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by Ron Joseph

December, 2005

Removing Lacquer Before Applying Epoxy

Q. I have a car that was sanded to bare metal and was sprayed with Lacquer primer. I want to spray it with epoxy primer and there is spots I can't get all the Lacquer off, do I need to get all the lacquer off to spray it with epoxy?

A. The term "lacquer" is misleading, because it usually applies to a nitrocellulose paint that was used prior to the 1980s. Therefore, my answer to your question depends on what type of paint or primer was applied. However, since you have probably tried using paint removers (paint strippers) which did not remove the coating, I expect that you should be able to apply an epoxy without experiencing difficulty. Play it safe! Try a small area first, and see if the two coatings are compatible. If the "lacquer" does not lift, then go ahead and primer the entire vehicle.

Best wishes,

Ron Joseph


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