can you paint your own car?

[tscott9330]

I was toying around with the ideaa of doing my own paint job on my vette. I figure that since I want it all silver like it came from the factory that if I was clean and careful about it, I could use my compressed air paint gun just like the pros do. I could just hand drop cloths all around my garge to keep everything from getting silver maybe set up some kind of fan to keep me from gettign too stoned off of the fumes.


has anyone done this? give me some insight, like I said I am just toying around with the idea. the car already need a new paint job, so whats the worst that could happen? I end up out the money I spent in paint.


Tom "Paint fumes are good"Scott :crazy

 

[CHEV66JB]

Re:

I'd actually like to try this myself, so any "experts" please feel free to share your thoughts.


CHEV66JB

 

[Flared69]

Interesting concept.

I would love to see the results,

hehe my dad painted his first car with a paintbrush was a MG TD (1953) roadster. Nice car, and apparantly the paintjob was pretty decent - though, by todays standards, I doubt it would really be that great - but it was a wooden car I believe. Shame someone destroyed the chassis while parking

 

[clar2001]

when I was a teenager I used to do just that in the garage hang visquine even painted a few of the neighbors cars does make a mess out of the garage .
I would do that now for the prep work primmer so on butt let a business paint it,a good looking paint jop is 80% prep.

Besure to use a filter dryer in line to keep moister out of the gun.
& be sure you have no dust or dirt on the car when you spray..

 

[Copdogcorvettes]

I have done it many times in the past. If you do thing right it can look as good as any other job. One of the big things to think about is, IS the garage big enough? You need room to set up lights and still be able to move around dragging that air hose without bumping the car. It no big deal if you take your time and THINK about what you are doing.

Another thing that most people forget is to CLEAN the garage very well before you start. If possible keep some water on the floor. This keeps the dust down and helps keep the garage floor from having a out line of the car on it once you are done. A box fan or two set in the outside door way will help keep the overspray down as well as help with letting you see what you are doing. A door to your back yard would be best. Don't want to be painting the nieghbor's yard, car or house with the overspray. Cover the walls and seal the door going into the house, if there is one, that will save you a lot of problems with the other half in the long run.:bash :bash

If you decide to do it and need any more help getting ready let me know. These are just some highlights to think about. There are MORE. If I had the garage big enough to do it, since I'm about to paint mine, I do a whole article on it with pictures.

Good luck and let us know how it goes. POST PICTURES if you go for it.

Gary

 

[CHEV66JB]

Re:

Hi Gary,

Thanks for the input. I have a question which you can respond to me directly if you don't want to publicly post (jmbiii@yahoo.com)- Does it matter what kind of primer you use? Right now my Chevelle has good ole Rust-O-Leum primer on it. I've heard for some paints it doesn't matter, where others say you should strip it off of the car. I have a compressor, but have not yet picked up a paint gun. Any recommendations on guns?

I keep using my Chevelle as my dress rehearsal before I get to work on my '59 Corvette. With the Chevelle, I've learned how to weld, do engine work I never knew before and tons more that will definitely be applicable to the 'Vette! 8^]

Thanks,

CHEV66JB
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/jbiii/

 

[Robin7TFour]

tom, i can help you with info on the prep work,booth set-up ,materials and etc. however i am no good with the paint gun. i worked with a friend in kissimmee ,helping him paint street rods and my own bikes.
also should you decide to go for it i can get you all materials at a discount from ppg paints( disney has a store on property & we get a healthy cut)
if you don't want to try painting, i have a couple of good local painters. you can call Burkes in maitland, but be warned , he is expensive and very backed up.

go fast turn left

robin

 

[Robin7TFour]

chev, yes the type of primer does matter. some paint do well with any primer. other can be very touchy about what you use. the paint can bubble or spider-web, all kinds of goofy things. ask your local paint distributor , they usually can give you all the info and tips.
harbor freight has good prices on generic guns. good for practicing..


sand,paint sand again, paint again,sand again.....and on and on


robin

 

[CHEV66JB]

Re:

Thanks Robin,

What type of primer would you recommend?


