The Spray Painting Thread

[Sigmeister]

Thanks.
So do I rub it back, then reapply another coat of primer, or do I add more primer, then rub that back?

Also, cleanup seems to be an issue. What's the best method to clean up the gun and the pot? I spend about an hour with thinners and brushes trying to get everything spotless. Is there an easy way? Can you just leave it to soak in thinner? And the gun itself, can you run thinners though it to clean things like the nozzle and such? Can you soak the whole gun in thinners? I eventually got it done, it just took a awhile, just wondered if this was normal or not?

[MWP]

Spray on a very light guide coat, then rub it back with a block. Youll then be able to see the high & low spots, and what needs correcting.
If the high & low spots are too big, then use filler, get it flat/right-shape, then prime again, repeat.

Use some cheap black spray can paint for the guide coat and make sure its acrylic not enamel. Enamel doesnt sand too well and clogs up the sandpaper.

For clean up i use cheap thinners (keep the good stuff for the primer/paint).
I pour thinners into the gun, shake it, spray a bit, pour the rest out, then wipe out the pot with paper cloth. I repeat that 2-3 times
When done, i unscrew the gun tip and keep it in a sealed glass jar of thinners.

BTW, this is all just what i do... ive never been taught how to do this, so im sure there are better ways.

[o_man_ra23]

My latest efforts...
This is the same Epotec primer.
The bonnet, doors & guards are already done.



As im getting it done so slowly (lots of filler work required), im doing a bit at a time to stop the bare metal from rusting.
When its all primed, ill get a paint & panel place to finish it off in a booth.

This thread hasnt been marked NSFW!!! You shouldnt post up Pr0n without first warning me... Ill be barred up all day now Missus will be happy tonight though

PS, nice work

Sig, looks like you got it right on the underside. I would sand it down, and see if it needs another coat. I would use 800grit or smoother before the colour too... the smoother you get it in the primer stage, the less colour you will need and the less sanding you will need (primer is easier to sand). Also, dont wet sand primer or bog... they are porous and you will end up with a wet patch (and not the kind you look for in the middle of flour )

Lots of good stuff coming out of this thread... and it looks like I will have my new shed before the RA23 is ready for painting, so I may well do all bar the final topcoats of clear myself (may know a spraypainter willing to let me use his booth on a sunday for the last bit and baking ... may even spray it myself if I am confident)

[Sigmeister]

Oh, just one other question, primer that you have already mixed\thinned, can you keep wat you haven't used? Will it last a few days in a sealed tin or something?

I made too much and put it in a tin in case I could use it, but if it's no good I'll make a new batch and just use less than last time.

[andy]

i just pured it back into the can with fresh un thinned primer...

but urs is a 2 part one, so dont pour it back in.

[sillycar chick]

Hey Great thread I'm in the process of preping my car to paint aswell
One question I have, sorry to hijack the thread, I'm going to paint my ta22 purple. what colour primer would you recomend?

Nooooo!!! I am painting my 22 that commodore purple! Dont do it!!!!! It will be too girly for you

[o_man_ra23]

Oh, just one other question, primer that you have already mixed\thinned, can you keep wat you haven't used? Will it last a few days in a sealed tin or something?

I made too much and put it in a tin in case I could use it, but if it's no good I'll make a new batch and just use less than last time.

If you put it in the fridge it may last. You need a combination of the chemical mix and heat to complete the reaction, so putting it in the fridge will slow that reaction down. You need to do it straight away though, so it may currently be touch and go as to whether it will work for you now.

[Sigmeister]

Thanks for the tip. Sadly I was unaware of cooling it so it seems that I'll make a nice new batch.

So, as a general tip, try and use only what is required. In saying that, is there a general guide as to how much to use per m^2?

[ian]

Oh, just one other question, primer that you have already mixed\thinned, can you keep wat you haven't used? Will it last a few days in a sealed tin or something?

I made too much and put it in a tin in case I could use it, but if it's no good I'll make a new batch and just use less than last time.

just put the left over paint in a sealed container [i used a glass coffee jar ]
and stick it in the fridge
it will keep for a few weeks
my leftover 2pac silver is still fluid after 5 weeks
ian

[ian]

Thanks.
So do I rub it back, then reapply another coat of primer, or do I add more primer, then rub that back?

Also, cleanup seems to be an issue. What's the best method to clean up the gun and the pot? I spend about an hour with thinners and brushes trying to get everything spotless. Is there an easy way? Can you just leave it to soak in thinner? And the gun itself, can you run thinners though it to clean things like the nozzle and such? Can you soak the whole gun in thinners? I eventually got it done, it just took a awhile, just wondered if this was normal or not?

you have done it properly the first time
however there are other methods if you are in a hurry or if you are between coats
if you use a suction feed you can take of the tip and let it soak in the spray pot
take great care with the needle, as if this gets damaged you will be better of spraying with spraycans
gun wash is the trick for a thorough wash of yor bits, [spray gun bits that is ] dont soak the whole gun as, it eats into the neoprene seals and renders your spraygun useless
i usualy dismantle the gun, and leave the tip needle and nozzle soak between spray jobs also i find if you give your gun and spray pot a wipe with a wax and grease remover before and after a job helps keep it clean i have even gone to the extreme and wrapped the gun in gladwrap ,leaving just the nozzle exposed , this not only help keep the gun clean it stopped any drips from the lid and also water coming out of the air connection
ian

[MWP]

So, as a general tip, try and use only what is required. In saying that, is there a general guide as to how much to use per m^2?

I measure mine out with a table spoon
I do have a paint mixing pot with markings (they sell them at the lonsdale shop) on it for ratios, but i find just counting how many level spoons full i use to be easier. I also dont use as much this way.

If its of any use, i normally go with 20 table spoons paint, 5 hardner and 5-7 thinner.
Thats enough to give the top side of a RA2x bonnet a good coat.

[twentyEight]

just put the left over paint in a sealed container [i used a glass coffee jar ]
and stick it in the fridge
it will keep for a few weeks
my leftover 2pac silver is still fluid after 5 weeks
ian

Ian,

Painting in Silver, being metallic, you would be using a Clear over Base system and therefore wouldn't have used any hardener in the Colour (only in the Clear) and will keep for a very long time...

[ian]

Ian,

Painting in Silver, being metallic, you would be using a Clear over Base system and therefore wouldn't have used any hardener in the Colour (only in the Clear) and will keep for a very long time...

hi twenty eight
i did put hardener in the base coat as, i was originaly painting the boat [fibreglass] the hardener makes it flash of quicker and then you can rub out the dust in it
as i dont have a spray booth , then i tinted the first coat of clear a touch, and finally i gave it 4 coats of clear at about 20 mins apart or 2 beers if you dont have a watch
although i dont have a booth , the shed works well as an oven , i have two life lines to the fridge one rope opens the door and there is cans loaded in a bungee arangement that took some refining as the first test shot[ a loaded beer ] hit me between the eyes
which proves the theory that drinking will give you a headache now due to my wife being the o. h. a .s rep i have to now wear an approved hard hat, and safety glasses when i drink

[MWP]

This thread hasnt been marked NSFW!!! You shouldnt post up Pr0n without first warning me... Ill be barred up all day now Missus will be happy tonight though

Well, this should calm you down...

The good right side:


The very bad left side:


This wont be fun to get back into shape

[ian]

hi mwp
i cant get over how even we are in our project
my ra 28 was even the same colour and by the last pics that you have put up i am at that stage as well
uncanny
ian