The Ford Capri Laser Page

Today I used a high-volume low-pressure spray gun to respray the area below the side mouldings on my Capri, which were previously painted over stone chip and I really didn't like.
Being new to using one of these spray guns and 2k paint I was a bit unsure how it would come out. Unfortunately I went a bit thick in places, so it will need to harden off and be flatted back a bit, then try to get a better even coat on it.

Its difficult capturing paintwork in a photo but heres a few pictures to show you how it turned out.














And this is the spray gun



Weather permitting next weekend I'll flat it back and have another attempt to see if I can get a better finish

All the best
Neil

Hi Neil
I'll tell you what, you've done an amazing job there.
I'm keeping a keen eye on your efforts here, as small area paint repairs is something I want to be able to do myself.

From the pics on the box, I take it that this HVLP sprayer has a built-in compressor? You just fill with paint, plug it in and away you go?

Andrew.

Andrew 2.8i wrote:Hi Neil
I'll tell you what, you've done an amazing job there.
I'm keeping a keen eye on your efforts here, as small area paint repairs is something I want to be able to do myself.

From the pics on the box, I take it that this HVLP sprayer has a built-in compressor? You just fill with paint, plug it in and away you go?

Andrew.

Cheers Andrew, its not perfect but I'm hoping to get it looking better with my second attempt.

You're right Andrew it has a built in compressor. As it runs on low pressure it doesn't make as much mess as a conventional spray gun. I've even seen Youtube videos of people spraying car panels inside their homes. Not sure I'd like to do that, but it proves they create less over spray than the conventional high pressure spray guns.
Thought I'd give it a go, worst case scenario I'll just use it for painting the fence and shed

All the best
Neil

Hi Neil,
Looks good to me too.......100% correct for Beaulieu though please.....



Andy

Looks like a good job to me. Remember that Capris were an "orange - peeley" finish below the mouldings when new with the stone chip undercoat.

From the pictures it looks like you need to get a bit more paint on the inner lip of the rear wheel arch but when that's done just do what they do in professional paint shops - go over the surface carefully with P2000 wet and dry, using a bar of soap to reduce friction, then when it's flat polish it up to the final shine with compound.

Black is a notoriously hard colour to get right but that looks like a pretty damn good effort to me.

andyd wrote:Hi Neil,
Looks good to me too.......100% correct for Beaulieu though please.....



Andy

Yeah its gotta be right for Beaulieu Andy

All the best
Neil

Paul G wrote:Looks like a good job to me. Remember that Capris were an "orange - peeley" finish below the mouldings when new with the stone chip undercoat.

From the pictures it looks like you need to get a bit more paint on the inner lip of the rear wheel arch but when that's done just do what they do in professional paint shops - go over the surface carefully with P2000 wet and dry, using a bar of soap to reduce friction, then when it's flat polish it up to the final shine with compound.

Black is a notoriously hard colour to get right but that looks like a pretty damn good effort to me.

Cheers, yeah Capri's came factory standard with a orange peel finish. And to be honest the side mouldings tend to take your eyes away from it.

I will be going over with fine paper when its finished, like you say P2000 or possibly a bit finer. Then the whole car is going to have a rotary mop and polish, so hopefully it will look great for the 2017 show season

All the best
Neil

Looks quite good in the pictures Neil , even finish & glossy too. Let us know how it turns out once you've flatted back & mopped it

Caprifan Rob wrote:Looks quite good in the pictures Neil , even finish & glossy too. Let us know how it turns out once you've flatted back & mopped it

Cheers Rob.... Will do hopefully it should look good when finished and cost me a fraction of what a body shop would charge

As someone who has painted their own car twice now, this is a pretty good job! Like someone already mentioned the lip on the wheel arch needs a bit more work, but other than that it looks top notch. Once you flat and polish it it should look amazeballs!

Might need to get one of these spray guns myself, since i no longer have access to a workshop or compressor.

Arya2.0S wrote:As someone who has painted their own car twice now, this is a pretty good job! Like someone already mentioned the lip on the wheel arch needs a bit more work, but other than that it looks top notch. Once you flat and polish it it should look amazeballs!

Might need to get one of these spray guns myself, since i no longer have access to a workshop or compressor.

Yeah I noticed the wheel arch when I was taking the photo There are also 2 annoying runs hence it will need a bit more work before the polisher comes out. However its a perfect little tool for doing small jobs and with a bit more practice I'm sure its going to be better than a rattle can

sheff wrote:

Arya2.0S wrote:As someone who has painted their own car twice now, this is a pretty good job! Like someone already mentioned the lip on the wheel arch needs a bit more work, but other than that it looks top notch. Once you flat and polish it it should look amazeballs!

