My first post, I hope to learn much here! Smoothed the firewall on my Camaro I have a few spots that are bare metal around the filler, the black areas are the guide coat. Do I need to put an epoxy primer down before I put on the high build primer? I plan on using a single stage urethane satin black as the topcoat. I have sanded the filler with 220 grit. Thanks for your collective help

Welcome to the forums.

The answer depends on your 2k primer - if rated as DTM (direct to metal) then no need for epoxy.

If you do shoot a DTM build primer you could always use a black epoxy as the next (final) step.



http://www.autobody101.com/store/paint- ... xy-primer/

This same line I carry also has a DTM 2K build primer which is also excellent.

Here's a thread showing the epoxy in grey (which I am using at home right now):

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=24519

My topcoat will be the single stage urethane, the same as I plan to do the body with. I could do that with the 2K you describe?

I'm saying if you wanted to you could use black epoxy primer as a top coat for anything under the hood, or suspension components. Guys do this all the time and those parts come out great and have excellent rust and chip resistance. Black epoxy makes an excellent top coat for areas like this.

For example if your filler work is good enough on that firewall skip the 2K build primer and just shoot the black epoxy and be done.

However...

If you are going to guide coat/block the firewall and you want to use the same final paint there as the rest of the car - then yes you need to shoot a 2K build primer and if that's the case I'd suggest a good DTM primer instead of doing the epoxy first then the build primer:

http://www.autobody101.com/store/paint- ... -full-kit/

Thanks Chris! That is just the information I needed.