New found respect for you guys (and gals). I generally stick to painting motorcycles, mostly my own, but a few for friends. I have painted several of my own cars in the past, but for the most part, just stuck to quick sand and shoot it types. I'm now on my third round of block sanding primer surfacer on my 55 buick. The plan was satin black with Roth's gangreen metalflake roof and flames. I don't know whats gotten into me, and I'm not sure how long it will stick around, because for the other people who haven't done this before, block sanding is not a whole lot of fun......but since I've come this far, just maybe I ought to go ahead and finish the job with a few coats of shiny clear. I've been worried about the thick edge that will be left after the metalflake flames anyway.... Anyway, for those of you who take this work to an art form, my hat's off to you.........
I feel ya brother! Im in the same boat....block sanding hell.....I was going to do the same thing you were...satin silver with flaked flames and roof. I was advised of the thick edge it will leave also...solution? Clearing it all!.....like they say, shiny is the new satin..
Yeah, I hear you.....I thought about shooting all the flake first, and masking the flames and roof to shoot the satin, that would help with the edge, but that seems to be about as much trouble as a few more rounds of blocking, and shiny clear. Hell, I don't know what it'll turn out like..shiny or satin , and I probably won't know until I'm done
Block sanding patience separates the men from the boys... Feel your pain. Your in this far, finish it and show your good work off. Mike www.Customikes.com
I feel I have mastered "mud" work. Somehow it was about the only skill that came naturally to me right out of school. I had a good teacher, but I think i have taught myself the most from experience. (doing it over and over) Body work may or may not be "fun", but it can be very rewarding when done right and the finished product looks perfect.
I acutually enjoy Blocking because it means im getting close to being done. Its a lot of hard work but it is also rewarding.
hey just a thought if your still wanting that satin finish you could always put a flattening agent in your clear. they make all different types.
I'll still have an edge on the graphics though, as I want shiny clear on the flake. I like the idea of how much the flake will "pop" over the satin finish, but as stated before, between the problem of the edge, and all the work I'm going through to get it blocked out straight, shiny seems to be a good option too......I'm probably going to tape a white outline around the flames, as explained by Condor in his flake post, and I thought about taping a 1/4 inch stripe, outside the white outline to overlap the clear onto the satin, which may help that edge too....I guess it's time to do some test panels....... Well, I guess we'll all know how it turned out when I'm done.......I'll post pictures then... Here's a picture of my inspiration to start with....I found it here on the HAMB....Thank you car owner...........
I notice the Missouri tag, and I have read a little about the car here on the HAMB, but couldn't remember the owners name. I do remember that the owner said that it is green pearl, not metalflake, but I just love the color combination....well that and the fact that I have a very nice green and white interior installed by the previous owner helped me pick out a similar color combo.
Thought I'd bring this to the top again.....one month later ( yeah, I know, but luckily, I still have a full time job, and a 4 year old boy....I don't get much shop time ), and I think I'm there. I shot the last coat of surfacer on it tonight. I'll go around the car quickly with 220 and a hand pad, then wetsand with 500 grit before sealing it up. Hopefully before the weekend is up, I'll have my base color on it and start masking the flames out. It's going to take a while to mask it...I'm thinking about flames from the front of the car damn near to the tailights...... Anyway, bodymen and gals, you still have my utmost respect.........
Psssssssssssssssssssssst! Get some frisket for masking the flames. It will cut your mask time in half. Good luck!
I like to use 12 or 18 inch wide mask, after laying out the design with 1/8 inch fineline......I goes pretty fast after the design is laid out, it's the laying out that takes me all the time
Hahahahaha...Yeah, eight hours of laying 1/8" tape and 5 minutes of spraying...doesn't hardly seem worth it...until you umask it...!!! R-
people who don't understand why paint jobs cost what they do have never spent the time or energy to go through the whole process. hell the actual spraying is the fun and easy part!
i had a friend show me the magical world of using a guide coat,as far as mud,primer,clear,.....WoW...that cut a LOT of time and wasted paint and bondo.
At least with something smaller like that, you can usually get it smooth with one or two rounds. On my Buick, it seemed like every time I blocked, I found somewhere else that needed more work. Even last night, I found 2 small dents that I have missed over the course of 5 rounds of sanding. Maybe my eyes are going south on me, or maybe the cause has something to do with the fact that I try not to go to the shop until after my kid goes to bed, and I'm too tired to notice the small things.
The men from the boys comment is right on! I figure if you haven't shot at least 3 coats of primer, your rushing things. FUN?! I DON'T SEE BLOCKING AS FUN!!! REWARDING!!!! that's the word for it.
If I had to spend 1 hour blocking or 2 hours smoothing the metal below I would choose metalfinishing all day... I give props to anyone who blocks until it is perfect...
The End Results are what you will see by taking your time .. Its Not Fun blocking and repriming over and over.. But if your going to own it.. Why not Go the distance.. its all worth it in the end.. Metal Work is a Art.. and the patience is every bit more..
Guide coat Now your talken still takes several trips around too get it all. Maybe its all that sneaking out to fineally geting all that prep work done. But all that sanding Makes Sweeeeeet paint jobs!!!!!
I love block sanding, the things I dont like is the work not being straight, the shriveled finger tips (now without prints), and the summer colds from the water.
The Jalopy Journal
