First Time Painter

I have sprayed primer before, but have usually left the paint to the professionals. I picked up a new project that I'm going low budget with. Basically having some fun with it doing all the cosmetic stuff myself. So I am looking for some advice. It is a 1956 Pontiac going for a suede dark blue. I plan on painting it outside. My questions are:

About how much paint should I buy to paint the whole car? 1qt 2qt 1gal, etc?

what type of tip should I have in my gun?

Best way to avoid water droplets in the paint?

Any adjustment to hardener/reducer ratios for painting outside?

Any sorts of advice would be helpful. Thanks.

http://www.autobody101.com/ Here is some good reading .

Is there any way you can paint in a garage ? it would be good to get out of the wind and dust. A 1.4 or 1.6 nozzle would work good. Usually a gallon of paint is needed to paint a full size vehicle. Base clear would be half that because you will end up with double .Use reducer for correct temp and make sure to get all dust off before spraying .Use a gun pre filter and keep compressor drained that should take care of the moisture .:D

maybe a water trap on the airline on the compressor?
just be ready to try an try again, especially when the bodywork isn't all
you thought it would be...
it's a learning experience, at least with suede the bodywork
shouldn't be all that demanding

dust? a final filter near the gun helps cut down on dust

i just try not to spray at night after the porsche "moth incident"
moths love lights, and wet paint

You will be lucky to get a day now that will be calm (no wind) and yet a good 'temp.' to paint outside. I live on the southside and the temp tonight may go into the 30's they say!

A water trap is a must!

Also, get yourself a good resperator. There's nothing worse than finding out the hard way that you have an asthmatic reaction to automotive paint fumes. I'm not saying you'll have a reaction, by why risk it?

One gallon to do the whole car at least, get a water trap for the hose and gun, regulator, 60 gallon compressor, find some way to do it in the garage if you can and put plastic up with fans. If you get some trash in the clear then you can just wet sand it and have minimal trash. Follow the directions on the can. Noone can really tell you the reducer and such to use because the weather changes all over the place. Ask the local paint supplier and see what they say.

Thanks for the tips. Looks like I might get an opportunity this weekend.

The wind is supposed to be a bit high 7-9mph up at my house, but it always blows from the west and I can use my house as a wind block on the east side where my driveway is. I plan on spraying the area with water first to keep the dust and particles down.

Luckily this is a flat (suede) urethane paint, so I don't have to worry too much about junk getting in clearcoat.

But I do have a decision to make. I have a 5hp 20gal compressor and have a standard spray gun and also have access to a HVLP gun. Which would you suggest to use? I could get to my buddy's 80gal compressor, but his water trap sucks, and I don't trust it.

I'm thinking that my smaller compressor with a HVLP gun might be more effective.

Anybody have any input on that topic?

Until I could afford a bigger compressor I painted tons of cars, car parts, and even a 27 foot cruiser with my trusty Sears 20 gallon compressor and Sears spray gun. When I retired it I gave it to a friend, and he is still using it. If you can buy one of the gravity feed guns, do it. Clean up is so much easier and so is the spraying.

JMO,

Don

Your compressor will be ok and use the HVLP. You can put a cheap disposable water trap at the gun to be safe if you use the 80 gallon. Just make sure the 20 gallon stays up with your pace that way you dont drop in pressure and screw up. I would just screw around on a panel or hood of somekind that you will not use and see if you like the turnout and if so then do your car. Some dirt can be wet sanded and buffed. Just PRE CLEAN the heck out of your car and don't touch it with bare hands! I think you will be fine, don't get all paranoid (sp) over it, take your time and prep it good.

Thanks for all the advice guys. I'm going to make a go of it this weekend. I know it's not going to be perfect because some of the body work isn't perfect. I'm just tired of seeing it in primer.

I have some prep solvent that I plan on wiping it down with before spraying and I'll give it a good tack cloth treatment.

My main concern is runs, fisheyes, and bad adheasion.

I've never used a gravity fed HVLP gun so this should be a new experience.

You can buy a paint additive called "fish-eye eliminator". Its expensive as Hell, but it does a good job of protecting from the dreaded "fishy-eye". It only takes a few drops to be enough for a whole car---if you have a friend who is a painter, get him to give you an aspirin bottel full of the stuff. Use a "medium dry" reducer---it gives a bit more flow-out time for the paint, and helps eliminate orange peel. Use a charcoal respirator. I have painted a lot of cars outside---do not paint in direct sunlight---put up a tarp sunshade. Do not paint if temp is below 72 degrees F. Paint one very light coat, don't expect much colour build on the first coat. Wait 20 minutes---spray a second coat---you will see the colour start to build, and the tackiness of the now dry first coat will help keep the second coat from running. Wait 20 minutes---Paint a third coat.---Pray----Wash gun with laquer thinners.