Technical Painting small Parts w/Spray Gun

In my opinion Dupli Color is the best a specially Black Rallye (satine black) very durable.
Grey primer is also very good.
I'm trying to avoid using spray cans but in some cases , some areas, parts , it's the quickest solution.

 

Always kept some left over Vari prime in a clean quart can with a lid to toss bolts etc. in, sometimes wired together or fish them out with magnetic pen sometimes a day or two later, let them dry give a second dip if needed the pot life constraints didn't seem to be an issue. Tried another container of black DP with activator with less than favorable results thus far.

 

Some guys like to paint with are sol cans. I have the local paint shop put my car color in spray cans. On another note the other day I got to the local railroad crossing just as a train started by. Most trains in this area are 1.5 to 2 miles long. I was marveling at all the cool graffiti painted on the cars and thinking how much money the artists are spending on spray cans of paint. Spray paint ain't cheap.

 

They steal the cans of paint so no cost. In Kalifornia spray cans are under lock and key. Even in Texas they check ID when buying rattle cans.

 

They need to start shooting the people who spray graffiti on other peoples property, including taxpayers property.

 

Sometimes brush painting a small part will get you home.
I usually buy a small stash of cheap brushes from the home center that I'll use and throw away when done.
Less clean up. Less overspray. Less masking. Less lung damage. Less than a dollar.

 

I'm in with the brush on for small parts, I use a medium priced brush and leave it in thinner between uses. Most of my small parts and brackets I do in semi gloss black which is pretty forgiving.

Phil

 

I`m asked how old I am at Home Depot when buying it by the case.

 

I've been using duplicolor engine paint. dries quick and covers great. Used white on an eves of our house and still glossy white after 3 yrs or so

 

Those little gravity guns with the 1.0 mm tip have been my most versatile gun for many years. You can use them for small parts up to maybe a fender size. They really save on material and perform well down around 10 psi. I seem to use my 1.0 mm guns more than big ones.

 

I try to spray everything with a gun. I know everyone is gonna do what they do anyway......

1) rattle can paint is so regulated for VOC's, it's barely paint anymore. Exceptions: having it loaded at the paint store - but it has no hardener in it. Buying from specialty company- but it's 20 or more a can.

2) Enamel is very forgiving, Splash of paint splash of thinner couple drips of hardener, it's fine for small jobs.

2) brushing with thinned paint works well. Good brush, it flows out.
I brush thinned epoxy primer on any weld areas at the end of the day, it's all going to get sanded again. I'm one guy, not a production shop.

3) cleaning an HVLP gun is not a big deal. Purple guns, I'll flush with gasoline, then do a final rinse and spray out with proper thinner.

 

If your using self check out an associate must come over and unlock the machine as soon as they see a can of spray paint.

 

Yes, it had happened. They had no checkers. So, I had to use the self-checker.

 

They BUY the paint?

 

Actually they do. There's a whole industry dedicated to taggers. Specialty big volume cans, trick trigger mechanisms, wide variety of colors and even effects. Many move on to be sought after artisans for 1 reason or another. Gang banger tags don't count, but pretty hard to deny the talent seen as you wait out a crossing. Everybody started what they're good at somewhere. Before anyone gets a self inflicted wedgy, I'm not condoning vandalism but it's hard to deny the talent

 

I recently read on another car site about soaking rattle/spray cans of paint in a bucket of hot water for about a half hour before using. Supposedly the paint comes out smoother and dried finish is nicer. Have no idea how effective this might be and never tried it myself so have no experience. Your mileage may vary.

 

It works. Be careful, a corner of a shop I used to work at is still blue from "warming" spray cans up . Mike

 

Regardless of the method used to paint - brush, spray, dip - the paint seems to dry harder and be more durable if the part is left in a hot car on a sunny day all day.
Especially Rustoleum

 

Yep, it works. I put the spray can in a pot of boiling water (for no more than 60 seconds). I bring the small parts in the house for an hour to let the surfaces warm then, back outside where I spray them. Then immediately bring them back into the warm house to let dry. The wife tends to get upset 'cause of the smell but, that's what Febreeze is for!

 

Yes, water just hot enough so you can not quite stand it. Too much is obviously hazardous, but the payoff is more how well it sprays than anything. I've found that you need to shake it a lot while its warming up. Once it doesn't get cold in your hand it's ready. Bumps up the pressure and atomizes damn near like a spray gun. Just don't get greedy or in a hurry.