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MG MGB Technical - Painting question.

Hi All
The paint on my bonnet is getting rather dull and although it polishes up it doesn't really last very long, I think it might be something to do with the engine heat? as the rest of the car is OK, I originally sprayed it in 1995 with cellulose, what I was wondering if I degreased it properly would new cellulose bond into the original paint [which is sound] without using a primer as it's a solvent based paint? or do I have to use primer.
Ron
R. Algie

What polish do you use? For years (last painted 20 years ago) I used Turtle, in a creamy white formulation, although it did tend to leave quite a bit of colour on the cloth. It then changed to a clear watery formulation and whilst it didn't leave any colour on the cloth (probably because of that) the body and particularly the bonnet became very dull. I then switched to AutoGlym which has some colour on the cloth but not as much as the earlier Turtle, and does bring it up to nearly the level of the earlier Turtle. Subsequently I noticed Turtle were producing a 'Turtle Original', but I'm happier with remvoing less with AutoGlym. Try changing your polish first, if the paint itself is otherwise sound, maybe pre-treating it with AutoGlym Paint Restorer first.

If you *do* decide to repaint it's almost certainly going to be a different shade (unless you have some of the original paint) to the rest of the body, and you must remove all traces of silicone waxes before you start wet-and-drying it, or you will get fish-eye all over it.
PaulH Solihull

Ron
If you just do a scuff coat on your current paint, it should stick well without primer. One of the issues you may have is if you have used any silicon based wax or polish.

My recommendation is to get a silicon removing solvent and clean the hood at least three times using a lot of clean rags. Then lightly sand with 400. Wash again with the solvent, again frequently changing to clean rags.

When you spray, watch for fish eyes. If you start to see any, you will need to add a fish eye remover to the paint.
Bruce Cunha

I did just that with the bonnet on my midget. Flattened it back after degreasing. Two or three months later I did get some microbubbles forming which I put down to old paint (left over from the POs rebuild in '92), poor quality thinners and probably not leaving each coat long enough for the solvents to flash off. No sign of the new paint separating from the original tho'.
Steve Church

As Bruce says you can repaint on top without primer. (I would use 800 not 400). However, I would follow Paul's idea first. A slightly stronger alternative to AutoGlym Paint Restorer would be Farecla G10 or G3 followed by G10.
David Witham

Hi
Thanks for the replies, after reading Paul's reply this needs a bit more thought on my part, I don't think there will be any problem with colour match, black cellulose is black cellulose, the problem might be the newly sprayed bonnet will make the rest of the car look dull in comparison and what started out as an afternoon job will end up as a complete respray, it will soon be a bit late in the year for spraying celly in Scotland so I'll postpone this decision 'till next year.
Ron
PS I have tried cutting the paint before polishing but it still ends up a bit dull after a few weeks.
R. Algie

I think considering when it was done you have had good service from that cellulose. I do remember when cellulose was all you could get, and once it blooms it's impossible to polish it out permanentky. On the other hand you can spray it at home yourself
Stan Best

This thread was discussed between 01/09/2010 and 05/09/2010

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