how to prep for paint?

[95firebird3.4]

well i decide im going to take my car to maaco but im going to do all the prep work myself. how should go about doing this.

[dmw319]

Re: how to prep for paint?

what condition is the car's paint in right now? i reccomned going over everything with 600 grit sandpaper and making sure its nice and smooth everywhere, dont worry about the color or scratches etc.. my rule of thumb is.. if you can physically feel it.. you will SEE it once the car is painted. AKA a blind man can prep a car the best!

[95firebird3.4]

Re: how to prep for paint?

well the guy b4 painted it in his driveway and didnt do it very well. so it look like crap. and i just put a trans am front bumper and rear hatch. so it not that good. should i take everything down to metal? and what about the door they are fiber glass right can i sand that? should i primer the car?

[dmw319]

Re: how to prep for paint?

if i were you, i wouldnt take it down to the metal unless you absolutely have to (remember though, the only thing really metal that you will have to worry too much about is the rear quarter panels and hood. pretty much everything else is fiberglass or plastic and yes you can sand it. i would sand everything with 600 like i said, to make it smooth, and primer it if youd like, but its gunna take at least 5-6 cans of primer.. i wouldnt bother, especially with a maaco job. but its up to you.

[95firebird3.4]

Re: how to prep for paint?

ok thanks alot

o should i wet sand at all?

[Bonemaro]

Re: how to prep for paint?

600 grit paper is preferred; generally dry sanded for prep. Use a catalyzed primer; do not use spray cans. Also, poly parts should be primed with a special primer for plastics. Prep it until the surface is perfect. If you paint dog crap, you'll just have different colored dog crap.

[95firebird3.4]

Re: how to prep for paint?

whats canalized primer?

[Bonemaro]

Re: how to prep for paint?

Sorry... Meant catalyzed.

It's a two part primer. The primer and the hardener (catalyst) are mixed then sprayed.

[95firebird3.4]

Re: how to prep for paint?

o ok and where can i get that?

[Bonemaro]

Re: how to prep for paint?

Any auto paint supplier. You'll need an air compressor and a paint gun though. Are you close to Atlanta?

[95firebird3.4]

Re: how to prep for paint?

san diego. but i have air compressor and i saw a paint gun at wal mart for 30 bucks so ill get that

[Bonemaro]

Re: how to prep for paint?

Yup yup... $30 HVLP gun at Walmart will work fine for primer. Hopefully it'll have a pretty big tip on it; 1.0 to 1.4. Sand that bad boy down hard. Get an uber course grit paint to knock it down faster. Shoot some heavy coats of a good filling primer. Block it down with 600 grit and you are gravy.

[Bonemaro]

Re: how to prep for paint?

This one?

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=9189097

[TheGr8Schlotzky]

Re: how to prep for paint?

If you have many chips and deep scratches, you'll be better off starting with 220 and getting it absolutely smooth, then stepping up to 600. But the given information is good otherwise.

[Archer]

Re: how to prep for paint?

600 grit paper is preferred; generally dry sanded for prep. Use a catalyzed primer; do not use spray cans. Also, poly parts should be primed with a special primer for plastics. Prep it until the surface is perfect. If you paint dog crap, you'll just have different colored dog crap.

THANK YOU!!!. lol

Even though his paint job came out well with rattle can primer... most primers arnt compatible with auto paint... it will bubble, chip, peel, or have a bad chemical reaction. lol

If you need any more detailed info you can ask me, or a couple other guys have painted their cars.. I custom paint sportbikes on the side.. Just remember it can get pricey, DONT RUSH IT.. take your time, you'll be fine. Painting a car isnt as hard as people make it out to be.

maco can paint cars. but remember you get what you pay for. you go cheap stick with the color you have and plan on buffing it afterwords, pay a lil more and they'll do a good job. if your scared with the prep and mix of paint... go to your local body shop, see if they have extra paint they have to get rid of. remember they PAY to get rid of it, so most of the time they will just give it to you. Go to local junk yrd and get a fender and use that to practice. the best paint jobs come from practicing and PREP.. ventilated area, clean, no dust.

also, if you paint, put a chain on the control arm and let it touch the ground. this helps with static electricity. its a ground. all that paint and air flying around will cause a static electric charge and things WILL STICK. plastic is the worse for doing this..

i use a 1.4 for my 2 stage paint, and a 1.7 for my primer. I build high and sand smooth then seal.

have a water remover (have a couple of them) also known as an air dryer. and a face mask, because believe it or not, I had a friend (after some years of painting) he lost his hearing because of it. its nasty ****, you dont want to breath it in. a doc paper mas WILL NOT DO>....


anything else just ask
Archer