Paint Gurus... please help
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Paint Gurus... please help Ok, to start off with... I can barely handle fingerpainting... let alone painting a car. Everything I spray has drips and flys and everything else in it. However, my good buddy has a niche for painting. He rattlecanned his berger and underhood, and it looks pretty damn good. He also owes me big for doing a ton of work, dropping an LS1 into his 95Z.
So here's the run down. I'm gonna have him paint my car. I'm gonna buy the spray gun and paint, and help do prep, but I have no clue what to get or where to get it.
What's a good auto quality spray gun in the neighborhood of $100-200? How much paint do I need for a project like this?
Where can I buy auto quality paint? Doing the car in Caddy Pearl White with flat/satin berger, roof, hockey stripes, wheels, FRCs, and mesh grill. The flat/satin I have in mind would be something similar to the stripes found on the new Chargers.
What's the best way to do the wheels in a flat color (ZR1s)? Powder coating? Something else? I don't even know if the can powder coat in a flat color. I'll probably do the grill the same way I do the wheels.
I have a mecham 4-port hood with 4 heat extractor grills. They aren't removable. The hood can be seen at www.lmperformance.com or at Mecham's website. I'd do a link, but I'm on my smartphone. I want to match those grills to the grill and wheels, but I'm not sure the best way to go about it.
What do I need to do for prep to my original paint? The hood is gelcoated white (top & bottom) and primered (top only), what do I need to do to prep that?
What do I need to do to prep the fuel rail covers? I'll be removing the "Corvette" lettering from them.
I know this is long, and with a lot of questions, but I'd really appreciate a push in the right direction. BTW... did try search and couldn't find much, then again, I'm limited to my smartphone.
Thanks guys.
So here's the run down. I'm gonna have him paint my car. I'm gonna buy the spray gun and paint, and help do prep, but I have no clue what to get or where to get it.
What's a good auto quality spray gun in the neighborhood of $100-200? How much paint do I need for a project like this?
Where can I buy auto quality paint? Doing the car in Caddy Pearl White with flat/satin berger, roof, hockey stripes, wheels, FRCs, and mesh grill. The flat/satin I have in mind would be something similar to the stripes found on the new Chargers.
What's the best way to do the wheels in a flat color (ZR1s)? Powder coating? Something else? I don't even know if the can powder coat in a flat color. I'll probably do the grill the same way I do the wheels.
I have a mecham 4-port hood with 4 heat extractor grills. They aren't removable. The hood can be seen at www.lmperformance.com or at Mecham's website. I'd do a link, but I'm on my smartphone. I want to match those grills to the grill and wheels, but I'm not sure the best way to go about it.
What do I need to do for prep to my original paint? The hood is gelcoated white (top & bottom) and primered (top only), what do I need to do to prep that?
What do I need to do to prep the fuel rail covers? I'll be removing the "Corvette" lettering from them.
I know this is long, and with a lot of questions, but I'd really appreciate a push in the right direction. BTW... did try search and couldn't find much, then again, I'm limited to my smartphone.
Thanks guys.
Okay, first you aren't going to find a good paint gun in that price range. The good ones start around 350. Both of mine were around 600. Sata and Devilbiss are probably two of the better ones out there. Mine are Satas. If you are doing the Caddy pearl, which is a 3 stage setup, then you really need everything to be perfect. Good paint can be purchased at local auto body supply shops (look them up in the phone book). Brands like PPG and Dupont are two common quality paints.
Prep...(hood included) get everything sanded, coat with primer, sand, repeat, and spray a coat or two of sealer on the car before you do your basecoat. Like I said that Caddy pearl is 3 stage (base, mid, clear), so you need a perfect surface before the base.
Powdercoat would be best for the wheels (most resistant to scratches and chips), but I have had great luck with just paint. They make a flat black base and clear you could buy if you wanted to go that route. Prep would be the same as the car. If you want the wheels and grills to match, your best bet would probably be just to paint them both. Tape off the vents, paint the hood, let it dry, remove tape, tape painted area, paint vents.
You can buy a body filler for plastic panels that would probably work for getting rid of the corvette on the frc (I've never done them so I really couldn't tell you).
Prep...(hood included) get everything sanded, coat with primer, sand, repeat, and spray a coat or two of sealer on the car before you do your basecoat. Like I said that Caddy pearl is 3 stage (base, mid, clear), so you need a perfect surface before the base.
Powdercoat would be best for the wheels (most resistant to scratches and chips), but I have had great luck with just paint. They make a flat black base and clear you could buy if you wanted to go that route. Prep would be the same as the car. If you want the wheels and grills to match, your best bet would probably be just to paint them both. Tape off the vents, paint the hood, let it dry, remove tape, tape painted area, paint vents.
You can buy a body filler for plastic panels that would probably work for getting rid of the corvette on the frc (I've never done them so I really couldn't tell you).
Last edited by fast377; Apr 21, 2008 at 08:29 AM.
There's quite a few folks that like the Astro EVO 4014.
http://www.spraygunworld.com/product...%20EVO4014.htm
Should spray base and clear acceptably well, assuming everything else is up to snuff (proper filtering of air, adequate CFM of compressor, etc).
I have an Astro QUL1.9 for primer. It's a decent gun. There are a few quirks to the QUL series though... people seem to like the EVO series better than the QUL series.
