spraying and finishing

[Archbish]

a bit of my bodywork needs doing (the holes where the wing WAS attached), and I\'m after hints and tips.

Whenever I\'ve tried to do this in the past, it\'s always stood out, and I\'m keen to get a quality finish this time (I\'ll probably end up taking to the bodyshop anyhow, but I\'d like to give it a go).  I always seem to have the following problems:

1 - the filler is never smoothed nicely, no matter how long I spend on it - you can always see where the filler is!

2 - It\'s always obvious where the paint has been started and stopped.

3 - how the hell do you NOT get a matt finish with paint?  I\'ve seen about flatting it down, but when I\'ve tried that, it simply takes all the paint off.

I know, captain clueless, but help and advice would be great!!

[iiyama]

Well geeza, I know you like to have your car looking as gorgeous as you do!!

Always use a block when flatting off filler. If you dont it well never be truly flat.

Start moving the gun before you press the trigger to start spraying. Build up coats of paint in thin layers, you may need to pass the gun ten or more times before you have enough paint on the job. Each coat has to dry, or at least go tacky before you start the next.

You will always get overspray. Thats the mattish areas around the sprayed area. Cut this back with a fine cutting liquid or 1200 grade wet and dry. If you havent got enough paint over the main area you will rub through this, hence the need to build the paint layers up.

When all is fine and dandy polish away.

And remember sports fans, preperation is everything!!

Ian

[Archbish]

cheers dude.  I think my main problem is impatience...  this doesn\'t sound like the sort of thing that should be done in one day....

yup - the car has to look as special as I do.  (so glad I don\'t look like gurj, otherwise I\'d have to buy a land rover... *grin*)

[petemillis]

Archie, people often forget they need to apply a clearcoat. Most paint finishes (except white) are 2 part - i.e. you have the base colour coat and then apply a clearcoat over the top. the base colour coat will not be shiny and properly coloured until the clearcoat is applied.
With 2 part paints, you DO NOT want flat the base coat before applying the top coat.
To make the disappear, you need either spray to the edge of a panel, or spray to a point where you can blend the paint in properly. If I was respraying the boot to cover the holes that were there then I would consider either respraying the whole boot, or else gradually reduce the spray up to the point where the boot goes up the sides of the rear window. Curves are quite good places to blend in, flat panels are difficult.

If you want some useful info then I\'d suggest you look at //www.paintscratch.com and read through the FAQs and forums.

[iaint]

Originally posted by Archbish
cheers dude.  I think my main problem is impotence...  

:rollin

my name is Ian and I am only bitter and twisted because the wonderful and illustrious Bish turned down my advances because I am repulsive to look at and wear cardigans.

Iant.  Honestly. *grin*

[iiyama]

Originally posted by petemillis
Archie, people often forget they need to apply a clearcoat. Most paint finishes (except white) are 2 part - i.e. you have the base colour coat and then apply a clearcoat over the top. the base colour coat will not be shiny and properly coloured until the clearcoat is applied.
With 2 part paints, you DO NOT want flat the base coat before applying the top coat.
To make the disappear, you need either spray to the edge of a panel, or spray to a point where you can blend the paint in properly. If I was respraying the boot to cover the holes that were there then I would consider either respraying the whole boot, or else gradually reduce the spray up to the point where the boot goes up the sides of the rear window. Curves are quite good places to blend in, flat panels are difficult.

If you want some useful info then I\'d suggest you look at //www.paintscratch.com and read through the FAQs and forums.

Although not a sprayer or paint finisher by trade, I wold disagree with this. A lot of modern cars are laquered, but a lot of older cars arnt unless they are metallic. My FD is black and that is definatly not laquered.

Easiest way to find out is to tcut a small area. If the residue that comes off is the colour of the paint, then it is not laquered!

[iiyama]

Originally posted by Archbish
cheers dude.  I think my main problem is impatience...  this doesn\'t sound like the sort of thing that should be done in one day....

No worries mucka! Patience though is one thing you have to have a lot of for this kind of thing! Depending on the areas concerned, it is possible to set a day aside. I sprayed both side skirts in a day with no worries. Fitting took a further day!!

Ian