Please tell me how to paint a boot lid!

Please tell me how to paint a boot lid!

Author
Discussion

bull996

Original Poster:

1,442 posts

209 months

Thursday 10th February 2011
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I have just bought a Jag XJ, but as is common, lots of the laquer on the boot has peeled off and the paint underneath is all faded/rough.

Can someone tell me how to get the best results of painting it please?

I will be using cans, not a proper spray gun-I know it will not be perfect, but all pointers to the prep and painting will help to make it better than it currently is.

Many Thanks

JulesB

535 posts

159 months

Thursday 10th February 2011
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Ideally, you need to clean it up and flat it all back. If you have access to a compressor and a DA sander it will make it a lot quicker! Otherwise flat it back by hand with some wet and dry.
Find out how fine a scratch your primer/paint can fill and flat it all back to that grain of sandpaper, always looks bad when you have sanding marks showing through! You need a flat block, preferably rubber when you are sanding to keep it all flat as well. Hope this helps...

bull996

Original Poster:

1,442 posts

209 months

Thursday 10th February 2011
quotequote all
JulesB said:
Ideally, you need to clean it up and flat it all back. If you have access to a compressor and a DA sander it will make it a lot quicker! Otherwise flat it back by hand with some wet and dry.
Find out how fine a scratch your primer/paint can fill and flat it all back to that grain of sandpaper, always looks bad when you have sanding marks showing through! You need a flat block, preferably rubber when you are sanding to keep it all flat as well. Hope this helps...
yes thanks a great help.

I have the use of Porter Cable random polisher-can I use that with sanding pads on, or not?

Vette

84 posts

182 months

Thursday 10th February 2011
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As a SMART repairer, I'm obviously not going to recommend painting a boot lid (or anything) with cans - many in our business avoid boots & bonnets because it's much easier to see signs of a repair on a horizontal panel. Also, there is a greater risk of contamination in the paint/lacquer ifsprayed ouside a booth. If you paint the entire panel, chances are that you will get a shade mismatch against the adjoining wings. If you love your car, get it done professionally.

Cheers
David

bull996

Original Poster:

1,442 posts

209 months

Thursday 10th February 2011
quotequote all
I see what your saying, but teh Jag was only £800, so I guess a pro would cost a large percentage of that?

V8covin

7,283 posts

193 months

Thursday 10th February 2011
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Why does any Tom,Dick or Harry think they can do bodywork/spraying without any experience ?

Would you re-wire your house if you weren't experienced ? No,of course not because just like any trade you need to learn the skills,heck enough experienced bodyworkers make a mess of jobs as it.
And as for using rattle cans to spray a panel as big as a Jag bootlid

Sorry mate but you'd could probably find someone to do you a half decent job for upwards of £150 or you could attempt it yourself and knock 300 quid off the value of the car.
Your choice

klimakool

592 posts

175 months

Thursday 10th February 2011
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V8covin said:
Why does any Tom,Dick or Harry think they can do bodywork/spraying without any experience ?

Would you re-wire your house if you weren't experienced ? No,of course not because just like any trade you need to learn the skills,heck enough experienced bodyworkers make a mess of jobs as it.
And as for using rattle cans to spray a panel as big as a Jag bootlid

Sorry mate but you'd could probably find someone to do you a half decent job for upwards of £150 or you could attempt it yourself and knock 300 quid off the value of the car.
Your choice
i would have to agree here. its not a job for ammatures

bull996

Original Poster:

1,442 posts

209 months

Thursday 10th February 2011
quotequote all
V8covin said:
Why does any Tom,Dick or Harry think they can do bodywork/spraying without any experience ?

Would you re-wire your house if you weren't experienced ? No,of course not because just like any trade you need to learn the skills,heck enough experienced bodyworkers make a mess of jobs as it.
And as for using rattle cans to spray a panel as big as a Jag bootlid

Sorry mate but you'd could probably find someone to do you a half decent job for upwards of £150 or you could attempt it yourself and knock 300 quid off the value of the car.
Your choice
Thanks for such a lovely post.

I like to try things myself, it gives me some satisfaction.

As I said, the panel is fooked, and bar the £20 on spray cans, it dosent matter if I fook it up, does it? Because I can THEN take it to a pro.

V8covin

7,283 posts

193 months

Thursday 10th February 2011
quotequote all
If you fook it up with spray cans the Pro will no doubt charge you more because he has to remove all the paint you've put on.You're making the job harder for him.

I'm sorry you don't like my tone but you ask for advice and that's the advice any pro would give...23 years in the trade....but it's not what you want to hear is it.

Where's the satisfaction from making a mess ? If you really want to learn how to do it go to nightschool,I'm sure there's a class at your local college....that's how I started

bull996

Original Poster:

1,442 posts

209 months

Thursday 10th February 2011
quotequote all
V8covin said:
If you fook it up with spray cans the Pro will no doubt charge you more because he has to remove all the paint you've put on.You're making the job harder for him.

I'm sorry you don't like my tone but you ask for advice and that's the advice any pro would give...23 years in the trade....but it's not what you want to hear is it.

Where's the satisfaction from making a mess ? If you really want to learn how to do it go to nightschool,I'm sure there's a class at your local college....that's how I started
Of course I want advice.

The car was £800, I dont want to spend more than £100 having the boot painted!

If I can get a pro to do it for that, I will-but I think it will cost more.

Anatol

1,392 posts

234 months

Thursday 10th February 2011
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There are so many variables that it's tough to give you advice on getting it right, even for a DIY job.

