im getting ready to pain my car andfigured out which color and everything. i figured that ill try and paint it myself with my boy in his garage (hes a mechanic) but i just wanted to know if everyone could tell me the exact procedure for painting it. started from sanding to paint to clear coat

 

You don't know how to paint and you plan on painting your car yourself?
I know an alright amount of how to paint cars and I would never try to do mine. You could end up making it look really ****y if you don't do it just right (A lot of body shops can't even do it right). If I were you I would just have it done. But it's your car so it's your choice.

 

the paint is not what people **** upon its the preparation for the paint, the sanding and wet sanding and the paint u use. im also not gonna be the one painting it but my friend and his dad who have dont it before but i wanna know so i can be of some use with the process. the preparation on the car is most important cuz w/o good sanding the paint will ship, and the paint is important cuz if u use ****ty paint it will fade. its all in the prep work

 

Dont get me wrong prep is VERY important but if you dont have a good painting technique, wich takes years to aquire, then the prep wont do **** for you. Not sayin it cant be done, you just might wanna think about it a little more first. Get them to spray a sample for you so you can be sure you want them to do it. Just hate to see anyone do something like that to their car and not like it. Wouldnt want u to waste your money.

 

He didn't really ask for convincing reasons not to paint his own car.

Hasa66, try searching on google for car painting tips. I could list everything I know and have experienced over the years but it will take some time.

A mediocre painter, which great preperation and sanding skills can make a great paint job.

 

alright, the other night I spent about 10 minutes going through the whole process for you and then someone got on when I went to do something and I lost it. When I'm on my computer tomorrow I'll send you a link to a site from hotrod mag that goes through it all cause I don't have to motivation to type it all over again.

 

thanks and pstang reply is more then good i havent thought about the consequences of it but i also know that i have seen spray paint cars that arent bad

 

Not trying to convince him not to do it but if I was in his position I would appreciate someone tryin to help me out. Just want him to be sure before he does it. Hasa66, u can find tips easily. If u really want to do it, go for it. If u do it or get it done either way post some pics when its done.

 

It's cool you want to paint your own ride man.... Hey you have to start somewhere!!!! I did.. I didnt have anyone to teach me or help me with all my body work so I taught myself and read a lot of books about it....... Its hella fun!!!

Prep work takes a lot of time.... Wet sanding, cleaning, sealing, then sanding again..... You want to just make sure you have everything sanded and cleaned and leave no old clear coat behind!!!!! Theres different kinds of sealants you can use for pin holes, I use an acryl-green spot putty that worked wonders on most urathane and fiberglass pieces... then theres bondo and stuff for the metal.....
And use a good primer and sand that well make sure the paint has a nice base to stick too.... Ive used Du Pont and no good the paint didnt come out well or stick well... I like PPG a lot.... but just be careful on using reducers in this stuff cause you can have some major probs with runs if not equaled out right..... Get some advice on what primers and paints are good with eachother because in past Ive had problmes with the wrong matches and the paint just flaked away...... Make sure you do everything in a clean place and at a good temperature too......

Mel

 

Another little hint that most first timers Ive known have not done.. take some things off the car before you paint that way you can get color in corners, doors, hinges, motor compartment etc..... Will look much nicer nad then you wont have to mask EVERYTHING down just to do one little area.....