Learning to prep and paint
Discussion
Hi,
I've fallen into the trap of having too many cars and have come attached to them. All need bodywork of some description. I do the mechanicals and I've learnt to weld but prep and paint is next on my agenda. Having paid out for 1 car to be painted at a cost of £5k and having more snagging issues than your average new build housing development and that car also requiring work to be re-done in places I am at a stage where I am sure I could get the results I am looking for myself -> not perfection but nice overall finish using quality products and no rust painted over. I paid £600 to a chips away chap last month who left me with runs and one area was poorly prep'd leaving underlying damage to the paint on show.
I've got the space and an area i can section off with sheeting, an air compressor and spray bits. I've watched loads of vids on spraying and understand the technique and the process of wet sanding and or polishing but need to practice.
Where I struggle is the prep, including light filler work and flash off time between paints. For example one of the cars I want to do work on has lacquer peel on the bonnet and roof. The 3/4 area had some welding work on the arch which i did a decent enough job with aerosols from a distance but looking close there is a haze in the paint
The roof of this car has been painted before. In terms of prep work - how much paint do you take off? Is the rotary sander the best tool for the job (I understand the idea of spraying a guide coat to ensure smooth).
In terms of flash off times is there a rule of thumb to follow in a non-booth environment?
Are there any particularly good resources I should read/watch. Also are there good primers, bases and lacquer brands to work with? Anyone based near SG8 area that wants to be a (paid) mentor?
Cheers
Matt
I've fallen into the trap of having too many cars and have come attached to them. All need bodywork of some description. I do the mechanicals and I've learnt to weld but prep and paint is next on my agenda. Having paid out for 1 car to be painted at a cost of £5k and having more snagging issues than your average new build housing development and that car also requiring work to be re-done in places I am at a stage where I am sure I could get the results I am looking for myself -> not perfection but nice overall finish using quality products and no rust painted over. I paid £600 to a chips away chap last month who left me with runs and one area was poorly prep'd leaving underlying damage to the paint on show.
I've got the space and an area i can section off with sheeting, an air compressor and spray bits. I've watched loads of vids on spraying and understand the technique and the process of wet sanding and or polishing but need to practice.
Where I struggle is the prep, including light filler work and flash off time between paints. For example one of the cars I want to do work on has lacquer peel on the bonnet and roof. The 3/4 area had some welding work on the arch which i did a decent enough job with aerosols from a distance but looking close there is a haze in the paint
The roof of this car has been painted before. In terms of prep work - how much paint do you take off? Is the rotary sander the best tool for the job (I understand the idea of spraying a guide coat to ensure smooth).
In terms of flash off times is there a rule of thumb to follow in a non-booth environment?
Are there any particularly good resources I should read/watch. Also are there good primers, bases and lacquer brands to work with? Anyone based near SG8 area that wants to be a (paid) mentor?
Cheers
Matt
Just for the record im not a painter but every 2-3 years will do a bit on one of my old cars.
When you say there is a haze on your painted panel, did you flat and polish it after painting because its amazing how this can improve the finish.
Ive just repainted a wing in 1K and although very shiny the reflections were poor, so I wet sanded it with 2000 grit the polished it back using 3 different mops on my rotary polisher. It now has a very deep reflection and looks as good as the rest of the car.
When you say there is a haze on your painted panel, did you flat and polish it after painting because its amazing how this can improve the finish.
Ive just repainted a wing in 1K and although very shiny the reflections were poor, so I wet sanded it with 2000 grit the polished it back using 3 different mops on my rotary polisher. It now has a very deep reflection and looks as good as the rest of the car.
I think i loaded too much paint, I've grabbed a photo or 2 below. I did wet sand which helped matters massively. I think i need to organise my thoughts of where I am struggling or perhaps just focus on the job i need to do now and learn step by step whilst building confidence.
Close up
A little further back though the top half is original paint as i blending into it from lower down
Roof and bonnet suffer lacquer peel and I want to repaint. I assume I need to remove the failed lacquer layer completely with 80grit and then go up the grits to 600 (with dust layer to makes smooth) before applying primer, base, lacquer. 3 layeres of each with the first being a lighter layer? Does it matter than the roof has been painted before? Should I be getting that extra layer off?
