Body Prep and Staic Electicity ?

[rbray]

I'm having some success doing the prep on my car, but I remember someone posting a waring about the static buildup that goes along with sanding a fiberglass body.
What do I need to do to stay safe while doing the prep on my Cobra body?

[Aussie Mike]

Try to avoid rubbing the body down with a cat or other fury house hold pet. It generates huge ammounts of static and the cat generally doesn't enjoy it.

Seriously though I'm in the rubbing back phase at the moment myself. The main problem I see with staic is that it can attract dust to your nice fresh "ready for paint" body. I think a good wipe with a cloth soaked in wax and grease remover before paint should clean any dust off and hopefully discharge some of that built up static charge. I would also recomend wiping it down with a tack rag before your colour and clear coats. This is basically the same thing as the soaked rag but it's a lint free cloth and the solvent in the cloth evaporates completely.

I'll probably be eating my words here and producing some new 4 letter ones as I start applying the paint over the coming weeks.

Cheers

[Steve Siedlecki]

http://www.autobodystore.com/cart/enter.html
go here this tool hooks to an air gun that removes the static sharge off the surface...
Go to the paaint helpers section and look for the Ionix Static Eliminator.
Steve

[Bruce Botti]

Steve is correct. The Ionix static eliminator works great. Autobodystore.com is a great place to purchase it as well as a great place to learn about all things associated with paint and bodywork. Here are the steps that I use to prep before painting fiberglass:

1. Make sure that the floor is wet down. This will cut down on dust and static.
2. Wipe the car down with a damp (with water) rag.
3. Blow the car off with the Ionix static eliminator.
4. Wipe the car down with a wax/grease remover.
5. Blow off again with the Ionix.
6. Wipe down with a tack cloth.
7. Paint away!

Make sure to blow yourself off with the Ionix prior to painting. I sometimes will blow the car off with the Ionix between coats if there is a big static problem. Sometimes it can be so great that it will actually alter the spray pattern!

Good Luck,
Bruce

[Mark IV]

Glasurit and Sikkens as well as others sell a "static eliminator" that you wipe the car down eith. Works well, have used it both a Cobra and, what are they called, I think a "Corvette?.

You pour some on a static free towel and wipe it down.

Rick