Disappointed with Berger Panel mod
08-22-2006, 12:04 PM
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Disappointed with Berger Panel mod I am in the middle of my Berger panel modification and am vry disappointed with how it came out. I started by wetsanding the entire original paint with 400 grit paper. I then proceeded to fill in the "CAMARO" with Bondo and spot putty. Sanded that down with 80, 180, 320, 400 until smooth. Wiped everything down with tack rag and painted with Dupli-Color filler primer (3 coats). Sanded the primer down with 600 dry paper. Cleaned again to ensure no dust, residue, etc. Last night I painted the panel with Dupli-Color Semi-Gloss Acrylic Enamel black and the results are disappointing. I can see spray lines along the whole thing and I am just not happy. What should I do? I do not have a compressor/spray gun so that is out of the question. I think tonight I am going to sand what I did last night down with 600 dry paper and spray with flat to see if that helps. Any other suggestions? Oh yeah, I have searched many times....
08-22-2006, 12:15 PM
#2
Matte paint is pretty forgiving stuff. How many coats did you apply? Thin or thick coats? Did you just use 1 can of paint?
I had the same problem with mine, it was streaky and crappy looking because I did several thin coats. I used some semi gloss stuff from lowes and it didnt cover well. I went back to lowes and grabbed 2 more cans, used another can and a half on it and applied them pretty thick and held the can closer with slower strokes. This made it look much better, thick and rich coverage.
After I did that I wetsanded it a couple hours later with 1200 grit to even it out some, wiped it down clean and then went back over it later with some really good wax/buffing cream stuff a friend of mine had. That shined it up well and finished it off really nicely.
I had the same problem with mine, it was streaky and crappy looking because I did several thin coats. I used some semi gloss stuff from lowes and it didnt cover well. I went back to lowes and grabbed 2 more cans, used another can and a half on it and applied them pretty thick and held the can closer with slower strokes. This made it look much better, thick and rich coverage.
After I did that I wetsanded it a couple hours later with 1200 grit to even it out some, wiped it down clean and then went back over it later with some really good wax/buffing cream stuff a friend of mine had. That shined it up well and finished it off really nicely.
08-22-2006, 12:30 PM
#3
I sanded mine with 60grit and cleaned with alcohol. I filled the letters in with bondo and let dry for a day. I sanded with 120 grit until the bondo was flush with the panel. I cleaned it with rubbing alcohol. I used Rust-Oleum Automobile Primer. I've used the Dupli-Color high build stuff, and its nice, but this auto primer gets a better coat, builds higher and sands easier on body parts and interior pieces AND is cheaper (available at Wal-Mart). Start with one light coat of primer. Wait about half an hour, do another coat. Continue this process for 4-5 coats or until you cannot see where the bondo was. Let dry for 24 hours. This is the sanding process I ALWAYS follow just to prevent lines showing through.
120 grit-rubbing alcohol
220 grit-rubbing alcohol
400 grit-rubbing alcohol-
wetsand 600 grit-spray off-
wetsand800 grit-spray off
wetsand 1000 grit and spray off.
I know that much is probably unnecessary, but all my finished products have turned out great. I use a paint gun and automotive paint, but that is unnecessary. If you go to O'Reily's autoparts they can put ANY PAINT YOU WANT in a spray can. This included high quality, high gloss Dupont paint (if you have low paint skills, high gloss paint is hard to make look even, so a flat black might be a better route if you are unconfident). It will be around $30-$40. You can have them get you a high quality clear coat as well for another $30-$40. You can also use the high gloss Duplicolor Exterior paint and Duplicolor clear coat. Here's how I would paint it with either type of paint:
LIGHT first coat, the primer should still show through. Make sure you hold the can about 6-8inches from the panel and don't go ove the same spot twice. Wait for 15-25 minutes, add another coat. Repeat this process WITH LIGHT, EVEN COATS until you get full, deep coverage. Let dry for 24 hours. Wetsand with 1000, 1500 and 2000 grit (all these high grits are in the automotive section at Wal Mart) Clean with rubbing alcohol, add clear coat the same manner you did with the black. Let dry for 24 hours, wetsand with 1000, 1500 and 2000 grit.