I watched a video yesterday of someone putting a light skim of filler over the panel and then knocking back with sanding to get rid of high and low spots. Is that really necessary on a panel that doesn't have any dings or rust problems?
The other area I could re-do is that quater panel pictured. I did some welding on of new metal into the arch and needed to do some filler to smooth. I'm not happy about the end result of the filler work as well as well as the paint though much of it will be covered by the plastic GTI arch.
Close up
A little further back though the top half is original paint as i blending into it from lower down
Roof and bonnet suffer lacquer peel and I want to repaint. I assume I need to remove the failed lacquer layer completely with 80grit and then go up the grits to 600 (with dust layer to makes smooth) before applying primer, base, lacquer. 3 layeres of each with the first being a lighter layer? Does it matter than the roof has been painted before? Should I be getting that extra layer off?
I watched a video yesterday of someone putting a light skim of filler over the panel and then knocking back with sanding to get rid of high and low spots. Is that really necessary on a panel that doesn't have any dings or rust problems?
The other area I could re-do is that quater panel pictured. I did some welding on of new metal into the arch and needed to do some filler to smooth. I'm not happy about the end result of the filler work as well as well as the paint though much of it will be covered by the plastic GTI arch.
close up pic looks like the primer /whatever is under it wasnt sanded smooth enough
shame youre not near me , i would be up for teaching you in exchange for somewhere to paint my own car
messaged you anyway...i can talk you through what i would do
shame youre not near me , i would be up for teaching you in exchange for somewhere to paint my own car
messaged you anyway...i can talk you through what i would do
Edited by steveo3002 on Wednesday 14th September 09:17
https://uk.ppgrefinish.com/en/paint-defects/
Read & follow the instructions for each of the materials you intend to use.
These will be in the form of Technical Data Sheets (TDS) and will include all you need to know. Either get them from your chosen paint supplier or find them online.
There are often variations between various manufacturers so it isn't possible to give you a 'how to apply primer x'.
If you are painting alloy surfaces then you will need to use an etch primer before anything else.
Couple of random examples of TDS:
http://www.kapci.com/Portals/0/KAPCI%20Coatings/Ca...
https://u-pol.com/wp-content/uploads/ACID-8-TDS-EN...
Read & follow the instructions for each of the materials you intend to use.
These will be in the form of Technical Data Sheets (TDS) and will include all you need to know. Either get them from your chosen paint supplier or find them online.
There are often variations between various manufacturers so it isn't possible to give you a 'how to apply primer x'.
If you are painting alloy surfaces then you will need to use an etch primer before anything else.
Couple of random examples of TDS:
http://www.kapci.com/Portals/0/KAPCI%20Coatings/Ca...
https://u-pol.com/wp-content/uploads/ACID-8-TDS-EN...
paintman said:
https://uk.ppgrefinish.com/en/paint-defects/
Read & follow the instructions for each of the materials you intend to use.
These will be in the form of Technical Data Sheets (TDS) and will include all you need to know. Either get them from your chosen paint supplier or find them online.
There are often variations between various manufacturers so it isn't possible to give you a 'how to apply primer x'.
If you are painting alloy surfaces then you will need to use an etch primer before anything else.
Couple of random examples of TDS:
http://www.kapci.com/Portals/0/KAPCI%20Coatings/Ca...
https://u-pol.com/wp-content/uploads/ACID-8-TDS-EN...
Listen to this man. Read & follow the instructions for each of the materials you intend to use.
These will be in the form of Technical Data Sheets (TDS) and will include all you need to know. Either get them from your chosen paint supplier or find them online.
There are often variations between various manufacturers so it isn't possible to give you a 'how to apply primer x'.
If you are painting alloy surfaces then you will need to use an etch primer before anything else.
Couple of random examples of TDS:
http://www.kapci.com/Portals/0/KAPCI%20Coatings/Ca...
https://u-pol.com/wp-content/uploads/ACID-8-TDS-EN...
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