Well i went to SEARS and bought a gun and a compresor for my garage this weekend i decided im going to repaint my car, Im painting it metalic blue. I just want to know what the best paint is out there and what is the step by step of painting a car its going to be my first time. Also what is all i need. Thanx guys any help would be apreciated. Oh by the way im back from JAPAN

how was japan? what part were you in? i hope i get to go to japan! good luck on the painting:thumbsup

later

best paint is house of kolur, PPG, and dupont.......... but if you don't have any experience with body work or haven't painted a car before i don't suggest that you do it your self......... It takes a lot of pratice to do a good paint job.........

I think that painting a car has to be done by a professional imho....but if you know what you're doing, more power to you! Good luck!

steve

>I think that painting a car has to be done by a professional
>imho....but if you know what you're doing, more power to you!
>Good luck!
>
>steve


how do you think some pros get good they practice


so if you already bought the gun i would suggest painting a small piece or go the the junk yard and pick up some junks and then go to your local paint shop and just get cheap omni paint primer and clear

just go slowly play with the nozzle adjustments get your distance down and be patient. thats how i learned and now im actually pretty good at it so just because some people discourage do what you want

yeah find some old panels from a yard or shop and practice on them. body shops should be happy to get rid of their shit piles

Japan was awesome it was a good experience. I was in Okinawa.

thanx guys but i think i will still do it myself if i fuck up i fuck up i dont care. I got another car to practice so i will go practice. But can anybody tell me the whole procedure. I mean how far do i have to sand it down.

well you gotta sand it down to almost metal if your going to do it right

thats what i did when i first started but then after time you get lazy and just sand down to primer

if your painting it the same color you can just take the clear off and paint over that

and as far as steps just make sure you get the right mixing in thinner and hardner play a big part in paint if you dont know ask they guys you buy the paint from if they have a chart that would give you a good idea

also there are many ways to paint i usually do this

start on the roof go down the left side make my way back to the bumper and trunk then go to the right side and then finish up on the front. there are many other ways there is a good book at the library about painting that shows the procedures try pick it up i forget the title cause its been so long.

good luck man

if you want to paint the car go get some 600 wet/dry sand paper and wet sand the clear coat down... you will use your paint as the primer. Once you have wet sanded the whole car. see if there is any body work that needs to be fixed.... dents scratches ect..... use plastic or bondo to fill it in... sand it down smooth and then wet sand smooth..... take off all moldings so you can get the paint on to the whole car.....Wash the car completly so that you get all the dust off (you don;t want dust in your paint) then wipe it down with painters prep alchol.
tape off the car completly and take your time because this is what makes a good job or bad job.... if you get over spray every where it will make it look like shit.
give it about 3-4 coats of paint and then about 2-3 coats of clear.... wait about 2-3 days then wetsand with 1500 and then polish....... do not wax your car for about 1 month because it will take the paint that long to cure......... Trust me on this i know a lot about body work and painting...........
need anymore info feel free to ask

ohh forgot to tell you when you wet sand go with the car... length ways not up and down.......

and hawaii there is no need to go past the clear even if you are changing the color.... you use the other color as your base (primer) coat

yes you do have you ever painted a car that was black and then painted it baby blue well the color starts changing and comes very incosistent (learned it the hard way) and if your doing it right i would go all the way to metal i did that on my first few cars and it comes out perfect brand new primer on the metal brand new paint and brand new clear. icedout is right if your going same color or darker color but if your going lighter i would sand to at least primer

my car is maroon color im going to paint it blue like 99gsbb's or something like that. Wheat do you mean wet sand it with 1500 grit after im done. Wont that damage paint? I thought im just supposed to buff it. oh well ill try it. the project wont go until this winter probably at the end of september but i just want to prepare. Im gona paint mine and my brothers eclipse, we both are going blue. Well ill keep ya posted. Thanx for any info you can give me

>Wheat do you mean wet sand it with 1500 grit after im done

Once the paint and clear coat has fully cured, you should wet sand the whole car. Your wet sanding the clear coat layer so you can polish/buff the car to a mirror glaze.

Paint Prep Overview (Might be missing stuff)

1. Sand off clear coat or clear coat and paint - 1000 + grit
2. Fix dents
3. Mask off anything without paint. Using Tape and lots of paper.- windows, window trims, rear hatch, black rubber moldings, etc.
4. Primer areas that have been bondo'd/fixed
5. Be sure the entire paintable surface is SMOOTH to the touch - wet sanding with 400+ grit i think