I'm sticking with water-based primer over epoxy on older cars

Last month at my shop in Denver I used water-based primer over bare metal on a '72 Mustang and three guys told me I was crazy for not using an epoxy sealer first. But I've been doing it this way for 6 years and never had a peel or adhesion failure. Has anyone else had good results skipping epoxy on classic cars that are just daily drivers?

2 comments

2 Comments

kim.stella19d ago

Oh man, I actually wonder if the older paint chemistry from back then bonds differently with modern water-based primers. Those '70s Fords had some volatile organic compounds in their original clear coats that might leave a little tooth for the primer to grab onto. Maybe skipping epoxy works because the metal is already weathered and reacted vs. fresh sandblasted steel.

wendygarcia18d ago

Is it really that serious though? I mean, people have been skipping the full epoxy deal on old cars for years and they seem fine. Maybe it's just one of those things where the internet overcomplicates what's basically a weekend project.