Auto body repair & detailing: paint prep on old VW, primer surfacer, metal etching

Question
This rounded body just has slight waves on some parts, nothing major but I know it will show with paint.  previous owner had it stripped but waves remain...I need to add such a minor amount of some type of filler...and then a metal etching primer?.....can good primer come in a can??........it seems like i will sand off most of what i add due to the depressions being so shallow...thanks

Answer
Hello Brad! You will need a metal etching primer for the bare metal spots, then a primer-surfacer for filling scratches and very small imperfections. The entire panels will need coated with primer surfacer, never spray paint over an etching primer. There are no good primers that come in a spray can. If you intend to refinish a car, you need to start from the ground up- that includes having some sort of spraying equipment. Think about this before you dig too deep. Besides, spraying primer through a gun will give you some idea of what it's like to paint, and will be a great teaching aid. The first spray gun I ever picked up had primer in it. Once I could spray primer well, then I was allowed to paint small stuff- like cutting in a fender, or the bottom of a hood. Things no one sees or pays attention to. Have a good one. Bill