wood grain showing thru primer..what to do??

vader1979

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So i sanded my dk down to the bare wood. it had ALOT of small nicks..dents...scratches...etc. So i decided to just sand it all down for a smooth surface. I have now started priming and realize that the wood grain is showing thru the primer. Is there anything i can do about this? Or is this honestly a major F@#* on my part? I am a major perfectionist and this is really bothering me. any help would be greatly appreciated! thanks!

Heres what i am talking about....this is after three coats of primer.

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You could do a skim coat of bondo and then prime it again.
You need to seal the grain because it soaks up the primer.
 
That's a bummer, not all is lost though!! Heck, I had my chain saw out and running because I got so frustrated with an issue with my Frogger cabinet restore awhile back. I actuallly came within seconds of cutting the cabinet into pieces before I came to my senses. Now it looks like it just came off of the production line:)

If you want to get rid of the grain, no amount of primer will fix the issue. You can fix it by smoothly and uniformly applying bondo to the entire side with a smooth edge plastic bondo trowel. From there, let it dry and sand smooth. Starting first with a medium grit and then moving to a fine paper and then ending with a primer. If it we me, I'd sand the sides back down a bit so that the bondo has a clean sufface to adhere itself to. Also, keep in mind, any imperfections you can see prior to adding primer will almost always be present after primer. Let us know what you decide to do...this is just one option. There is a lot of talent on the forum, so I'm sure others will have some other ideas/options too.
 
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if i go the bondo route...i dont need to sand off all of the primer do i? i have already applied 4 coats to one side...three to the other...what i did for the front and speaker panel was i used ALOT of BIN spray primer...and that sprayed on thick enough to cover the grain...so those two areas are taken care of...its the two sides that look like shit!
 
So i sanded my dk down to the bare wood. it had ALOT of small nicks..dents...scratches...etc. So i decided to just sand it all down for a smooth surface. I have now started priming and realize that the wood grain is showing thru the primer. Is there anything i can do about this? Or is this honestly a major F@#* on my part? I am a major perfectionist and this is really bothering me. any help would be greatly appreciated! thanks!

Heres what i am talking about....this is after three coats of primer.

photobucket-29267-1349145360307.jpg

Lots and lots of filling. I've had to do it with my Monaco GP. Grain was showing like crazy, just like yours. (Still has a few tiny spots that still show grain).

I use MH Ready Patch and it seems to work pretty well.

I've also patched on top of the primer with no ill effects.
 
I like the bondo idea...already have the bondo....trowels...and sandpaper....will give it a skim coat tonight...sand tomorrow. What grit to do initial sand? 220?
 
ok...sanded cab a bit...and applied a skim coat of bondo. Hope this takes care of problem!! Will sand down tomorrow....

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I think you went kinda heavy on that, Vader. It should work, but you would make the job a lot easier on yourself by doing a real "skim"...most of the Bondo would be gone, leaving a real thin coat that would be quick to sand down. You just want to fill the grain, not build a totally new surface. Food for thought for next side, or next job.

The pros may correct me on this, as I'm just going off what I know from skim coating drywall. Same process though, less sanding = easier life and faster job.
 
Holy shit. I think I woulda just sprung for some vertical grade laminate in Peacock blue. What a nightmare.
 
I must admit, this is the first time I have ever seen a picture like this. That will probably take forever to sand but I am curious about seeing your pictures when it is done. One thing is for sure sir, you will no longer have to worry about wood grain.
 
ok...got the one side sanded down...and yes, it did take a bit! About one hour of sanding time...not to mention my sander took a shit half way through and i had to run and get a new one. But it did work...all grain covered and smooth. sanded with 60 then 220...then applied a coat of primer and she looks great! So the other side i will for sure be trying to get a skimmer coat...but being the first time doing that..i just really wanted to make sure it was good...and obviously it was...:p. Pics below...

After the hour of sanding...

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And after first coat of primer...beautiful unsanded orange peel...

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Much better. Hope you wore a mask with all that bondo dust. That stuff is toxic.
 
Right on! Poor sander....lol. Just make sure on the next side you >think< you are applying too little. If it's not enough, better to do a second skim coat to touch up. Your sander will than you.
 
You could have used a drywall compound for a skim coat, followed by sanding with a block or pole sander, then 2 or 3 coats of killz as 99 % gets sanded off and it was just to remove the grain. Bondo was over kill. Its not like you were filling gouges. Nice work and that sanding must have been hell. Bondo is good for scrapes or filling holes, seems on wood patches etc. That was probably expensive and overkill.

I would roll the blue with a high density foam roller with several coats and a good dry time, light sands between coats followed by a satin crystal clear coat of varathane again with a HD foam roller.

You can also get a brushed aluminum spray coat for the coin mech face plates.

If you spend enough time it will be durable and look like it was not painted.

Good luck

Michael
 
So I got the one side primed and sanded with two more coats on top of the bondo...final sand with 400...and she is perfect....not one indent or grain....honestly looks like the smoothest side of a cab I have ever done. Yes the sanding sucked...but it was worth it. I did the bondo route because I already had everything I needed. Plus I am against the clock to get this thing at least fully primed and prepped before the cold hits. I will finish the painting in the basement. Unfortunately its gonna get cold and I don't have a heater in the garage... oh...and PS...she's gonna be red...not blue
 
You could have used a drywall compound for a skim coat, followed by sanding with a block or pole sander, then 2 or 3 coats of killz as 99 % gets sanded off and it was just to remove the grain. Bondo was over kill.

Michael

I thought of that but I wouldn't trust it to not crack when moving the cab around. It isn't the strongest stuff.
 
other side has been bondoed...sanded and primed. Cab is finally prepped for paint. both sides using the bondo method worked amazing. very smooth and flawless. I did use a lighter coat on the other side and it went a bit smoother for sanding. here is a few pics...

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the right side is just dust on the side...very smooth surface ...smoothest i have ever gotten on a cab. very impressed

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