Painting a Car

[Daniel1]

I hope this is the right forum for this.

My dad has a good sized compressor and some spray guns lurking in his shed and has said I can have them. Not looking for a career change, more of a hobby so I thought I'd see if I can paint sone old doors from a scrappy before attacking one of my old 3-series sheds.

I'm googling at the minute, but they tend to bring up either rattle cans or very generic how to's. I'm looking for a bit more detail so without joining more forums I'd thought I'd ask here. So here we go...

Prepping the car.
How much do I need to prep the original paint on the car? What grades of paper? How deep do I need to go assuming there is no rust? What if I want fill and skim those annoying tiny dents, what do I use use and what do I do to the paint underneath?

What types of paint and primer? How many coats of each? What to do between the prime and paint?

What do I do after painting? Do I wet sand? Do I lacquer? How much and what with? When do i polish? What If I wanted a matt finish?

Any help is appreciated.

[Vette]

From the types of questions you're asking, I think you would be better off buying some training or calling on a local bodyshop to ask to watch what they do. Each question you have asked requires a skill to learn and develop, but there are plenty who are willing to have a go and I'm sure that if you keep looking, Google will have the answer!

Cheers
David

[Squiggs]

Vette said:

From the types of questions you're asking, I think you would be better off buying some training or calling on a local bodyshop to ask to watch what they do. Each question you have asked requires a skill to learn and develop, but there are plenty who are willing to have a go and I'm sure that if you keep looking, Google will have the answer!

Cheers
David

+1 to the above.

To give detailed answers to your questions would be a very lengthy and time consuming job ... it would be a bit like trying to teach someone to drive through written word only - and without them taking any lessons.
Having a bit equipment but absolutely no experience of how to set it up (if in fact it is suitable for the kind of jobs you want to do) and without any knowledge about prep, painting or finishing you're going to find it difficult (if not impossible) to become self taught.

If your serious it would be best to find a course but the absolute minimum you'd need would be 3 weeks ... I'm afraid it won't come cheap.

Edited by Squiggs on Saturday 16th June 13:11

Edited by Squiggs on Saturday 16th June 13:13

[robdcfc]

Given how much time is reqd for a small training course as said above and by the time you have bought materials etc, it will be cheaper to pay a bodyshop to do the job for you.

I paint for a living same as the 2 guys above and paint doesn't come cheap anymore.

Hth

Rob.

[Daniel1]

Thank you for all the replies.

There is a local body shop who is near me who is friendly (he has had loads of business from me over the years due to my OCD about dents) and is willing to show the basics.

I'll research courses and depending on price and my interest decide if I go on one. I'll also continue to look on google and see what information I can glean.

Thanks

[JulesB]

You can talk people through it as much as you like over the internet but it is something that you have to be shown as the others above have said I suggest going on a course

[Evoluzione]

Buy a book then have a practice, ask then have a practice, it's a long road, but there is no reason why you can't have a go and possibly succeed if you are so inclined.
Prep is 80% of the job, actual painting 10%, finishing it off 10%. When filling use your fingers as your eyes.
H&S is important when using 2pack paint.

To make a reply to your first post would take someone about a week solid of typing.....