smoothing out dash pieces

OK, so I'm going to try to do something I pay people to do, which is work on my truck Anyway, I have taken all dash pieces off of my 2001 GMC and I want to paint it. I've heard people say they smooth them out first before painting. Is the smoothing part consisting of sand paper and if so which grit sand paper do I use. Thanks

Edited: 2/21/2007 10:27:12 AM by HOLCOMBE347

GET YOURSELF A GOOD PRIMER AND SOME ADHESION PROMOTER. (I USE BULLDOG) THE ADHESION PROMOTOR IS BASCIALLY A FLEX ADDITIVE YOU SPRAY ON THE PLASTIC AND THE PRIMER WHICH WILL ALLOW THE PLATIC TO BEND AND NOT MAKE THE PLASTIC'S PAINT CHIP OFF. IN ORDER TO SMOOTH THE HARD PLASTIC DASH PIECES YOU CAN ROUCH IT UP WITH SOME 320 GRIP CLEAN IT VERY GOOD WITH WARM SOAPY WATER THEN CLEAN IT WITH GREASE AND WAX REMOVER (WEAR GLOVES TO KEEP THE OIL FROM YOUR HAND FROM GETTING ON THE PIECES) ONCE DRIED SPRAY THE ADHESION PROMOTOER ON IT LET IT DRY. CLEAN IT AGAIN AND SPRAY IT WITH THE PRIMER. ONCE DRY SAND THE PRIMER DOWN...I USUALLY START WITH 220 GRIT AND WORK MY WAY UP TO 400 UNTIL IS SMOOTH. YOU'LL PROLLY GO THROUGH THE PRIMER IN SOME SPOTS BUT NO BIGGY. AFTER ITS DONE, PREP THEM AGAIN AND SPRAY ANOTHER COAT OF PRIMER AND SAND AGAIN. BE CAREFUL TO NOT GO THROUGH THE PRIMER THIS TIME THOUGH. AFTER YOUR DONE IT SHOULD ALL BE SMOOTH. THE PRIMER WILL FILL IN THE TEXTURE...ITS BASICALLY LIKE SPRAY BONDO. ALSO, YOU CAN ADD A LITTLE OF THAT PROMOTER TO THE PRIMER MIX TO HELP IT FLEX A LITTLE BETTER.

ALSO, IF YOU GET YOUR PRIMER AND PAINT FROM A BODY SHOP, THEY CAN GET YOU A TECH SHEET FOR THE PRIMER AND PAINT WHICH GIVE YOU INSTRUCTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO MIX THE PAINT, PRIMER, AND ALSO GIVE YOU RECOMENDED SANDING PROCEDURES AND WHAT NOT. THOSE WERE VERY HELPFUL FOR ME WHEN I DID MINE.

Originally posted by HOLCOMBE347



Edited: 2/21/2007 10:27:12 AM by HOLCOMBE347

GET YOURSELF A GOOD PRIMER AND SOME ADHESION PROMOTER. (I USE BULLDOG) THE ADHESION PROMOTOR IS BASCIALLY A FLEX ADDITIVE YOU SPRAY ON THE PLASTIC AND THE PRIMER WHICH WILL ALLOW THE PLATIC TO BEND AND NOT MAKE THE PLASTIC'S PAINT CHIP OFF. IN ORDER TO SMOOTH THE HARD PLASTIC DASH PIECES YOU CAN ROUCH IT UP WITH SOME 320 GRIP CLEAN IT VERY GOOD WITH WARM SOAPY WATER THEN CLEAN IT WITH GREASE AND WAX REMOVER (WEAR GLOVES TO KEEP THE OIL FROM YOUR HAND FROM GETTING ON THE PIECES) ONCE DRIED SPRAY THE ADHESION PROMOTOER ON IT LET IT DRY. CLEAN IT AGAIN AND SPRAY IT WITH THE PRIMER. ONCE DRY SAND THE PRIMER DOWN...I USUALLY START WITH 220 GRIT AND WORK MY WAY UP TO 400 UNTIL IS SMOOTH. YOU'LL PROLLY GO THROUGH THE PRIMER IN SOME SPOTS BUT NO BIGGY. AFTER ITS DONE, PREP THEM AGAIN AND SPRAY ANOTHER COAT OF PRIMER AND SAND AGAIN. BE CAREFUL TO NOT GO THROUGH THE PRIMER THIS TIME THOUGH. AFTER YOUR DONE IT SHOULD ALL BE SMOOTH. THE PRIMER WILL FILL IN THE TEXTURE...ITS BASICALLY LIKE SPRAY BONDO. ALSO, YOU CAN ADD A LITTLE OF THAT PROMOTER TO THE PRIMER MIX TO HELP IT FLEX A LITTLE BETTER.

ALSO, IF YOU GET YOUR PRIMER AND PAINT FROM A BODY SHOP, THEY CAN GET YOU A TECH SHEET FOR THE PRIMER AND PAINT WHICH GIVE YOU INSTRUCTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO MIX THE PAINT, PRIMER, AND ALSO GIVE YOU RECOMENDED SANDING PROCEDURES AND WHAT NOT. THOSE WERE VERY HELPFUL FOR ME WHEN I DID MINE.

also a polyester fill works really good instead of primer. it is just a lot thicker and sands easy.

Edited: 2/21/2007 12:16:13 PM by 5592kchevy

Well I did mine over 2 years ago and it has not cracked and it still looks good. What I did was after the pieces were all out I sprayed the ones with texture with aircraft remover. That caused the texture layer to bubble up then before it dried I scrapped it off. After that I lightly sanded it with rough grit paper. Removing the texture helps prevent cracking later on, after that you can proceed as the others have suggested. any qusetions judt IM me.

NAPA 2KHB HIGH BUILD PRIMER 2 COATS WET SAND AND SPRAY I WOULD RECOMEND WIPING YOUR PARTS WITH SOME REDUCER OR THINNER IF YOU HAVE EVER PUT ARMOR ALL OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT CAUSE IT WILL RUIN YOUR PAINT JUST A LITTLE WILL CAUSE IT TO BUBBLE AND COME UP

SUP KEN BRO JUST MAKE SURE YOU SAND THE TEXTURE OFF BECUZ IF YOU JUST PRIMER OVER THE TEXT AFTER A WHILE THE PRIMER WILL LEFT AND CRACK

SUP KEN BRO JUST MAKE SURE YOU SAND THE TEXTURE OFF BECUZ IF YOU JUST PRIMER OVER THE TEXT AFTER A WHILE THE PRIMER WILL LEFT AND CRACK