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Calling everyone whos painted their own cars

Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 8:03 pm
by Supercharged Nat
Ok guys I know some of you have done it, so can you post up piccys and details about how you went about it?
what paints you used
how long it took you
what grades of paper you used
and when you used them.

im seriously considering it but want all the ins and outs. not too worried about the equipment- compressors etc- although and recommended guns to use?

Im confident i can do a decent job of it.

Re: Calling everyone whos painted their own cars

Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 8:52 pm
by Dave
Best thing I ever did was to buy a "How to paint your car" DVD. It was a set of 6 discs by Paintucation, Kevin Tetts.
Can't remember where i got it now, but ebay I expect. So many tips and tricks are in there.

Top tips I can think of are wipe down everything with panel wipe before painting.
Use a mixing cup to measure the paint, hardeners and thinners. Not a measuring stick.
Use fine filters, and use 2 at a time to filter into the gun cup.
Mix in a cup, not the gun.
Go over the bodywork with a tak rag (but not one from Halfords) before paint.
I use 2k which you can still get. USE A PROPER MASK OR IT WILL KILL YOU!
2k is very nasty, you can't take too many safety precautions.
It will get you through your skin and even through your eyes.
Use disposable rubber gloves.

Devilbiss guns are damned good, but expensive. The "pro" guns from Machine Mart are very good for the money (£20ish) Go for a HVLP gun.

I don't claim to be an expert by any means, but I'm happy with my results.
I really can't recommend those DVD's enough.

Re: Calling everyone whos painted their own cars

Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 9:19 am
by Peter-S
My results have been OK but I'm not really patient enough so I don't think I should be telling you how to do it but there is some good advice on here:
http://www.citroen-restoration.co.uk/ds/painting.php

Re: Calling everyone whos painted their own cars

Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 9:49 am
by Supercharged Nat
thanks guys!

Re: Calling everyone whos painted their own cars

Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 1:24 pm
by -JC-
Peter-S wrote:My results have been OK but I'm not really patient enough so I don't think I should be telling you how to do it but there is some good advice on here:
http://www.citroen-restoration.co.uk/ds/painting.php
citroen restoration? people restore citroens? why? that's a waste of good scrap metal!

Re: Calling everyone whos painted their own cars

Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 3:46 pm
by InvalidBoy
Prep, prep, prep. Then prep again.

Start light and finely atomised.
Build up many layers slowly and gradually.
Learn when to walk away.
Always finish on a double header for a glossy wet look.

Re: Calling everyone whos painted their own cars

Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 9:00 pm
by haydn_gnarlerboy
filler it badly- with shite cheap sanpaper-rub it back on a hot summers day with too many beers in you- half arse spray it and then only take it out at night.....works for me :)