Jump to content
  • When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

DIY Painting, lessons learned-update w/ pics


jerry

Recommended Posts

1. painting a car sucks

2. painting a car is alot of work

3. painting a car is a commitment, either time or money or both

4. actually completing a paint job is very satisfying

5. having a clean, well lit space to paint would save a lot of grief while wet paint is being applied

6. the color of the base primer affects the final appearance/color of the actual paint to a large extent.

7. don't trust the paintshop salesman to accurately match the existing color.

8. don't mark flaws in bodywork with a black Sharpie pen

9. don't paint a car in a shirt that you wore while ever holding a cat previously.

10. did i mention that painting a car was a lot of work and there's a reason why professionals charge a lot for it?

i finally finished painting my car last night and finished cleaning up by 8PM. i painted the hood and trunklid outside while spraying the car/doors in my makeshift booth. i'm generally pleased with it overall but will not post photos until it's been colorsanded. my 'Malaga' color turned out more brick red than maroon but i'm calling it malaga on general principles.

attached couple photos including an 'oh shit' on the hood. it was painted exactly like the trunk, only exception was that it was left outside today and this morning was misty. it looks like haze appearing where the coating is thickest. the appearance of water drip suggests the morning dew had something to do with it. it looked fine when i left for work. oh well....

can't wait to pull it out in the sun and see how it looks.

post-260-13667570158127_thumb.jpg

post-260-13667570159726_thumb.jpg

post-260-13667570161387_thumb.jpg

post-260-1366757016297_thumb.jpg

Former owner of 2570440 & 2760440
Current owner of 6 non-op 02's

& 1 special alfa

Link to comment
Share on other sites

How long did it take you total? How many base coats / clear coats? I had considered doing it myself on my 72 - which I believe will be flat black.

i couldn't count the hours (mostly weekends), but been prepping it since May (including stripping to metal). at least 150 200 hours if i were to guess.

next time i should be able to shave alot of time off because of wasted effort.

3 basecoats and 3 clears. i was told that too much paint would lead to cracking down the road.

Former owner of 2570440 & 2760440
Current owner of 6 non-op 02's

& 1 special alfa

Link to comment
Share on other sites

How long did it take you total? How many base coats / clear coats? I had considered doing it myself on my 72 - which I believe will be flat black.

i couldn't count the hours (mostly weekends), but been prepping it since May (including stripping to metal). at least 150 200 hours if i were to guess.

next time i should be able to shave alot of time off because of wasted effort.

3 basecoats and 3 clears. i was told that too much paint would lead to cracking down the road.

Once you've done it it's a great feeling isn't it? Did you wet-clear or sand your base then dry clear? How much did you thin the paint? I know lots of painters who will use yellow as a base under black just so they don't have problems with coverage.

Congrats!!! You've joined the ranks of solvent-sniffing painters that know their stuff!

'79 & '80 Vespas, R75/6 + R90/6 (and a Triumph), '76 IH Scout II

E36 

'71 VIN: 2574356 - Nevada, Sunroof, RUST and a really nice '76

Link to comment
Share on other sites

6. the color of the base primer affects the final appearance/color of the actual paint to a large extent.

That shouldn't be true. Whose paint did you use?

11. Those Tyvek suits solve several of the above- numbered problems

12. you will be exhausted by the time you get the final coat on

13. let it harden BEFORE you get all excited about working on it some more...

14. Prep really makes the job.

15. the second one is 1/4th the work.

Good job, Jerry! Let's see pix!

t

"I learn best through painful, expensive experience, so I feel like I've gotten my money's worth." MattL

Link to comment
Share on other sites

16. Cutting and buffing is as big a pain as the actual body work and prep, particularly single stage paint, and probably more stressful.

17. No matter how well a job you do in creating a home-made vented and filtered spray booth, one bug will find it's way through and do the Makarana on the rear hood.

18. Buy your paint supply jobber a 12 pack of his favorite beer the first time you meet him. Things will go much easier.

post-708-13667570112986_thumb.jpg

post-708-13667570149002_thumb.jpg

Stacey
Columbus, OH
No cup holders, by design.
'76 O=00=O   '77 R100RS  '85 K100 '01 325CI   '05 330XI ZSP   '80 Porsche 911SC

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Patrick,

I painted my '73 two years ago and tracked the hours since I was using someone elses facilities. I did it in something like 200 hours as well (need to look at my notes). I took the car down to metal in most places, had to pull out some minor dings, a couple of larger dings and lots of little dents.

redcar1.jpg

redcarandbennett.jpg

These 200 hours were with expert guidance of course! And the right tools make all the difference. The 200 hours doesn't include reassembly nor all the final waxing, etc.

Jason

1973 2002tii (2764167), Baikal, Rebuild blog here!

In the past: Verona H&B 1973 2002tii (2762913); Malaga 1975 2002; White 1975 2002

--> Blog: Repro tii cold start relay;   + --> Need an Alpina A4 tuning guide? PM me!

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

9. don't paint a car in a shirt that you wore while ever holding a cat previously.

Haha, this rule applies in numberous cases, not just with painting cars. Now I just dribbled all over the computer screen laughing at this!

"My dad was right, it was cheaper just to buy a new car."

'75 Golf Yellow Automatic 2002 with Weber 32/36 DGAV - "Karl"

railwayKarl-1.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Upcoming Events

  • Supporting Vendors

×
×
  • Create New...