Thread: Never painted, need help.

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Never painted anything on a car!

I have a some projects going, I would like to paint some of the parts large and small myself. I have a trailer to paint, I have a chassis I would like to paint, and a number of other car parts. Is their a good book I could get to help get me going? How do you choose a beginners Paints gun kit?

How is this one on ebay, Part # (#200196303287). .

I also am looking at a hobby air pump fresh air set. I do have a decent abrasive blaster I plan to get more use out of.

Any help is appreciated.

My first suggestion would be to check the clean air laws in your area....and figure out how to circumvent the one's you can't afford to comply with!!!!!

Small parts are a good way too learn, just grab a cheap small size HVLP gun off eBay, put a regulator and dryer on your air line and have at it!!!! Use an old door, hood, or other such leftover to practice on and have fun!!!!!!

Lots of books on the market. Don't start with difficult projects. Start small, learn the basics, get familiar with one paint system, and work your way up. It will save a lot of frustration.

When you choose a paint gun, look at the CFM requirements, so you know you have a big enough compressor.

If you are going to use catalyzed paints, buy a remote air mask or suit.

Get to know the counter man at your paint supplier. He should be able to help keep you out of trouble.

Are the Hobby Air, fresh air face mask system's ok for catalyzed paints?

I am not familiar with the brand, but make sure the air comes from another location outside the booth.

frames are a great way to start. Who cares if you get a run or two?

There are a few places to look at spray guns for beginners. Our Mac Tool guy had some great ones for beginners otherwise places like AutoBody Toolmart have a website and just give them a call. Carquest if you have one local that carries the Automotive paints. Not sure about where you are but we can powder coat a chassis cheaper then we can paint one. Just an idea for that. Definately start small on some "door" pieces.

Just stay away from the Harbor Freight stuff - that is, unless you have a big air compressor and like LOTS of overspray.

Originally Posted by IC2

Just stay away from the Harbor Freight stuff - that is, unless you have a big air compressor and like LOTS of overspray.

heh I like my harbor frieght HVLP, but I do have a big compressor.
ok maybe just for primer

now about PAINT, thats gonna be expensive.

We did all of our paint work with Harbor Freights on sale at $ 9.95 HVLP spray guns! They are normally like $ 39.95, and obviously a Pro wouldn't want to use one, but I was very surprised how well they worked. Every bit as good as my $100 Sears gun.

We also painted outside in the fresh air and wore 3M respirators.

I did all my frame and suspension pieces and also the same parts on my Kids T.

Don

You read me wrong Don. It's not that I don't think the HF sprayers wont do a pretty good job, it's that they use a high volume of air and more pressure then a better gun - which of course translates into a lot of overspray. I had one, a "purple" 43430 HVLP - and a lot of my garage is now epoxy gray primer. I then moved to a Devillbiss Finishline 3 for primers then to an Iwata for BC/CC. The FL3 is about $100+/- and the Iwata LPH400 - a fair bit more, but that one runs with 16psig MAX. I've actually run it down as low as 10psig. Savings for either the FL3 or the Iwata are in much less paint usage. There is virtually no overspray with the Iwata - and with $650 per gallon of DuPont Chromabase paint, plus the trip(s) to the paint supplier, a significant savings can be seen. I also have a Sharpe Finex which will do very nicely - but

You are absolutely correct Dave, we have a whole lot of Fusion Orange and Blue oversprayed stuff in our shop right now. For a while you could even see the outline of the tarp we laid down on the parking lot out front. One night Dan and I had to use laquer thinner on a rag to minimize this outline because we were afraid our landlord would see it and complain.

There is no question a high quality gun is like any other better quaility tool, it just does a better job. What I was trying to say to him was that on a budget you can get presentable results with these cheapy guns if you prep well and take your time. I am one of the people for whom an expensive gun doesn't make sense.........I am terrible about properly maintaining them. I bought 6 of the $39.95 guns when they were on sale at $9.95, and tossed a couple of them in the trash when I was done because I was too tired to mess around cleaning them.

I felt since he was a beginner one of these less expensive models would let him get his feet wet and learn some things about painting.

Don