Anybody here know anything about painting a car?

[TazMan]

I got a paint job at the local Maaco here a few years back for a good price and it looked really good. I was thinking I might like to bring my GP there, but I know they just paint over your existing paint, and the paint on my GP is peeling. Can I sand down this car myself and prime it from spray cans, then have it painted?

[onefastV6]

DO NOT use rattle can primer!!! If you are going to do it, do it right.

You will need to get a DA sander and feather all of the chipped edges, fill any dents with bondo, and then use a good primer (spray guns are rather cheap).

[TazMan]

Thanks! I definitley wont use the rattle cans then, but I don't have a compressor, and both those things require one, correct? Is there any way around this?

[IsaacHayes]

2 part epoxy primer is good stuff. You also need a oil/moisture filter on the air compressor.

[TazMan]

Thanks for the replies. So I MUST have a compressor to do something like this myself? That sounds expensive. If I get the compressor paint gun, etc, can I skip maaco and just do the whole paint job myself?

[DEI37]

Yes, you could. Good paint and primer will set you back $500 or so, a compressor maybe $300, and the paint guns and all $150 or less. A GOOD paint job will run you $3500 or so. You do the math.

Check out www.harborfreight.com for deals on stuff. You'll have to pick and choose, but you can find good deals there if you're careful.

[TazMan]

Thanks for the link. The prices look pretty reasonable. The thing is, there are so many different compressors and spray guns, and I have no idea what I'm looking for. What kind of specs do I need in a compressor for a job like this, and what am I looking for in a spray gun?

[DEI37]

A HVLP gun is nice, but they are more money. They had a normal gravity feed, or suction feed...I can't remember right now in there for like $20. Get a couple of 'em...one for primer, one for color, and one for clear, if you're ambitious. Once you find the gun you like, shop for a compressor that can match the requirements of the gun. If you're really ambitious, they have sandblasters in there, too.

When you go paint shopping, CarQuest carries DuPont paint, and should be able to mix it up by paint code. I do not know how much you'll need for an entire car.

[MATT2007]

keep an eye out in the paper and auctions for a compressor my friend just bought a 60 gallon twin cylinder for $100 because the people did not want to move it never know what you will find

[MeMadMax]

MAACO sux

[MATT2007]

I have had good luck with the paint from napa

[TazMan]

Okay the paint guns don't require much as far as compressor size, but the dual action sander does. It says it requires 8 CFM @ 90PSI and turns at a max of 10,000 rpms. Can I get a compessor that puts out say 5.6 CFM @ 90PSI and just use it at a bit more than half speed, or does it not work that way?

[IsaacHayes]

Also if the paint is peeling, you've got bad primer. Time to strip to bare metal. If you paint over the old primer, the paint will peel again.

Air craft paint stripper is the shit. Paint it on and watch the paint and primer literally fall off in seconds. Just don't breathe it in! Trust me on that one.

[TazMan]

Also if the paint is peeling, you've got bad primer. Time to strip to bare metal. If you paint over the old primer, the paint will peel again.

The paint color itself isn't peeling, it's some clear coating thats on top. I will strip it to bare metal if I do it.

Air craft paint stripper is the shit. Paint it on and watch the paint and primer literally fall off in seconds. Just don't breathe it in! Trust me on that one.

Is Air Craft the brand or is it actually for aircrafts?

[IsaacHayes]

Oh ok, hmm clear coat peeling may not be that bad. But the paint may be why the clear is flaking. Hmm. I can't give advice for sure on that one.

I think its for aircrafts (since their paint is tough as hell). It's strong nasty stuff but damn does it work!!! I've seen it at orielly auto.