It took me two coats of black and 1 coat of clear with ZERO wetsanding with Dupont automotive paint on an automotive primed panel with a paint gun-I think you can rent them. Just a thought. A body shop might charge you $150 to do one as well if it is worth it to you. If it still comes out uneven after that, try the Flat black. That is much easier to paint. Good Luck, sorry for the novel!
120 grit-rubbing alcohol
220 grit-rubbing alcohol
400 grit-rubbing alcohol-
wetsand 600 grit-spray off-
wetsand800 grit-spray off
wetsand 1000 grit and spray off.
I know that much is probably unnecessary, but all my finished products have turned out great. I use a paint gun and automotive paint, but that is unnecessary. If you go to O'Reily's autoparts they can put ANY PAINT YOU WANT in a spray can. This included high quality, high gloss Dupont paint (if you have low paint skills, high gloss paint is hard to make look even, so a flat black might be a better route if you are unconfident). It will be around $30-$40. You can have them get you a high quality clear coat as well for another $30-$40. You can also use the high gloss Duplicolor Exterior paint and Duplicolor clear coat. Here's how I would paint it with either type of paint:
LIGHT first coat, the primer should still show through. Make sure you hold the can about 6-8inches from the panel and don't go ove the same spot twice. Wait for 15-25 minutes, add another coat. Repeat this process WITH LIGHT, EVEN COATS until you get full, deep coverage. Let dry for 24 hours. Wetsand with 1000, 1500 and 2000 grit (all these high grits are in the automotive section at Wal Mart) Clean with rubbing alcohol, add clear coat the same manner you did with the black. Let dry for 24 hours, wetsand with 1000, 1500 and 2000 grit.
It took me two coats of black and 1 coat of clear with ZERO wetsanding with Dupont automotive paint on an automotive primed panel with a paint gun-I think you can rent them. Just a thought. A body shop might charge you $150 to do one as well if it is worth it to you. If it still comes out uneven after that, try the Flat black. That is much easier to paint. Good Luck, sorry for the novel!
08-22-2006, 03:46 PM
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Take it to the local dealership ask them to paint it satin black. I had mine done (new GM panel) for $50. Sounds like you have about $50 in labor and materials as you listed above.
Sean
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08-22-2006, 04:18 PM
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Originally Posted by 01pewter2001z28
Take it to the local dealership ask them to paint it satin black. I had mine done (new GM panel) for $50. Sounds like you have about $50 in labor and materials as you listed above.
Sean
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09-10-2006, 01:59 PM
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I wish I found a shop you guys were finding, $50, $30 yeah right. Every place I checked wanted a lot of money I finally broke down and paid $120 for it. One place wanted $250! Anyway, Its done, it looks great so no complaints.
09-10-2006, 07:18 PM
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you guys are spending quite a bit of $$. I did a berger on my LT1 and simply used krylon plastic paint after quite a bit of sanding and it came out beautiful. id understand if we were painting it a color other than satin/gloss/etc black, but black is, well, black.
09-10-2006, 08:53 PM
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any one that has ever worked in a body shops for some time will tell you that they is no need to sand beyond 1000+ on a matte finish. Wet with 600 is the only thing you need to do and the paint well have enough grit to stick, after two coats of paint the panel should be covered well. The problem with sanding over 1000+ is the finish is TOO smooth and yes they paint will lay down but it will fade out and soon look like crap. 1000, 1500, 2000, and 2500 should only be used for polishing and then buffing paint out to get rid of orange peel. PPG also make a non-gloss sealer that will keep the matte finish and let the paint last forever. this is an older pic but what my panel looks like.
