remove spot weld dimples or leave them?

[spitshine]

I'm in a dilemma, I'm new to body work and painting. I have started painting my CJ7 and filled all the dimples on the right side. The paint didn't come out to my liking and that brings me to my question. How many of you smooth the dimples and how many just leave them showing you have an all original steel jeep?

 

[jammer1]

I smoothed them out, (outside of tub) because I put a skim coat of body filler to make the tub straighter. Some argue both ways. To keep it original (if you are restoring) I would leave them. The spot welds and uneven sides are the way jeep and amc did them.

 

[Torxhead]

If you use your vehicle for off road the body will flex and cause some of those spot welds to break even without removing the dimples, so consider that.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

With the flex a Jeep will see in the real off road world.
I only use a 50/50 mix of lead/tin for body filler.
LG

 

[Hedgehog]

That figures! ....... No really it does, do it right or don' do it at all. I do have a question for you lead filler users. On one of the high end car restorer shows the body guy was griping about the use of lead as a filler on an already nice car. He got a torch and melted the lead off (griping about paint not sticking all the way) and used modern fillers to finish the car. Naturally the car turned out as a spectacular vehicle. But, I've always wondered about it. I thought lead, other than replacing panels was the only right way to go.

This isn't really a thread derail, we are talking about filler methods.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

IF you use the correct primer, you will never have paint adhesion issues.
I have never had any issue with paint stick'n to my lead filler. I do wash the area with acetone or MEK before painting.
LG