[OldGuy 71Acadian]

Are you guys removing the edp coating before prep work on your body panels or leaving it on as the manufacturer suggests. Many tv car shows remove it but don't say why. Advise.

 

[NIGHTSHADE]

We left it on the fenders for the 4door. No problems.

 

[taz3]

The guy who painted my S10, just scuffed the fenders and painted right over it, it was good for the 5 years I drove it all year round up here!:yes:

 

[JRouche]

As difficult as it was to remove the stuff, I was amazed, I would leave it on. It is really bonded to the steel. And a good primer with work just fine after some prep work. JR

 

[69AKDN]

Are you guys removing the edp coating before prep work on your body panels or leaving it on as the manufacturer suggests. Many tv car shows remove it but don't say why. Advise.

First make sure it's EDP and not a laquer based coating, check with some laquer thinner to make sure. If it is EDP I'd leave it on the backside of the panel but remove it from the exterior surface. I've seen rust under EDP coating, I'd want to make sure you have a known good substrate before you carry on with your prep...at least on anything worth finishing. JMO...

 

[Chucks71]

Like Craig says if its the cheap laquer EDP it will rust under it. Just take
a rag and soak it in laquer thinner and let it set for a time. If nothing comes
off its the good stuff and your fine.

And I also remove the EDP on the outside as I just want my paint system
only on the bare metal.

Chuck

 

[JRouche]

Like Craig says if its the cheap laquer EDP it will rust under it. Just take
a rag and soak it in laquer thinner and let it set for a time. If nothing comes
off its the good stuff and your fine.

And I also remove the EDP on the outside as I just want my paint system
only on the bare metal.

Chuck

Thats good advice. My coating wouldnt come off with any chemical I through at it. So I had to use the DA sander and 80 grit to remove it. I also wanted nice clean metal for the epoxy primer. JR

 

[BBPanel]

What exactly is EDP coating? Anyone have a pic of what it looks like? Would my checkered clip have that on it (it has something on it - just not sure what)? -Bob

 

[JRouche]

What exactly is EDP coating? Anyone have a pic of what it looks like? Would my checkered clip have that on it (it has something on it - just not sure what)? -Bob

Think of it as a electro-plating using paint solids instead of dissolved metals. When you see it there will be a very thin coating. Ive only seen black. It will be so thin that the metal roughness will be thicker than the coating. Really, you will sand off the coating and hit metal (on a smooth panel) before you hit the bottom of the e-coat thats in the pores of the metal.

Ive never seen any chemical coating as tenacious against chemicals as E-coat for car bodies. Kinda reminds me of anodized aluminum. And thats just dyed aluminum oxide, the oxide is what makes it so tuff.

For an example. Powder coating is pretty tuff. But its still a layer applied on top of the metal, the durability comes from the bond the coating has with its self, once its fused.

E-coat has a strong bond with the metal, its been bonded with an electro-chemical process that is very similar to metal plating. . And a good E-coat is really as good as it gets.

Pics?? I dont have any but any semi gloss black paint looks the same. Its just thinner when you are up close to it. How to determine if its a true E-coat VS something else, sorry cant help there. Other than the strongest chemical stripper you can get your hands on, and Ive tried them all. They wont hardy touch a good E-coat. JR

 

[TechNova]

Test with automotive grade lacquer thinner as stated above. If any comes off or it gets soft it is NOT Ecoat. Don't use hardware store thinner, it is not strong enough.
If you are working with a new panel and it is Ecoat, don't remove it, just scuff it. As JRouche posted, there is nothing we have available that is better. If it is an old panel that has been around for years and has a few scratches then it could have some surface rust. Spot sanding at least or complete removal may be required.
You will see it in tan/grey for foreign cars also.

 

[OldGuy 71Acadian]

Thanks for all the replies guys.

These are new Goodmark panels and they strongly recommend to scuff and paint and not remove. I just saw a couple of TV shows where they did chemical strip the coating. Maybe it wasn't true EDP. Again, thanks for your ideas.