Ok this may be the stupidest thing I've ever done but I really don't care at this point. I am going to attempt to paint my car myself. I would like to have any tips or suggestions from people that have done this before. I have a compressor and a gun. Any suggestions on what kind of paint to use and what chemicals I need to add to the paint and how much would be nice. Luckily I have bought a new hood for my mustang so I will be experimenting on the old one to see how it turns out before I tackle the whole car. Anyway like I said ANY tips or TO DO'S and NOT TO DO'S would be benificial. I will post pics of the outcome as soon as I finish. THANKX

 

Take your time dont rush
I use the one coat method...1 coat then i do another and another sounds funny but if you miss something dont go right back over it just get it on the next go around you get runs when you try and get a spot you missed on something else you already sprayed.

everything you wanna paint has to be sanded everything!!if you miss a spot the paint wont stick!!!!

Its cool you painting it yourself Id rather see a not perfect but nice paint job that someone didrather than a $5,000 show shine that someone paid an arm and a leg for!!!!!!!!good luck

 

Make sure you buy a in-line dryer. It will remove the moisture in the air line and tank. Water will causes the paint to fish-eye, flake off, etc. I've done it before with out one. But I picked a low-humidity day. And I completeley drained my air compressor from the bottom drain valve. I always used what they called single-stage paints. It's like spraying spray paint... but from a gun. And if you spray it decent you won't have to buff it out.
And like (TTGreenSN95) said, Make sure you sand everything that you want paint on. It doesn't have to be real rough sandpaper. Something just to take the shine off of the old paint. And you might want to wipe it down with some wax remover if you have waxed it lately. The prep work is what will make a good paint job...... Spraying it is the easy part.
And I recomend this book if there's any first time painters "How to PAINT YOUR CAR on a budget" It's printed by SA DESIGN, and wrote by Pat Ganahl. I got it at autozone. It definately has alot of useful info.

 

I forgot about the in line dryer you can pick up some that you use 1 time then throw them away...

if you have a book store (waldens,books a million) and are on a budget just go stand around and read them I do lol......I have only sprayed single stage paint also its easyer the clear is where most people screw up on the 2 stage paint.
for my final sand I used these 3m pads like 500 grit they look like dishwasher pads with sandpaper on them you can soak them in water they work nice for the final wet sand.
everything monkeyboy said +++++++1

 

I sprayed paint that came from napa it sucked!!!
theres this place called staples auto not sure if you have one where you live and that paint went on very nice I think it was dupont paint Its been awhile since I painted so Im not sure about that Ill try and go see if I have a can of it left in the garage and get back to yah it was like 95 bucks for everything but that was in like 98'.

 

Prep time is 90% of the work. The other 10% is using a consistent stroke.

 

Wow thanks everyone for the input the inline dryer is a good help I didn't even think about the air being moist. If I'm right I believe you have to put a certain amount of thinner in with your paint is there anyone that knows just how much that certain amount is? And I'm going to primer everything I was reading something last night that said you don't have to do EVERYTHING but I want to just to be safe, does anyone have any suggestions on what primer to use and what kind of thinner at that.

 

The thinner amount will depend on the paint you use(brand/type ect.) So you will have to get that with the paint. I would go with a single stage paint, you will need a medium speed reducer (go to a faster reducer if it is cooler, slower if if it warmer) and some hardiner agent. Just go to your local parts store, I have had great luck with Napa paints, and they will hook you up on all that you will need.

As far as primer, only use it if you are sanding the paint to metal or using filler. If you need it, you will have to get a good 2 part primer, meaning you will need the primer, and activator to harden it. You will also need a separate reducer just for the primer if you want to do it right.

To prep the car, you should sand the whole car with some 400 to 600 grit paper, I like using a DA sander. Then use red 3M pads to get the little nooks.

You will definitly need a air dryer of some sort, I like the throw away in line ones, cheap and effective. I run my compresser at around 25psi. Be sure to get a big peice of paper/cardboard to test spray on to get your gun set up.....that will help a lot. You will also need a certain size tip/nozzle for you gun....I will have to look and see what mine is so you can compare it to what you have.

Clear as mud??

 

tack rag after sanding
good luck gravity fed gun ?? air compressor regulator??
go slow paint it in a clean area if you have to put up plastic around the car do it dont have a half ashed cig hanging out of yer lips while you attempt to paint the car

 

Not trying to highjack your thread, but has anyone tried that new duplicolor paint that is premixed? I have not heard anything about it yet and was just wondering.