DIY re-spray, what is needed?

[steroidcontaskie]

Hi all

I was home sick for a few days and I ended up watching you tube on how to re-spray a car. Now I am all keen to give it a go myself and was trying to figure out what I need to do a job good enough so people wont look at it and say..... " what monkey resprayed your car?"

The internet gives me vary varied advice about what is needed/possible. From having to get a 3 phase 5kW compressor and doing a down to metal prep, through to scuff the surface and spray the new colour over with a 2hp compressor.

Car is black and I wanted to keep it black but maybe do a titanium pearl through the paint.

Is it going to be possible to do a OK at home? and if so, any advice about what equipment and I going to need?

Cheers
Edward

[evil_si]

Yup, I have sprayed cars in garage at home that a professional painter was impressed with

Not a flash setup just an electric 12cfm compressor
top fed spray gun
car raised on axle stands, and wet floor beneath to minimize dust

I had done a lot a panel work, so had prepped with da sander and a used a filler primer, sanded with 400 and 800 from memory.
Prep car in a different area to where you spray it to minimize dust

I used a lacquer base and clear coat,
base was metallic blue. I also added some colour to the clear coat which made the colour 'pop' and look like it had a pearl thru m it

[steroidcontaskie]

Cool, Cheers for that, sounds do-able. I have heard that lacquer is the way to go because it is more forgiving for a novice.

How did you find the 12cfm compressor? did it keep up with the gun ok?

Cheers
Edward

[sergei]

Cool, Cheers for that, sounds do-able. I have heard that lacquer is the way to go because it is more forgiving for a novice.

How did you find the 12cfm compressor? did it keep up with the gun ok?

Cheers
Edward

I don't like lacquer for simple reason it is very easy to scratch. If you are using lacquer for base coat you must use 2k clear coat.
2k on other hand requires a hot booth to set. You can get away with warm garage/leaving it on the sun, but that will take long time before it hardens.

While I was in "the industry" I haven't seen a factory like respray job ever. Most failures were in preparation: orbital sender marks visible under paint, dust, fish-eye etc.
You will never get the same finish as it was from factory unless you spend 5k or more. To get perfection you must remove all mouldings, mirrors, even some of the interrior, etc.

[steroidcontaskie]

I don't need perfection. Just wanted to know if it is worth a go trying it myself. If it is a total disaster I could always sand it back down and get a professional to have a go.
That's what a project car is for isn't it? Having a go yourself. Heavens forbid that I actually finish my car..... what would I do with my free time.

Cheers
Edward

[GDII]

Keep in mind that black shows all the imperfections. The panels must be straight and dent free to get a good finish.
Also practicing painting technique will help. If you haven't done this sort of this before then grab some panels from the wreakers and do them first until you are happy with the result. That way you don't ruin your car.
Prep is the most important thing though. Panels must be prep'd properly and clean so the paint has a good base to stick to.
Painting with a 2hp compressor works but you run out of air quickly and the compressor is almost always running. A water trap will be a good thing to have.

I am in no way a pro and have not done a whole car before but I have done a bit of larger scale panel painting.

[whynot]

I have also done a bit of painting and everyone here so far has good advice. Take your time with the prep work as the paint will not hide any swirls or imperfections. Getting the viscosity of the paint right is important. My first attempt was horrible as the paint shop told me to dilute the paint 50/50 with thinners. I ended up powder coating the entire garage as well as making a mess of the car. Don't forget to grab a good respirator with the right cartridges or you might as well go and smoke a pallet of cigarettes. Gloves and disposable overalls recommended as well as automotive paints and thinners are not good for you.

Good luck and post some pictures if it turns out half decent.

[Bling]

Make sure you do your homework on the safety equipment needed. Any monkey (as you say) can spray some paint on a panel, but do it safely. Also do your homework on the paint types and their advantages / disadvantages (pretty sure 2k is MILES better than laquer, but is more dangerous to use). I wouldn't do it myself personally, and I have most of the gear already to do such a job. But I think by the time you buy quality products, and spend a few hundred hours doing prep (quicker for the pros), then you may question the actual saving you made, to achieve what MAY be a bad paint job. That's just my opinion, it's your car and your money, so I have nothing invested in this opinion. I have everything to fix rust, but had someone fix mine as a side job as a) it took him a lot less time, b) the job was better than I could do. And for the final cost, I was more than happy. If you're not fussed on the end job, then you don't have much to lose by trying (except mentioned time and $$$$$).

What do you have so far tools wise?


SAFETY FIRST. I'd be wanting full face mask, air fed, disposable overalls, all that sort of thing. Paint / thinners etc is potent shit, anyone that says this gear isn't needed, has probably already sprayed without it, and lost a few brain cells.

[steroidcontaskie]

Thanks for all the input.

I currently have no gear, other than some safety stuff. I am going to buy a compressor and was thinking that might be a good use for it. I'm not in any rush to get the car finished.

I guess it isn't really about saving money it is more about having a go myself. I can foresee I will probably end up taking it to professional once I fail. But hopefully I will learn something in the process.

Cheers
Edward

[Akane]

If you just want to "have a go", buy some scrap panels from pick-a-part to practice on.

Spray painting IMO, is 80% prep work, 20% spraying.

On the front bumper repair that I've done (Fibreglass), it was approximately 5 hours of prepping the surface, and about 20mins of spray paint, and then another 2 hours of polishing out the shitty orange peel paint I've done.

I have a 2hp compressor, a run off the mill spray gun, and a good polishing compound: http://www.farecla.com/automotive-trade they're available at Wairau Paint Centre.

Paint is Colourworks lacquer paint.

Have fun.

[siren676]

Pretty much what everyones said above.

Some friends and i painted my car in their garage, covered walls and ceiling with drop sheets.
Rented a couple horsepower petrol compressor, used etch black primer to get rid of the original colour(did react with some enamel paint where clear coat had fallen off)
1k paint then 2k clear over it.

We were lucky and had a mate who works as a painter so brought his proper spray gun over and did the majority of the actual painting.

Dont have many pics of the finished product as i stacked it into a wall before i could take some proper ones.

[steroidcontaskie]

Thanks everyone,

I have got myself a compressor that does 12 cfm at 90psi and has a built in cooler, 2 sagola guns with a 1.4 and a 1.8 tip, a air and oil filter and a couple of pressure pots that I could use if I need to.

Thinking of getting the paint linked below, think it will look good on a Soarer. They do have other options with different colours and bigger pearls.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/car-par ... 301055.htm

Going to practice on a mates caravan, get the feel for using the spray guns.

Cheers
Edward

[Lurkin]

Agree with the above...

Paint and sanding crap is capable of getting into everything! Can't remember what forum I saw it on, but a guy purchased a mini greenhouse clear plastic shed which he used inside his warehouse to spray his car and retain all the overspray/dust crud in it... Pretty neat idea.

Prep prep prep... I'm usually way to impatient for painting properly...