd5363]

Great video. For 600, dense foam block like a Dura Block?

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

@@ajd5363 or any other soft blocks.

[@ajd5363]

@@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS I just watched your latest color sanding video that came out last year and you were using acrylic blocks. Have you now revised this process to using a foam block?

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

Sorry I misunderstood the question. We only use acrylic on 600-1000 foam is after 1000 grit

[@motomarcel1]

If you use reduced 5% epoxy as a sealer. Would you spray wet on wet with your basecoat or spray it later within the 3 day window?

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

Every product varies. I follow what the technical data sheet says for each product

[@marvondgeneral8736]

What I do my final prime is block it with wet 600 grit until remove all my guide coat I use base coat as my guide coat over the primer

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

That’s what I do but not with actual paint as it will clog paper faster

[@ghettohey2388]

Have a question. So Im getting ready to restore my 2001 ford f250. I have new front fenders and new bedside panels. Regarding the new panels. They come primed already but is it best practice to go ahead and strip this primer and respray primer or is just sanding the primer on the panel then just respray primer

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

Watch the video called stripping and rust prep

[@JuanjoseMiguel-z9f]

What would be the best Prep to do to like an aftermarket/oem panel should I hit it with 320 and primer it or should I just do the red scuff

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

Neither watch the video called stripping paint & rust prep

[@class5bodyworks]

Appreciate the great video as always. I've recently switched to an epoxy sealer before paint. I've been trying to find a universal sealer to use with DBC and Envirobase to avoid the lift window. I've done a lot of Eleanor builds using fiberglass body panels. I know I'm getting them flat and straight but after detail they always get strange random waves and slightly change fitment. I know fiberglass expands and contracts depending on temperature and humidity. Do you have any suggestions to prevent this.? It's frustrating getting these exactly how I want them only to change later. Thanks for any insight.

[@RS-gh2mf]

What brand of Eleanor bodykits are you using ?

[@class5bodyworks]

@@RS-gh2mf Mustangs to Fear. I used to work there before starting my own shop. I've done quite a few of these.

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

I would say that there is tiers to quality fiberglass. Depending on the quality, they will always move. The fiberglass needs to be very thin and not require a lot of work in order to have a finish that’s not always changing.

[@RS-gh2mf]

@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS the RTM process is far better and more consistent than open molds or chop cutting.

[@class5bodyworks]

@@RS-gh2mf I'm familiar with that process too. Mainly have problems with the hoods and decklids. I imagine carbon fiber is the ticket. Thanks for the info

[@keenanmatthews206]

Great video, like always. What brand of foam blocks do you use for your 600-grit sanding. Thanks.

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

I use Jason Killmers hand made blocks look him up on Instagram

[@keenanmatthews206]

Thanks.

[@robertfontaine3650]

Interesting I see many sanding metal to 80 grit and then sealing with epoxy then doing filler where necessary. When I talk to the paint mfr they say 180-220 then apply the epoxy. It's a big gap between these two. It sound like you are saying. Finish your metal to a high standard prior to epoxy sealer then scuff as necessary for filler. ??

[@davidpetrus1748]

if you dont have a big enough scratch like 80 grit for mechanical adhesion on bare steel for epoxy when you do bodywork the epoxy can brake loose from the steel ask me how i know lol care to add in travis

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

Correct 👌🏻👌🏻

[@kenpiscitelli2703]

Are u using a sealer before base or just using 2050 primer as ur sealer

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

Yes we do Ecs sealer watch our paint video on the Lincoln

[@rongamble9884]

That SU 522 DTM primer through Sherwin williams seals and will hide 400 grit scratches

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

400 scratches aren’t the problem it’s the bigger ones

[@rongamble9884]

@@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS I see what your saying ya I at most only start sanding filler with 80 grit and work it to like 240 grit

[@robertbowman2614]

The question is what kind of mil thickness are u getting out of your final prime? Iam just wondering how u can start with 150 220 and still have something to block with 600.

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

That’s why you test every step 👌🏻

[@robertbowman2614]

Thank you for vids man. Iam a collision guy for 24 yrs. Started restorations about 2 yrs ago on side. So iam learning alot from your vids. I open my shop about 4 months ago a one man shop for now. I know alot but don't know alot if makes any sense. So picking up things to make me better. Thank you

[@hotcolors9455]

Hey I have a drag car named ghost. Id like to buy the artwork for that ghost on your thumb nail. I would message you directly but I don't see an email listed. Let me know.

[@SYLVESTERSCUSTOMS]

Send Mike a DM on Instagram. @blowngrit I’m sure he’ll help you out.