Duane WI wrote:Were the paint bubbles down to metal or between paint layers? Was there rust on the metal below the bubbles? What products did you use? Sorry for your troubles but if we can learn what went wrong then it isn't a complete loss. I almost made a similar first timer mistake. I was shooting epoxy primer on my rear fenders. It was a nice day so I did it outside of my shop under a shade tree. The fenders got put in the corner for a year before I was ready to final paint. There where small bubbles with rust below. I am pretty sure it was tree sap. The bubbles where only on the top surface. I only had to sand off and re-prime two fenders. Not a huge deal but learned a lesson.
The blisters were in the top paint only. No rust through or lower issues. Everything below is solid. When I did a test, I very slowly sanded away a little at a time and they stopped before the primer. I sent pictures to TCP Global and talked to the tech there since I am using Restoration Shop paints and primers. He confirmed that it was air contamination that caused the blisters. I did extensive research for months checking with local shop painters and they confirmed the same. So, I feel that I have the correct diagnosis of the issue.
As far as the correction, the short answer is to remove everything down to the metal. That is not what I am going to do since I have spent countless weeks and months doing preparation on the body that most people would have considered gone. Using a donor cab, I replaced every bottom corner with all 4 cab mounts, the floor, rear valance, the cowl area with the vent opening and other spot places. Custom touches like splitting the rear window, transmission tunnel, battery box in the floor behind the seat, indenting and raising areas of the firewall to allow the 327 ci Chevy engine to fit. Then a major epoxy filler skim and blocking over and over. So...I am not going to do that over again, but I am going to remove all of the paint down to the primer and then re-prime and re-paint. I think I will be safe doing that but, time will tell.
To anyone that plans to paint...make sure your air supply is clean and dry. That includes your hoses as well. Mine were old and I only had a water separator at the tank. There are so many things that you have to be aware of when you paint. Any type of contamination like, wet sanding and not allowing the surfaces to be completely dry before painting, not allowing for a proper flash time between coats can cause solvent pop, not using a surface prep/cleaner and a tack cloth, too humid of a day, not using the right hardener for the temps, not enough reducer in the paint, paint gun not set up right like too much air or not enough, you name it.
When shops do it everyday all of these things are second nature. When we attempt them in our garage or outdoors, conditions are so variable that it is just dumb luck when you get a good job.
I've painted a couple of cars and pickups at home before and I lucked out, they turned out good. This time..not so much.