MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG 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 Midget and Sprite Technical - Fibreglass painting

I shall soon to be trying my hand at spraying up a new fibreglass one piece bonnet. I have had a trawl throuh the archives and the best advice I have found is from Robnrrugby who suggest using as a primer "Halfords 'Plastic bumper primer'".
Does anybody else have a view on this approach bearing in mind that I plan to use a cellulose paint?

What about water based paints - I assume 2 pack is out for a home garage due to the H&S issues and the need for an oven to bake it.

Cheers, John Turner
John Turner (Midget & MGB)

John,

When I sprayed my fibreglass bonnet and rear shroud I used a etch primer made by the company that did the cellulose primer and top coat I used, IIRC PPG or International in those days. I suggest you ask your paint supplier what they recommend. The etch primer went on as a thin primer coat which was then covered in high build primer filler, never had any problem with the stuff I used.
David Billington

you can get air-dry 2-pack, no oven needed. And you can spray it at home with an air-fed mask or just do it outdoors, hold your breath and work from the upwind side.
David Smith(davidDOTsmithATstonesDOTcom

I have seen the cars being sprayed at TVR they are rubbed with quite a course paper 120-240 dry, try asking for Prodution paper it is light grey in colour. They then use a two part epoxy primer to bond to the gelcoat. You can put plenty on and then rub back with 600-800 wet n dry before applying the finish of your choice. I used clear over base for my car.

Carl


C Bintcliffe

4 of my cars are fiberglass. I mean high quality fiberglass where the panels are produced in 2 sides molds and the resin sucked in by vacum.

I would never consider wet and dry for rubbing a fiberglass panel.
When you are painting fiberglass, water contamination is a big issue. It can be said that the gelcoat is there to protect from that. But ... do you know if the gelcoat has been correctly applied ? No. Also, by rubbing down, you may go past the gel coat.
This is one of the issue with fiberglass : it drinks water.
The worst that can happens is osmosis. Bubbles developping all over the place and inside, some kind of acetic acid.

Try to work during a dry summer and if you can , leave the panel for 1 day in an oven. Before starting.
Also, there is a product to add to the paint, to give it elasticity.
S Mourelatos

Carl I think that might be the best looking midget I've ever seen. Just brilliant.
Jordan Gibson

I was a boat dealer in Florida. We had a problem with new boats when the customer needed anti-fouling paint. The paint would blister and the bubbles would be full of foul smelling liquid. After having to redo several hulls which involved completely removing the anti-fouling paint we went to the paint manufacturer, They investigated and found that it was caused by out-gassing styrene. That was part of the gel-coat. All we had to do was let the boats age for 2-3 weeks prior to painting and all was well.
Other than that I have not had any problems.
Remember that all Corvettes are fibre glass.
Sandy
Sandy Sanders

Thanks to all.

DaveB, I always thought etch primer was to in effect an acid etch for bare metal - from what you say it works in the same way on fibreglass which is a bit suprising.
Any more thoughts on this?

John
John Turner (Midget & MGB)

John,

I think it was the same stuff you would use on aluminium also. The manufacturer recommended its use on fibreglass prior to applying the main primer so that's what I did. The primer filler was fine for application on bare steel, the etch primer was for more difficult substrates. It was a 2 part product that you mixed 50:50 IIRC prior to use but it wasn't a 2 pack isocyanate system.
David Billington

John,
I could of course chip once more say 'Halfrauds plastic bumper primer spray cans is what you want mate, easy peasi', but then I'd have to show you a picy of where bird poo has lifted the paint clean off the grp, since the primer stuck to the paint, but not so well to the plastic.

worked very well for a few years until that happened though, but the birds do monumentally sticky and volumous poos in these parts, so I'd still recommend it, even though you seem a little doubtful...

Rob (now in Somerset)
robnrrugby


I just used 2 pack acrylic primer and top coat on mine. Was recommended by my local supplier for GRP. Time will tell I suppose.

BTW I like the look of your car too Carl.
Bob T

Thanks Guys. I only wish the car still looked that good, That photo was taken about 15 years ago, all the fun I had plus the passing years have taken there toll. She will rise like a phoenix I promise!

Another photo showing the car along with others on the way to Geneva for the launch of the MGF, my wife was 6 months pregnant with our first son on that trip.
Plenty of room in a Midget!!


C Bintcliffe

Dave B,

Can you recommend a good paint supplier in the Bath/Bristol area?

Alkl,

Any recommendations for a paint manufacturer?

JohnT
John Turner (Midget & MGB)

John,

Not any more. I originally used cellulose from International paints from Affiliated factors, which became GKN Autoparts, then Partco which I think it still is. They changed from International to PPG. But that is history as Partco stopped doing cellulose some years back so they told me.

The people that then supplied cellulose in Bath were Hex Holdings who have now moved to Brislington last I heard. These guys http://www.hex.co.uk/home.htm . There may be others but I don't know as I haven't had the need for it recently.

I have stocks of assorted colour in the shed left over from a big clear out of paints at Colour developments in Bradford on Avon some years back. They were told they had more old paint than regs allowed so the guy that used to own the house said he would have it. He wasn't in at the time they offloaded it but got back when they had finished and he had a pile of paint tins about 3ft high x 2ft deep x 10ft long in the garage. A bunch of us from the AH club came over and sorted all the basic colour groups and took what we wanted, some nice tins like small milk churns of Dockers paint which at the time hadn't been made for like 25 years. Some tins rust and leak which is holding the shed together but I have enough I think for stuff that doesn't require any specific colour. Need to dig a tin or 2 out in the next few days. Got a gallon of primer filler, wow the don't make solvent that smells like that these days.
David Billington

Dave B,

Thanks for the link to Hex, I will pay them a visit.

I am after Teal Blue - any tins still left?

JohnT
John Turner (Midget & MGB)

John,

Rings a slight bell but would have to check stocks, definitely had 3 unopened tins of Vauxhall Starfire Metallic at one point. The shed is being replaced soon so all has to come out and shall find what I have again. Problem with most tins is somewhat rusty these days so almost impossible to prevent some getting into the tin on opening, not a problem for what it gets used for on occasions. If I find a Teal Blue I'll let you know. The shed contents are likely going to get turfed out onto pallets later in the week and put under a tarp until the new shed is erected.
David Billington

John,

Went over to my mothers this afternoon and while there checked in the garage and found the etch primer. It is PPG Universel Wash filler A228 and Universel Reactive thinner A229. Can't find any mention of A228 or A229 on the PPG site but they do appear to do Universel etch primer still but maybe it's a different product. Couldn't find much on the web but did find this http://www.nsra.org.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=42358&whichpage=2 . Third post down has some mention of Universel etch primer on fibreglass. Seems good stuff, some of the paint has been on the car fubreglass parts since 1985 and I'm not aware of any lifting or other problems. Newer systems may be better but you would have to check compatibility with cellulose primer and topcoat.
David Billington

Dave B,

Thanks for all the info

I will follow up the links and let you know what I get

John
John Turner (Midget & MGB)

I have now got my supplies from Hex Factors in Bristol.
They mixed up 1.5 litres of cellulose (steadily going out of stock) Teal Blue. They found a 2 pack GRP primer but the MSDS said use with air fed hood only due to its toxic nature. It was also supposed to be used under a 2 pack colour coat. I settled on an aerosol etch primer (as suggested above) for the grp and normal under primer before the top coat.

I suppose time will tell but as it's not a daily driver nor a concours competitor then I hope it will be adequate - assuming I can get the paint on with a resonable finish!
John Turner (Midget & MGB)

This thread was discussed between 27/04/2008 and 09/05/2008

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS is active now.