Tell you what, your profile says you're in Suffolk, so only the neighbouring county. Drop me a PM, and we can sort out a Saturday for you to bring it by our bodyshop. If you're set on DIY-ing it, buy yourself the rattle cans before you come over, and you can have a go at it with friendly pros on your shoulder to help you avoid the worst pitfalls, and all the bits of kit and ancillaries that you might not have but can make things a hell of a lot easier.

finlo

3,751 posts

203 months

Thursday 10th February 2011
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Secondhand panel from a jag breaker??

Stu R

21,410 posts

215 months

Thursday 10th February 2011
quotequote all
V8covin said:
If you fook it up with spray cans the Pro will no doubt charge you more because he has to remove all the paint you've put on.You're making the job harder for him.

I'm sorry you don't like my tone but you ask for advice and that's the advice any pro would give...23 years in the trade....but it's not what you want to hear is it.

Where's the satisfaction from making a mess ? If you really want to learn how to do it go to nightschool,I'm sure there's a class at your local college....that's how I started
Don't be so bloody precious. It's only painting a bootlid not retouching the Mona Lisa, and it's on an 800 quid car which he's willing to try his hand on. He should be applauded for wanting to giving it a go in my opinion, not criticised for it - besides that's how I learned how to paint cars and bikes ... wait... that's not what you wanted to hear is it rolleyes

Plenty of youtube videos explaining the process well, so I'll save myself the typing. For the first couple of attempts you might want to give it a go on a panel from a scrappy or something, but it's really not a big deal if you mess it up - just a bit frustrating and time consuming.

tr7v8

7,192 posts

228 months

Thursday 10th February 2011
quotequote all
Stu R said:
Don't be so bloody precious. It's only painting a bootlid not retouching the Mona Lisa, and it's on an 800 quid car which he's willing to try his hand on. He should be applauded for wanting to giving it a go in my opinion, not criticised for it - besides that's how I learned how to paint cars and bikes ... wait... that's not what you wanted to hear is it rolleyes

Plenty of youtube videos explaining the process well, so I'll save myself the typing. For the first couple of attempts you might want to give it a go on a panel from a scrappy or something, but it's really not a big deal if you mess it up - just a bit frustrating and time consuming.
My thoughts entirely, I've painted quite considerable areas of cars with cans & got a finish that cannot be detected. Yes it has taken longer but has been very satisfying.
I did the boot latch area of the 944 last year with Rustoleum spray cans & compounded back it is to the same standard as the Porsche finish. I'll eventually repaint the whole car with Rustoleum albeit with a gun as I have a compressor.
Yup my £20K Jag bonnet was resprayed by a mate in the trade, especially as it is a flip colour but the Pork cost me £2K!

Vette

84 posts

182 months

Friday 11th February 2011
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You should bite Tol's hand off for such an incredibly generous offer. Hey Tol, can I come over too? wink

Cheers
David

Eddie 4 2

823 posts

214 months

Friday 11th February 2011
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Lol if your boot lid looks bad now ,rattle cans will make it even worse trust me I'm a car painter. Go for a second hand boot lid or a cheap paint shop

snapdragon69

207 posts

183 months

Friday 11th February 2011
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Get proper matched spray cans made up and a bodyshop factor.

bull996

Original Poster:

1,442 posts

209 months

Saturday 12th February 2011
quotequote all
Anatol said:
There are so many variables that it's tough to give you advice on getting it right, even for a DIY job.

Tell you what, your profile says you're in Suffolk, so only the neighbouring county. Drop me a PM, and we can sort out a Saturday for you to bring it by our bodyshop. If you're set on DIY-ing it, buy yourself the rattle cans before you come over, and you can have a go at it with friendly pros on your shoulder to help you avoid the worst pitfalls, and all the bits of kit and ancillaries that you might not have but can make things a hell of a lot easier.
Thank you very much for the offer, but I moved to Staffs last year and forgot to update my profilr-very generous offer.

bull996

Original Poster:

1,442 posts

209 months

Saturday 12th February 2011
quotequote all
snapdragon69 said:
Get proper matched spray cans made up and a bodyshop factor.
Got them-picked them up this morning.

I have taken everything you said on board and am going for it. If its crap, its crap, and I will buy a panel from a scrapper, but I like having a go!

Will take some before and after pics, just so you can all (well, not all, but you know who you are)laugh at the mess I have made!

TOPTON

1,514 posts

236 months

Monday 14th February 2011
quotequote all
V8covin said:
Why does any Tom,Dick or Harry think they can do bodywork/spraying without any experience ?

Would you re-wire your house if you weren't experienced ? No,of course not because just like any trade you need to learn the skills,heck enough experienced bodyworkers make a mess of jobs as it.
And as for using rattle cans to spray a panel as big as a Jag bootlid

Sorry mate but you'd could probably find someone to do you a half decent job for upwards of £150 or you could attempt it yourself and knock 300 quid off the value of the car.
Your choice
So where does he get any experience without trying to do it, where did you get your experience, were you born knowing?.

My name is not Tom, Dick or Harry but I have resprayed panels and motorbike fairings with rattle cans. I have also used a compressor/spray gun and the end result has been a spot on. I have aslo been asked to do other peoples vehicles.
Guess what though-----------I AM NOT EVEN IN THE BODYWORK TRADE

Sorry for being so blunt, but the OP asked for advice and your answer sounded so up yourself, that only highly qualified body workers could possibly do a decent job.

I have seen the result of 'qualified body shops' before and I wouldn't have paid them a penny