Has anyone sprayed their own car?
Discussion
Apart from rattle cans I have never done any spraying, but my new car will need a respray soon. I can't afford to get it professionally done. So looking at advice on DIY spraying. I have access to a large compressor and water trap and have a spray gun, not sure if it's any good. Any advice would be helpful.
Practice practice practice.
Go to a scrap yard, get some old panels to play with. Learning how to prep them is the key really - painting them is the easy part as the prep work plays a massive part in determining how good the finish is going to be. Everything from masking to filling, priming and sanding plays a vital role.
Tons of videos on youtube crammed with good advice, but learn the basics and try it out on your scrappy panels before convincing yourself you're the next Chip Foose!
It's not an easy or fast learning process, but if you're interested in learning you'll find it quite rewarding. Just don't expect any masterpieces on your first job, and if something doesn't come out how you expected, find out why and what you can do about it next time.
Go to a scrap yard, get some old panels to play with. Learning how to prep them is the key really - painting them is the easy part as the prep work plays a massive part in determining how good the finish is going to be. Everything from masking to filling, priming and sanding plays a vital role.
Tons of videos on youtube crammed with good advice, but learn the basics and try it out on your scrappy panels before convincing yourself you're the next Chip Foose!
It's not an easy or fast learning process, but if you're interested in learning you'll find it quite rewarding. Just don't expect any masterpieces on your first job, and if something doesn't come out how you expected, find out why and what you can do about it next time.
Get some practice in first, read up on the subject and remember that the prep is 95% of doing a good job 
If you are planning on doing clear over base, go for water borne products where you can, for example lechler do an entire start to finish system that's water borne/based, that means the chemicals floating around are a little less bad for you (the clear coat is still nasty though)
I'd also find a paint supplier that doesn't mind talking you through the process and recommending the most suitable products (if your in the Northwest, TD Distribution in Port Sunlight are a good place to start)
If you are planning on doing clear over base, go for water borne products where you can, for example lechler do an entire start to finish system that's water borne/based, that means the chemicals floating around are a little less bad for you (the clear coat is still nasty though)
I'd also find a paint supplier that doesn't mind talking you through the process and recommending the most suitable products (if your in the Northwest, TD Distribution in Port Sunlight are a good place to start)
HustleRussell said:
Get it done professionally. Honestly, it'll be blood sweat and tears to attempt to spray it and you'll more than likely be disappointed with the result. You can do the strip/prep/re-fit yourself to save some money.
Blood, sweat and tears but NOT disappointed. Over about 13 pages but this should be on page 9 where I had just sprayed the shell:http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f...
Have had comments from sprayers who are very impressed. If you have a suitable area go for it!
Any advice you need give me a shout!
Done a bit of spraying on a Mini panel, suppose it's a bit different on a newer car. Only new tip I can offer is to do with masking - instead of trying to tear off artistic pieces of masking tape to cover something up, just put tape all over it (e.g. a badge or trim strip) and use a scalpel to carefully cut off the excess tape.
Stu R said:
Practice practice practice.
^^^ This. And besides being able to spray to a reasonable level, it's the preperation that counts just as much if not more.I've done it in the distant past when money was in short supply & time wasn't. Wouldn't consider it now mainly because a professional job will just be that, professional.
I saw a bonkers african man with an old hyundi turn up at a carpark almost every day for a week to spray his banged out silver car black.
he would just pull up, get out of the car, give it a bit of a wipe, put a bit of masking tape down and just star spraying it with one of his many black rattle cans he had in his boot..
He would do things like wind the windows down and open the door so he could spray it without masking the door
he would just pull up, get out of the car, give it a bit of a wipe, put a bit of masking tape down and just star spraying it with one of his many black rattle cans he had in his boot..
He would do things like wind the windows down and open the door so he could spray it without masking the door
I've done a couple myself without losing the will to live, well three actually. This was a long time ago when I was young and daft and skint and we didn't have the internet either to search for advice, and our Dad used to kill us etc...
http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/spray-painting.htm
http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/spray-painting.htm
I've sprayed four or five cars and each one has turned out lovely! Also sprayed several motorbikes (much harder) with a similar result.
I've sprayed in the garage and outside on the drive - pick a still dry day and put plenty of hardener in two pack paint and it's dry in minutes so little chance of dust settling on it.
As said, prep is 60%, spraying is 10% and then colour sanding (30%) afterwards gives the final result. Google it, remarkably easy.
Sprayed this kitcar after months off modifications
Sprayed this (the wifes) Mini in metalflake which is why it doesn't look that shiny - until the sun hit it!
Sprayed this Triumph in (literally) three hours start to finish!
All of them done outside the garage with good results.
I've sprayed in the garage and outside on the drive - pick a still dry day and put plenty of hardener in two pack paint and it's dry in minutes so little chance of dust settling on it.
As said, prep is 60%, spraying is 10% and then colour sanding (30%) afterwards gives the final result. Google it, remarkably easy.
Sprayed this kitcar after months off modifications
Sprayed this (the wifes) Mini in metalflake which is why it doesn't look that shiny - until the sun hit it!
Sprayed this Triumph in (literally) three hours start to finish!
All of them done outside the garage with good results.
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