CHEV66JB

 

[Robin7TFour]

chev, it depends on what paint your going to use. i am partial to ppg or mathews. ask the paint guy what he recommends especially if you go down to bare glass, so you get the best bonding to the body


' if i dont look in the mirror ,i cant see the pretty blue light'



robin

 

[Copdogcorvettes]

Robin is right about the primer. When you get ready to buy your paint talk to the suppler and ask which primer they requirement for the paint you are going to use. I don't think you will need to take off what you have on there; but when you are all done with the body worksand everything smooth. Then use the proper primer. Put it on just like you where painting the car. Then sand it smooth, AGAIN. If you need to, do it all over again until you have a nice smooth surface for the final paint. The final sanding of the primer should be done with a wet/ dry 400 grit sand paper.

Gary

 

[CHEV66JB]

Re:

I have my eye on Dupont Candy Yellow (found a car in Hot Rod that had the paint listed)- Any idea if this is PPG paint, and actually, can you tell me more about what PPG is/stands for?

CHEV66JB

PS: right now this will be going on my Chevelle, not my Vette.

 

[Robin7TFour]

gary, thanks for the kind words. i wouldn't stop at 400 grit. block sand it down with 800. maybe even put an alternate color primer on top. then wet sand it to find hi and low spots. most important is the prep, better prep, smoother the finish ,better the paint will look.
then you do the same for the clear top coat. and you may wqant to throw some pearl in there for a really cool color change.

robin

 

[Copdogcorvettes]

Tom,

I don't mind answering your question here. I take it that we are talking about you painting you chevelle for now. Some of the other issuies are heating systems in the garage. If your furance is in the garage, there are things you have to do about that. Like turn it off while painting and so on. Other things that have to be considered are the thinner you use. There are different ones for the temps you are working under.

 

[CHEV66JB]

Re:

Yes, I am actually inquiring about the Chevelle (for now anyway)- I have no furnace in my garage, so I should be in good shape regarding that. I use a kerosene heater for the coldest months, aside from that I usually don't have anything flammable in there..

As for the long block sanding, what do I need for this? I currently have a DA sander and a small sanding block (probably no more than 4" long), but I imagine I would need something different.

Thanks in advance to all of you for your input, this is a big help.


CHEV66JB

 

[Robin7TFour]

chev, dupont is a part of ppg paints...Pittsburg Paint & Glass


robin

 

[Robin7TFour]

chev, dupont is a part of ppg paints...Pittsburg Paint & Glass


robin


jeff gordon's #24 car is sponsored by dupont/ppg paints. that's why he has such cool paint schemes...

 

[CHEV66JB]

Re:

Thanks Robin-

Is there an online search page for PPG paints by chance? I definitely want yellow, but there's so many shades.

CHEV66JB

 

[CHEV66JB]

Re:

The color yellow I would like can be seen here:

http://www.classictrucksweb.com/features/0307cl_effort/

The problem is, every time I find info on PPG Yellow, that's all it lists for the name. Does anyone with experience buying paint know if the name would be that simple? And if it is, any idea of the paint code? If I am asking too detailed questions, please let me know- I don't want to be a burden. This is just all completely new to me.

Thanks,

CHEV66JB

 

[Copdogcorvettes]

If you go to any good paint supplier they will have the color books there for you to look at. You can take a picture of what you want along and tell them, "This is what I want". They should be able to help you get the color you want.

Also you are not a burden, this is what we are all on here for. To talk about what we love and to get and receive help with what we don't know. if you want you can always contact me directly at gclark@coastaccess.com.

I don't see that anyone answered your question about other sanding items; so if all the flat surfaces on the chevelle I'd find a long board. It's about 12" long and 2" wide. Use it for sanding those flat areas. It really helps with those high and low spots. As to spray guns, I like Devallviss. As mentions before a good water filter is a most. It goes between the compressor and the spray gun. Once you have everything and before you start painting practicewith it a little. Use an old panel, door or something like that to see how fast you have to move so as not to get runs. One thing you may want to do is go to your local auto parts store that has how books. There are some good HOW TO PAINT books to give you some basics on prep work, adjusting the spray gun and so on.

If there is anything else, just ask.

Gary