& how did you learn?

 

I don;t think nobody does... unless they have a shop/..

 

i think i know at least one person (probably 2) on the club who do...

*bump*

 

i know SC-ed paints his own parts.

i really wish i knew how...

 

I've repainted about half of my '8 over the past few months.
The front end takes a beating from the desert rocks and sand and Mazda, in their infinite wisdom, decided to use white primer under black paint.

I usually shoot PPG paints, but I've done a bunch of others.
I just set my garage up as a spray booth, throw on a respirator and shoot away.

I'm about to paint a 1st gen RX-7 next week in Blazing Copper.

 

^that would look nice. make sure to post some pics!

 

i learned at my local city college, i took it mainly to help me get my certificates in automotive, once i was in the class i learned really fast, imo thats the best way to learn because you start at the basics, working with metals before you start with body fillers and the painting process

 

any comments on how you got your start or learned technique?

i've read about setting up a paint booth but i think there's a bit more to it that just shooting on paint (like surface prep and such) - I've yet to come across a good resource of information.

I'm probably not looking hard enough...


[Edit: missed a couple new posts - thanks for the info everyone!!!]

 

so I have an eye on a couple books at borders that cover the basic stuff (maybe a post-Christmas present to myself...), but my lack of a garage (driveway only) has got me figuring that I wouldn't be able to get any good results on the (uni)body. Any parts I could take off I might be able to do in my basement (disregarding the lack of proper ventilation, and how dusty it is down there...) - if i set up a mini paint booth. The larger removables might prove a problem (doors/hood/trunk) due to poor neighborhood security & weather - I couldn't leave them off the car for very long.

I figure my next step is to actually check out those books, then pick up a gun set and some junk parts for practice... I might need a bigger compressor too.

regarding equipment: any preferred setup?

 

I've painted in a booth made out of a tarp a few times. Not the greatest.. but it worked. We wet all the "walls" and the ground to minimize any dust that might be flying around. We never painted a full car, but just kits, fenders, dash, wing.. etc..
Oh, as far as an exhaust fan, I think my friend had found an old A/C unit or something.. I don't remember exactly what it was, but I do remember that thing pushed out some air.
Depending how big of a job you are doing, depends on your compressor. Like I said, we only did body kits and body parts... a 30 gallon did fine for us. I think when we did bumpers, we might have had to work slow, just cause bumpers are wide..

 

^^^ thanks.

i figure tank size is only one part of the equation (I could by a standalone tank), can you comment on the rate of the motor (or the rate required by your gun)?

 

I wish I knew how to paint. MM: wanna paint my black bumper next time I'm out in AZ?

Yeah, I don't know who was the rocket scientist that decided to use white primer.

 

i shoot my own paint.....for paintball tourneys...

 

Geez, I don't know... When we use to do it, it wasn't my equipment. As it turned out, I sprayed better than he did, so he let me do all the painting, and he did most of the prepping and pre-spray work.

But I do know, when you shop for a compressor... it will usually list what components are and are not recommended with it... i.e. spray gun.

 

I grew up in body shops. It was a wonderful life when you are 16 and dad owns a huge body shop.
You will need a compressor that puts out a ton of air. Spray guns will suck down a tank super fast. Even at the 30-35psi you are shooting at, a 2hp motor will not keep up with the air output. And once the air goes soft, your spray goes clumpy.

DO NOT SKIMP ON A GUN!!!!! If it is a cheap gun, you will get a cheap looking job.
Prep is everything
cleanliness is key - a single spec of dust will ruin a paint job
paint can be bought ready mixed for simplicity.(more $$, but worth it)
clean up again
good equipment is VERY helpful
make sure you keep everything super clean
Body shop stores have the supplies you need
Practice, practice, practice
DO NOT breath the paint!!!!!!!!!!
and make sure everything is clean and dry
Read books
go to shops, ask to watch and learn
read more
practice more
have a steady hand
make sure you shoot from the same distance on all panels - especially with metallic paints


THere is way too much to explain when I type so slow
But read books
watch videos
ask questions
and practice.

It is not as hard as people think. There are a ton of little tips, but painting is pretty easy to do, just tough to do perfect.



edit - completely forgot . . .
Colour sanding and buffing can save a bad paint job, and make a good job look great.

 

a lot of community colleges offer intro into car painting. Super cheap to take and will get your feet wet.

You get access to booths and pretty much only have to pay for extra paint that you use. It's not the best way to get good at it, but you can learn alot from it if you've never painted before.

 

please don't paint in your basement. you may cause an explosion. please don't.
the fumes can get trapped down there and all it take is one lil source of ignition.

i know how to paint too. did my bumper. but if its my whole car...i don't have the space and rather pay for the job to be done. but don't burn down your house trying to save a buck. proper ventilation is very important.

 

thanks for the advice everyone!

 

I used an old high-pressure gun to do the painting I've done (several years ago.) My compressor (claimed 6 HP, 30 gal. Probably more like 2 HP,) kept up with the gun fine, couldn't keep up with a DA sander at all though. HVLP guns use a lot more air at lower pressure, so get the biggest compressor you can afford and power (220v wasn't an option for me, so that's what limited me.)
Using the high-pressure gun I found it wasn't even close to worth it. I spent more on materials than I would have paid to get a cheap job done. HVLP wastes a lot less paint though.

 

+1 on the HVLP.
You need to adjust your technique, but there is WAY less over-spray, almost no misting at all and the paint goes on "wetter" so there is less orange peel.
I use a fraction of the amount of materials with HVLP than I did on a 35 PSI gun.

 

my friend has the equipment he bought used from a paint garage that got new equipment, he would go to the yard and buy cheap messed up bumpers (usually off of domestic crap cars like cavaliers) and learned how to do body repairs, prepping and painting...took alot of work but now he can paint individual body parts to a factory like finish...never would know it was painted..he hasnt done a whole car yet tho, no one wants to be the guinea pig lol.

maybe that can be a starting point for you if you are interested in learning...its a nice trade to have under your belt. id love to be able to do minor body work.

 

I shoot my own paint!!!