[Joseph]

My car is chipping paint all over. The original owner changed the color in 1984. The chipping paint goes down to the primer level. No metal is exposed. The areas that are chipping are small, about the size of pencil eraser heads. Was the primer not sanded? Should the car be sanded down and repainted? Are there any easy fixes (relative term I know)?

Thanks

Joseph

[Austin]

If the paint isn't peeling and the car was painted in 84 I'm sure the primer was sanded, otherwise the small chips would loose more paint around them. As far as repairing the chips you souldn't need to remove all the existing paint unless their is excessive amounts of paint on the car now. If the car has been repainted many times this could be the root of your problem (excessive paint becomes brittel and easy to chip) in that case stripping the finish to bare metal is the only correct solution. If you have any more questions post or e-mail. Good luck.

[Joseph]

Thanks Austin.

The paint is not peeling, only chipping. The paint does seem to be brittle but not thick. Was a poor quality paint used? The previous owner said stock GM 1984 Camaro Metallic Grey paint was used. My concern is if I sand down all the areas chipping and repaint other areas that have not chipped will come lose and ruin my hard efforts. What to do?


Joseph

[Austin]

Joseph,
If its not peeling now and its not very thick you should be able to sand out your existing chips, prime them, and apply a new finish without the added labor of striping all of your old finish off. Todays paints have come a long way even since '84. Keep in mind when you apply a new finish you get what you pay for. I always use a high solids catalized primer surfacer (its a costly primer but fills well and won't shrink back) then find a high quality Base/clear system with a good urathane clear (I use PPG global D894 clear w/D884 catalist and apprpriate thinner based on temp.)use a good sealer that matches up with the B/C, again these are spendy products but the end result looks fantastic if done correctly. But anyway, if you do or get this done your old paint won't keep coming off if its not peeling now. You'll just be putting on a new finish with much more durability and gloss than what you have now.
Austin

[CHRIS SILVA]

Hi there Chipping is from either painting over sealer that has gone to long before top coat is applied or sanding primer with too fine a sandpaper.

[CHRIS SILVA]

The only way to solve your problem is to strip the paint back to the primer then reprime block and paint.

[Joseph]

Thanks Chris.

I was thinking that what you suggested needed to be done but was hoping against it only because of the work involved. Do it right and it will look great for a long time. I think by next summer I can have it painted.

Joseph

[Austin]

sorry chris, but I have to dissagree. How you describe the way chiping occures (sealer and preperation) sounds more like peeling than chiping to me. Chiping can be caused by many factors, (driving behind too many dump trucks, driving on gravel roads frequently, poor durability of a paint system, and many other things) the point I'm trying to make is you can do everything correct and use all the correct products and still get chips. Chiping and actual poor adheasion are not the same thing and do not require the same type of repair, they are differant problems with differant repair needs. If indeed his car is peeling than striping IS the only correct solution, but if its not peeling he need not strip his car to metal just remove the chips (featheredge all the chips out).

[denverRS/SS]

Joseph, I am not a body shop man, but my experience with cars makes me go with Chris' opinion. If the problem is showing up "all over" the car, it sounds like there is something wrong with the foundation of the paint. What you plan to do with the car would dictate my decision. If you are going to hang on to it for a while, I would strip it and start from fresh metal. It is hard to spend the money, but it is sure worth it over the years!

[Joseph]

I would like to add a more detailed description of my problem which might, in my view, clear up any differences in opinion.
I decided to see if I could chip away the paint in a "fresh" area to see how easily it would come off. It's not like one more small chip will make a difference at this point. It did not take much pressure to chip, again exposing only primer, no metal. Also, the paint seems soft, not hard like it should be. So, maybe the guy who painted my car really messed up the sanding/sealing of the primer and the application of the color coat. In any case, I am alittle reluctant to paint over the existing paint.

Joseph

[Austin]

I dont have anything against striping a car, I just know alot of people do it when it is not needed. If your paint seems soft and it was done in 84 I WOULD strip it just to get that paint off. I've striped many cars and I've done many without striping also. On each case you must make a judgement call and do the job correctly based on what problem that vehicle has. If your paint seems soft its either very poor quality, or uncatalized paint. Either way with the info you just posted in this case I would agree and strip the existing paint off.

[Joseph]

That is what I feel should be done also. It least I'll have the piece of mind that it was done right.

Thanks Austin and the rest for your input.

Joseph