Be prepared to spend some $$$ on that paint though. I bet it'll run you upwards of $400/gallon. Tack on clear, and some sealer or epoxy primer, and then disposables (paper), and you'll probably hit at least $750 in supplies to paint. Though I wouldn't be surprised if it tops $1k.
http://www.spraygunworld.com/product...%20EVO4014.htm
Should spray base and clear acceptably well, assuming everything else is up to snuff (proper filtering of air, adequate CFM of compressor, etc).
I have an Astro QUL1.9 for primer. It's a decent gun. There are a few quirks to the QUL series though... people seem to like the EVO series better than the QUL series.
Be prepared to spend some $$$ on that paint though. I bet it'll run you upwards of $400/gallon. Tack on clear, and some sealer or epoxy primer, and then disposables (paper), and you'll probably hit at least $750 in supplies to paint. Though I wouldn't be surprised if it tops $1k.
I can't really afford spending 600 for one gun so I tried out a few different ones and I found that the DeVilbiss Finish Line series (not "starting line") shoot just as good as the 600 dollar guns as long as you take good care of them. Spraygundepot has a kit ($260) that includes two guns one with a 1.3 tip for base/clear and one with a 1.8 tip for primer, you could get one gun and two different tips to save on cash especially if this is a one time thing. Just make sure you have something to filter water out of the line and prep,prep, prep.
There's quite a few folks that like the Astro EVO 4014.
http://www.spraygunworld.com/product...%20EVO4014.htm
Should spray base and clear acceptably well, assuming everything else is up to snuff (proper filtering of air, adequate CFM of compressor, etc).
I have an Astro QUL1.9 for primer. It's a decent gun. There are a few quirks to the QUL series though... people seem to like the EVO series better than the QUL series.
Be prepared to spend some $$$ on that paint though. I bet it'll run you upwards of $400/gallon. Tack on clear, and some sealer or epoxy primer, and then disposables (paper), and you'll probably hit at least $750 in supplies to paint. Though I wouldn't be surprised if it tops $1k.
http://www.spraygunworld.com/product...%20EVO4014.htm
Should spray base and clear acceptably well, assuming everything else is up to snuff (proper filtering of air, adequate CFM of compressor, etc).
I have an Astro QUL1.9 for primer. It's a decent gun. There are a few quirks to the QUL series though... people seem to like the EVO series better than the QUL series.
Be prepared to spend some $$$ on that paint though. I bet it'll run you upwards of $400/gallon. Tack on clear, and some sealer or epoxy primer, and then disposables (paper), and you'll probably hit at least $750 in supplies to paint. Though I wouldn't be surprised if it tops $1k.
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Wow, I had no idea paint could be so expensive. Guess it'll be worth it though.
You guys have been VERY helpful... can't thank you enough. Now I've got a better idea of what I'm getting myself into.
You guys have been VERY helpful... can't thank you enough. Now I've got a better idea of what I'm getting myself into.
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Verdad Gallardo If you use grey or white primer, I usually get 2 gal primer, 1 gal sealer, 2 gal base, 2 gal clear. But that's just me. I'm a fan of MULTIPLE thin coats. Since you will be blocking out primer for a few days (assuming you don't want any waves), I usually get a bunch. But you could probably get by with 1 gal primer, 0.5 gal sealer, 1 gal base, 1 gal clear....but that's if you use it sparingly.
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Cool... I'm not really looking for show quality or anything. Factory quality will be fine with me. I'm repainting mostly because at 213k miles, my factory paint has seen better days, and I hate to paint my new hood artic white when I'll eventually change it anyways.
Ah, come on...go for show. The only difference between that and factory is a little time. Who wants orange peel and waves when you can have glass like this
Looking down the door...never mind some of the dust.
Looking down the door...never mind some of the dust.
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Well, of course I don't want waves and peeling... but I just have to accept that this car will never be a show car getting driven 100+ miles per day... lol
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Thanks. I'm sure I'll keep you posted with all kinds of uncertainties along the way... lol. Looking at the cost of things, it'll probably be a few months in progress while I'm busting my ***, trying to make enough money. Not to mention, me and my buddy only share the same day off once a week.
But I'll definitely post pics of the finished product.
But I'll definitely post pics of the finished product.
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I think I'm going to end up painting it Honda electron blue pearl instead (for cost reasons).
Does anyone have more info about this flat black base/clear paint? My local paint supplier couldn't find anything about it.
Does anyone have more info about this flat black base/clear paint? My local paint supplier couldn't find anything about it.
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everyone can give advice including my self, body work/painting is not as easy as people are making it out to be, it took me about 3-4 yrs to get the hang of the product the gun, what to do if ya have fish eyes, solvent pop, wrinkling, lifting, zebra stripes, orange peel will happen no matter what but it took a long time for me to have little to no orange peel
total i have 2,000 in guns, all sata`s, it is impossiable to teach you to paint online, it will never happen, i can give advice until my hands cramp up, its not going to help unless iam right there with you teaching you , the correct distance to spray from a panle, the correct speed, the material inside and out, to many factors to be taught online,
sorry but i speak the truth
total i have 2,000 in guns, all sata`s, it is impossiable to teach you to paint online, it will never happen, i can give advice until my hands cramp up, its not going to help unless iam right there with you teaching you , the correct distance to spray from a panle, the correct speed, the material inside and out, to many factors to be taught online,
sorry but i speak the truth