Might need to get one of these spray guns myself, since i no longer have access to a workshop or compressor.

Yeah I noticed the wheel arch when I was taking the photo There are also 2 annoying runs hence it will need a bit more work before the polisher comes out. However its a perfect little tool for doing small jobs and with a bit more practice I'm sure its going to be better than a rattle can

Most definitely. Rattle cans are mostly thinners too. They're fine for the odd job like painting trim pieces etc but I'd never use them on bodywork.
I spotted the small runs, but they're no big deal, even pros get runs from time to time, that's what sanding and polishing is for lol.

Hi Neil,

Great job you are doing there fella. Its not easy to get as good a finish like you are achieving so well done mate ! Look forward to seeing it at Beaulieu. I will bring my knee pads

That spray gun looks a fantastic tool to have Neil. I would love to get myself to one but unfortunately I don't have a power supply in my garage. In fact just like you Neil at this moment in time I am also in the middle of a bit of a mini 'paint job' myself mate. I am refurbishing the front valance

20170402_184040 by nicholas bowler, on Flickr

I could do with a spray gun like yours right now mate but will make do with rattle cans ! Got some Lacquer Red in cans with adjustable spray pattern from a specialised paint mixer so they are better than the standard off the shelf jobs and as the valance is not a big panel I will get away with this I hope ! I have my Halfords trigger gun attachment for the can which gives more control when spraying. A bit more prep then top coats !!

Keep up the brilliant work on your 2.8i mate. Catch up with you in few weeks at Beaulieu

All the best

Nick

Fordoholic Nick wrote: at this moment in time I am also in the middle of a bit of a mini 'paint job' myself mate

Hi Nick,
Good work. Are those SGS Engineering ratchet axle stands I spy there?

Andrew.

Fordoholic Nick wrote:Hi Neil,

Great job you are doing there fella. Its not easy to get as good a finish like you are achieving so well done mate ! Look forward to seeing it at Beaulieu. I will bring my knee pads

That spray gun looks a fantastic tool to have Neil. I would love to get myself to one but unfortunately I don't have a power supply in my garage. In fact just like you Neil at this moment in time I am also in the middle of a bit of a mini 'paint job' myself mate. I am refurbishing the front valance

20170402_184040 by nicholas bowler, on Flickr

I could do with a spray gun like yours right now mate but will make do with rattle cans ! Got some Lacquer Red in cans with adjustable spray pattern from a specialised paint mixer so they are better than the standard off the shelf jobs and as the valance is not a big panel I will get away with this I hope ! I have my Halfords trigger gun attachment for the can which gives more control when spraying. A bit more prep then top coats !!

Keep up the brilliant work on your 2.8i mate. Catch up with you in few weeks at Beaulieu

All the best

Nick

I'm glad that's primer Nick, for a minute there I thought you'd started to spray your car signal orange

Catch you at Beaulieu mate and we can compare DIY paint jobs

All the best
Neil

You chaps are at it again....Last year interior trim and pedals, now bodywork in time for Beaulieu

I like to think I am helping you spend money ready for the event....What's next years jobs

andyd wrote:You chaps are at it again....Last year interior trim and pedals, now bodywork in time for Beaulieu

I like to think I am helping you spend money ready for the event....What's next years jobs

Certainly spent some money this year Not sure what the plans are for 2018, but I'm sure I'll think off something????

Perhaps a TT conversion

sheff wrote:I'm glad that's primer Nick, for a minute there I thought you'd started to spray your car signal orange

Neil I had better get some red primer on this pronto as its starting to grow on me... but dont tell John

sheff wrote:Catch you at Beaulieu mate and we can compare DIY paint jobs

andyd wrote:You chaps are at it again....Last year interior trim and pedals, now bodywork in time for Beaulieu

Hey Neil, yep great stuff fella. Bring along your HVLP sprayer and I will bring my halfords trigger gun attachment so we can show Andy as he does seem very keen dont he. I will bring a spare pair of knee pads for him in case he wants to see our DIY paintjobs

Looking forward to Beaulieu. Not long now....

All the best mate

Nick

Andrew 2.8i wrote:Good work. Are those SGS Engineering ratchet axle stands I spy there?

Cheers Andrew....still work in progress so not out of the woods yet

Mate those are the halfords axle stands. Not got round to ordering the SGS ones yet that you bought with extra lock pin. Will get some though.

All the best

Nick

Fordoholic Nick wrote:Cheers Andrew....still work in progress so not out of the woods yet

Hi Nick,
It will be interesting to see your valance once it's finished.
I've never managed to get a decent finish, but I'm sure you'll be able to do a good job.

I'm very tempted by this Neilson sprayer, Neil's spray job looks superb.

Andrew.