Hi, I'm trying to decide on doing this myself or getting someone else to do it, very heavily leaning toward doing it myself based on some quotes I've gotten.
So what I want to know is how much paint would it take to do bumper/side skirts, is there a website I can buy it by the pint(or however much I need) for a paint gun?
Code a3f brilliant black.
Part of the reason I want to do it myself is because then I'll have the equipment to paint some other vehicles I want to fix up, and my dirtbike frame/wheels to spiffy it up.
Any recommended websites or tips are great. Probably be buying all supplies online if I can find what I'm looking for.
Its shine auto projects kit btw.
Thanks

 

i'd be interested in what people have to say as well.
i think shaping edges etc. for fitment will end up being harder than the sanding/spraying part of it.

 

Do either of you have any experience in the automotive paint world?
If not. Get someone to paint it for you.

But you might be able to research all the steps and products needed to do the job. But do you have the skills?

Also buying the products to do the job compared to a body shop that has them already could be costly.
Various grit's of sand paper and blocks. For prep and finish.
Primer/catalyst/thinner
Sealer/catalyst/reducer
Color/catalyst/reducer
Clearcoat/catalyst/reducer
Tack clothes and a CLEAN painting environment.
Compressor and a paint gun.

I've owned a body shop. And with all I know about it. I will gladly pay a quality shop to do my painting for me rather than do it myself.

 

I'd rather have a professional do it for me. It's not that i don't want to learn, it's the way to paint it to match it perfectly. If you messed up, then you have to do it all over again. I'll paint a house anytime, but not a car.

 

No, I've never painted anything relevant to this, no I'm not paying $700 to get a body kit painted.
Its a mazda, not a ferrari, I know you guys love your cars, and I love mine, but I'm a realist about it, its a 2005 rx8 with 80k or so, only worth 12grand at best around here, and I'm absolutely not going to pay more then 200-300 to have it painted.
I figure I might as well buy the supplies and do it myself. The only thing I have right now is the compressor.
So back to what I really need to know, can you buy brilliant black a3f paint online, and is there any special kind of primer or clear coat you need specifically?
Can you buy tins of paint direct from mazda? How much?
Thanks!

 

bump

 

If you can't afford it, don't do it.
It doesn't matter if it is a Ferrari, Mazda, Tata, Lada.

 

you better become friends with a reputable body shop in your area so that they will give you a discount. Body work is alot harder than just cutting and sanding you have many different thinners, primers, paints, flakes, hardning agents, curing agents, and many other things. Its something you need to know how to do. Even some body shops mix our paints wrong so i wouldnt want to attempt it myself.

 

for a bumper and sideskirt I would buy a quart (non reduced) Then your going to need some reducer. The mixture should be 1:1. For clear I'd get about the same amount. most clear coats are a 4:1 Meaning 4 parts clear and 1 part activator (which you will also need) I like to mix my clear at 4:1:1/2 4 parts clear 1 part activator and 1/2 part reducer. you will need mixing cups(inexpensive) and sticks and strainers are usually free where I go. you might have about $100 or a little more in this. Also be a good idea to get some preclean and a tac cloth. Wet 600grit sand them before you spray them!!! If you need anything in depth PM me I do this for a living! I painted mine and many others

 

Thanks! So to buy the quart, do I have to buy from mazda or from a paint/body shop? I've google'd a bit and cant find anything but touch up paint online.

 

you can get it from a paintshop or a body shop with a mixing rack... all they will need is your paint code and they will be able to match it