How to paint a car?

[oscaryu1]

Wondering if anyone had any experience in this area? Or know of any online guides

Basic questions:

Stripping down the bare metal vs sanding?
Grit of sandpaper?
What do you apply in order? Epoxy... the actual paint.. sealer... (as you can tell, I have no idea).

Thanks!

 

[bighead]

Wait for Gokart14 to chime in. He is the forums paint expert.

 

[devino246]

Whether you strip to bare metal or just sand the paint is your choice. Just know that starting with bare metal requires using an etching primer to promote adhesion to raw metal, but provides better results.

Google goes a long way here.

Choose from a single stage or double stage paint. Double stage requires clear, so you'll have a shinier finish but more upkeep. It also makes touchups more difficult. Single stage isnt as shiny but is easier to keep and touchup.

Do yourself a favor and buy a nice, long sanding block. Use it for final body work.

 

[oscaryu1]

Thanks! I was told I should use water-soluble stripper and not chemical stripper? (Aircraft remover I assume is chemical?)

 

[devino246]

Thanks! I was told I should use water-soluble stripper and not chemical stripper? (Aircraft remover I assume is chemical?)

Not sure, Ive been working in my great uncles shop & hes got a giant a$$ air compressor so I just use an orbital sander.

 

[oscaryu1]

You mean dual action?

 

[devino246]

You mean dual action?

yeah, eats through paint in no time, and uses a ton of air

 

[oscaryu1]

Is it similar enough to electric orbital sanders? D: I wouldn't mind getting a DA but I have a 1.5hp compressor :\

 

[devino246]

Is it similar enough to electric orbital sanders? D: I wouldn't mind getting a DA but I have a 1.5hp compressor :\

Electric should work just fine

 

[oscaryu1]

yush. any idea what type of sandpaper I'd need? I don't wanna get down with your homeimprovement grade 80 grit and end up with numerous scratches

 

[TorqueRanger]

Like everyone said check out Google and there alot of info out there... I have family that spray cars gallons of rustoleum and it come very good.. 1.5hp compressor but what gallon and cfm are you working with ???? What type of gun are you using ???

 

[devino246]

yush. any idea what type of sandpaper I'd need? I don't wanna get down with your homeimprovement grade 80 grit and end up with numerous scratches

Use 80 to get through the clear/base coat, then switch to 180 for the rest.

Like everyone said check out Google and there alot of info out there... I have family that spray cars gallons of rustoleum and it come very good.. 1.5hp compressor but what gallon and cfm are you working with ???? What type of gun are you using ???

The problem with Rustoleum: get gas on it and your done. Automotive paints arent affected by gas.

A 1.5 compressor wont run any type of sander for much more than a minute. Even with a giant tank, you wont get very far before you have to stop.

 

[oscaryu1]

Yesh, it's a 7gal with a secondary 11gal HF tank lol. Takes 15 minutes just to fill >_>

2.9cfm at 90psi... it's terrible lol. Craftsman ftl.... the HF equivalent costs less and puts out 4+cfm.

 

[oscaryu1]

Got the fenders off... one's done for (previously wrecked), but the other should be fine. The paint on this is incredibly thick... 3mm+... is that normal?

 

[devino246]

The paint on this is incredibly thick... 3mm+... is that normal?

I know very little of late model cars...

 

[oscaryu1]

This is a '87 Camry lols :3

Well I took some 80 grit to the fender for a minute... god this is gonna take quite a long time D:

 

[devino246]

This is a '87 Camry lols :3

Well I took some 80 grit to the fender for a minute... god this is gonna take quite a long time D:

New in my book

 

[oscaryu1]

xD

Random (possible stupid) question, would it be a idiotic idea to reinforce the inside of a fender by tacking/TIG'ing small bolts to the fender underside, then bolting some square tubing to it? lol.

Btw... what's this aboot painting your car after just scuffing the factory paint?

 

[Rustydog2010]

yush. any idea what type of sandpaper I'd need? I don't wanna get down with your homeimprovement grade 80 grit and end up with numerous scratches

I have painted a few trucks and trailers. I normally start with a 60-80 grit if there is a lot of excess paint. Then just wipe it down with thinners.

Prime it once and do nothing. On the second coat sand it down with a 180-220 grit paper, once again wipe it with thinners.

Then two coats of top coat, sand it with a 380-400 grit paper, then a final coat. Then a clear coat.

This is a long winded way of doing it, but the results were pretty good. Most of the skill comes in using the spray gun, making sure there is little over spray, the ratio of thinners to paint, etc..

If you are going to fill it full of bog thats a whole other story, lol.

 

[oscaryu1]

I don't mind taking longer, the longer and better looking the better lol.

This OEM paint is incredibly thick though... is using stripper cheating?