Technical Removing the mystery of painting your car yourself

Thanks, Tony... sometimes I even surprise myself.........ahahah

 

I remember when I first had to spray automotive paint, I asked Mark (ChopOlds) how to do it. He gave me great advice. He said, "Read the ****ing can".

 

Joe that was half of the story, "and believe most of it" should have followed.

 

Not to sound snarky, but what's printed on the "f'ing" can hardly scratches the surface with regard to a successful project. There is A LOT to know and a LOT to learn before somebody picks up a spray gun and pulls the trigger (or even doing body work, which is also covered on my site). The postings I've made on my SmugMug photo sharing site with narrative of what I have learned certainly doesn't cover every aspect of a successful project, but I've invested my time and effort to post this thread and build my website to inform those who may be thinking of doing their own paint, but for whatever reason, may have hesitated due to a lack of information or funds. If those interested will take the time to study my postings and read the texts, then they will pick up some valuable information. NO, I'm not an expert. But then, what is an "expert"? If the finished product is beautiful, even if done with no outside help/direction and the outcome is just GREAT, then.........the label "expert" just might not apply. Then again, once a person does at least one project that seems "perfect", does that make him/her an expert? hmmmmm...... hahaha

 

"The difference between an expert and amateur is the amount of time it takes to recover from their mistakes " comes to mind. If you've ever picked up a spraygun and tried to use it, you've made mistakes, that's where the Learning starts.

 

Nice work and a lot of good info, looking forward to seeing your car in paint.

I appreciate it when people take the time to detail what they're doing and help others along. I try to do similar stuff in my build thread. It's not about stealing food out of the mouths of the pros, it's about trying to p*** along information/education to people who may need it. I don't ever ***ume that any pros read my build thread or would gain anything by it if they did, but I hope that some younger or less experienced guys will gain some knowledge and lose some fear by reading it.

 

Bodywork and paint are the most fun and satisfying parts of any build, and give you something beautiful to look at. I end my projects right there and start on the next, no need to risk loosing them to an electrical fire. Bob

 

I appreciate your thoughts, Big A and '37.........I'll be spraying the balance of the car Tuesday ..so check back Tuesday afternoon !.my extra thinner I talked about on my website should be here Monday ......Then a few weeks of sanding and re***embly...!!

 

Well, boys and girls....the balance of the car is painted and clear coated. Time for a gl*** of wine...whew...
https://49fordcoupe.smugmug.com/Painting-the-Car/

Video ( a cute "automatic" production")
https://49fordcoupe.smugmug.com/Painting-the-Car/i-Xd9kBkR/A

Original video
https://49fordcoupe.smugmug.com/Painting-the-Car/i-Mhp48TD/A

Done!
https://49fordcoupe.smugmug.com/Painting-the-Car/i-fL5Trhz/A

 

Congrats, it's looking good. You know we're all waiting for that really done, rolled out into the sunshine pic, right?

 

Awe HELL YEAH! Thanks Big A...

 

But right now I'm adding (7) 3/4" aluminum skin foam R-Max (15 bucks a sheet) on the top of the roof of my "paint booth"..with another couple of silver tarps over that. laser thermometer said it was 124 degrees up there yesterday... Also sprung for a little one ton spot cooling air conditioner from Home Depot. Pretty cool little piece of equipment. If you buy one yourself, ask for ANOTHER credit card ..you can have as many as five of them, and you'll get 50 bucks off the price. really...So sanding has come to a halt until I can get that dang thing "livable"..PS,.,I DID get about 25% of the roof surface sanded.... with lots more to go...

 

Update for those that may be interested. I've FINISHED painting the car ! About 7/8 done with polish. Check it out, guys.....be sure to go to page two... couple of videos too...

https://49fordcoupe.smugmug.com/Painting-the-Car/

 

Looking good!

 

Hell of a job especially working in a garage that tight.

