How to Paint Fiberglass Door Panels
Fiberglass is a smooth, hard surface that looks terrific when properly painted. Custom door panels are often made from this material as well as the panels in some new cars.
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Things You'll Need
- Mild cleaner
- Mineral spirits
- 220-, 320-, 400-, and 1200-grit sandpaper
- Masking tape
Instructions
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Clean the door panels thoroughly with a mild cleaner.
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2
Inspect the panels under different light sources and from a variety of angles to spot high spots, low spots, and pin holes.
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3
Sand the door panels with a sanding block if there are high spots that need to be sanded down.
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4
Fill in any pin holes or low spots with spot putty. If there are larger holes or indentations that need to be filled, use auto repair putty for these areas.
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Sand the door panels with 220-grit, 320-grit and then 400-grit sandpaper. Finish off the sanding with a scouring pad.
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Clean the surface of the door panels with mineral spirits to remove any dust and oils. Clean the panels very well during this process so that the paint has a clean, dry surface to adhere to.
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Spray on a light coat of spray primer. Let the primer dry for a minute or so and then apply the first full coat in smooth, back-and-forth motions. Avoid spraying it on so heavily that it runs or sags.
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Apply a total of two to four coats of primer, letting the coats dry (between 30 minutes to an hour). Sand the primer between coats with 400-grit sandpaper.
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Spray on the color coat using the same technique that was used for the primer, letting the paint dry between coats and then sanding with 400-grit. The color paint may take longer to dry between coats.
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Spray on a clear coat if you want a glossier finish; otherwise just skip to the last step.
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Sand the final coat with 400-grit, then 1200-grit sandpaper. If you want an extremely smooth surface, you can even use up to 2000-grit sandpaper.
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Tips & Warnings
Wear a respirator when working around fiberglass, since the dust from the sanding and painting can be harmful to your lungs.
