shaving side moldings

The best way to protect it from rust is to use a spray gun with a flexible wand that you can run down the inside of the shaved molding. you can use that to primer the inside and cover all the bare metal. Let that sit for a day or so and then spray corrosion protection in there. Now taking into consideration that I live in Wisconsin, this is something that I would not skimp out on. Depending on where you're located, it might not even be that important. Also, I know that on my Accord, if I were to shave the moldings, they are deep enough that a spray wand would fit in there once the metal was welded across them. Your civic moldings may be too shallow, so I would only remove the paint precisely where the welds are going. Also, you should primer the back side of the metal strip before you weld it in and remove the primer along the edges so when you weld it's metal on metal, with no paint in between. Granted, welding it will burn some of it off, but better than having no primer at all. When you take the paint off, use a clean and strip wheel, not a grinding disc. Clean and strip wheels are available from 3M and they work great. They will only take off the paint. A grinding disc will grind down paint, but also grind down the metal making it thinner and you'll burn through with your welder.

Well I live in alabama, humidity out of this world.  So definitely need to deal with the rust thing. Excellent wherm, thanks again for all the info. I apologize for so many questions.  You have given me more info than anyone though. If I ever have anymore questions I will probably hit you up. No i've just got to get some practice material and get cracking. Learning the trade one fiberglass creation at a time!

No such thing as to many questions.Why do you ask if I ate paint chips when I was younger?