 

Well, thanks, critch and loudbang..... the tent is not only tight, but in 97 degree weather, it's a ***** .... could have never done it without that little Home Depot spot cooler/air conditioner. ... ahahah.. and after a couple of days I discovered that it had a low, medium, and high setting...it defaults to low when ya turn it on.... and on HIGH, it really does the job. Ended up moving the misting systems to the roof of the tent to try to cool down the surface... all works out where it's reasonably comfy to keep things going...putting the door gaskets on and reinstalling the door gl***...

 

Well GQQD on you for your efforts ...
and folks, that is how a lot of painters get started.

 

hahaha.. well thanks for your faith, henryJ... but I'm 72 and though this is my first paint job, it's also my last. But I'm good for lots of advice....................

 

So you're 72 I'm 73 so I guess I'll probably just have to pay through the nose to get mine painted. I have past experience but way in the past. You did a great job and if I wanted to paint mine your thread would be very helpful. But Alas I'm toooo old.

 

Great thread - thanks for posting it. I'm just starting the paint prep for my '36 3w and your info will help a lot. I'm "only" 70, and it's my first paint job, but I have a good friend (just a kid at 57), who's painted several show winning cars in the past few years and giving me help & guidance. Having said that, however, it never hurts to have other input.

One thing I do know, is that it may be my first paint job, but it'll DEFINITELY be my last !!

Thanks again for taking the time.

 

I NEVER claim to be an expert at anything. Was told long ago that "EXPERT" usually means EX as in "has been", SPERT as in a "drip under pressure". Good on ya painting this car yourself. Ive done 2 cars in the past, both in lacquer and both came out very nice, and more than good enough to fool nearly everyone at the local car shows.

 

Thanks Bounder, TagMan and Ron..I thought I'd throw in a little update...
Headlight buckets cleaned up, rusty adjustment screws fixed, LED parking light and headlight prewired, new mounting clips. Interesting weird situation on the headlight bucket mount. The buckets mount from the outside of the fender with a cork gasket. The screw clips, which were obviously mounted at the factory (gummed up and original paint under them) were installed upside down/backwards on the fender. Flipped them over. Crazy...
The full gallery is at https://49fordcoupe.smugmug.com/Painting-the-Car/




Just got these Hella (made in Germany) Halogen Vision Plus with 60/55 watt lamps - European beam technology but DOT approved. Cleaned out the dirt dauber nests, scrubbed down the buckets, polished the small hold down bracket, new socket ***embly and new stainless ring and gaskets. The gl*** front isn't as curved as "stock" lamps, but that's ok. They aren't "flat".

 

I looked at all of your pictures and threads on this car, and I must say that I am impressed! You did a beautiful job, and wrote up a good story. I like that you were able to encourage others who may be hesitant to jump in and try this themselves.

My only suggestion is that a better quality spray gun would have laid the base and clearcoat down much smoother and would have saved many hours of the hand sanding that was necessary to remove the orange peel. Many newbies don't realize that there are more choices in spray guns in between the $16.00 HF gun and the $500.00 Tekna Copper. A good used Devilbiss, Binks, or Sharpe suction, pressure or gravity gun can be had from ebay for anywhere from $50.00 to $200.00. I have picked up several barely used guns from there in that price range. And these guns have the advantage of always being re-sellable when the job is done; cleaned up and posted on ebay or craigslist could return half or more of their initial cost. The 1.4 size needle and tips recommended for most auto paints are common on these as well, so there would be no need to spend the money to replace them.

Again, nice job and great story.

John

 

Great buildup!
Paul, I sent you a "conversation" regarding your double cardan driveshaft.

 

THANKS, John and Gary....

Well, here is a little update... please turn your speakers up (hope ya got a woofer)
https://49fordcoupe.smugmug.com/Painting-the-Car/i-qdcWbTv/A

 

Sounds great but you better watch out your bare feet are going to be covered in sanding slime and overspray LOL.

 

Haaaaaa. .well it wasn't that so much as the "splinter board" in front of the "garage" that is coming apart due to the rain. .

 

…. great read ! one thought we have about painting in general is regarding the stinky finger dark art of successfully flattening a urethane single stage paint to the degree of flat you want it to be without issues and with repeatable results. I will have to post a new thread regarding my over 2-year odyssey and seemingly countless attempts in understanding and feeble mastery of this dark art.