The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Paint it myself?

I have been spraying primer and block sanding my little( ? ) tail off the last couple of days. I am beginning to wonder if I can't try to paint this thing myself. I have restored and recovered a lot of airplanes using the old nitrate/butyrate system as well as the more modern Poly Fiber method. Even won a number of awards for my Rearwin Sportster. I think I might just be able to pull it off for a couple of reasons one being it's a driver and not a show truck. I am not at all familiar with automotive enamels or base/clear. Can anyone in Bolterland explain generally how enamel and base/clear is applied. I have a fresh air mask and a good inside place where the deed can be done. Someone talk me into it. Martinsr? Anyone?


Weeds

Weeds,

A amateurs take! While you can do the Rust-Oleum or tractor enamel route, these aren't considered durable conventional automotive paints.

Most automotive paints will be what are referred to as '2K' paints..two part paints. They are catalyzed paints...the paint and a hardener. They harden through chemical reaction quite quickly and can have the bugs and runs sanded out the next day. They are mixed and sprayed on...all done!

The base coat/clear coat process is known as a '2 stage' system. It too is catalyzed, but it has two stages as the name implies. A base color is sprayed on, allowed to dry, then a clear coat is sprayed over that. The base doesn't have to gloss as the clear will add this, plus depth.

Go to a automotive paint store and chat with them. The prices of the paints, hardeners and various sealers and reducers will make your American Express card self destruct.

The beauty of these 2K paints is that they can be wet sanded and polished if your technique was a little lacking. I painted my '51 (in the gallery) in black acrylic enamel many moons ago. This was done one piece at a time in a little garage with a old Bink's #7 syphon gun and a 7 1/2 HP compressor.

If you want to do this, it can be done. If you mind your P's and Q's, you can get a very nice finish...your friends will be amazed.

Hopefully the pros will be along soon to give us the real deal.

Stuart

PAINT IT !
I just got done painting my 67 myself and (I DON'T) have one of them place's the deed could be done (I DON'T HAVE) the right tool's to do the deed , (I DON'T HAVE ) a mask
but I did it anyway , driver for me for the next few year's

[img]http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/attachment.php?attachmentid=273152&stc=1&d=1181179473[/img]

use a good urethane primer so it will last , base clear is the only way to go you put your base on in a few coat's then you can either sand it (OR NOT) then put your clear on and sand it within about 24 hour's then buff !!

Nice paint job. You do real good work.

Weeds I'll make this very short and sweet. I know you've seen my Panel before, well it's done and on the road. I never painted a car or truck before in my life and with the help of Martinsr and some others I took the task on and did it. I've gotten quite a few very nice compliments for the job since it's been out in public. So from my point- just go for it!!!

Panel pic

Bluepen, Atomarc & 19673ontree, thanks for the replies and encouragement. You guys have talked me into it. Here goes nothin.
Bluepen, gorgeous panel and 19673ontree gorgeous truck.

Weeds

I don't have a shop to work in and I painted this one in my back yard. My \'70 C10 It turned out pretty nice. Do some research on auto painting and learn all you can about the proper techniques and you will be surprised with what you can do.

With your aircraft expeirince ? i think you have the tools in your head to do the job ...just a different format ...YOU CAN DO IT ..as Bob the Builder would say !
Geeze i spend too my much time with my 2 yrold nephew ! ...lol

Go for it.

John

Big Bass, Tim B and John, thanks for the encouragement. You all have good lookin rigs. I AM going to try it. What's the worst thing that can happen? Sand it off and try again. Weeds

Hey Weeds just thought I'd throw this in also. When you look at the pic of my Panel look at the floor of the garage behind it. I'll give you three guesses where it got painted and as always the first two won't count. LOL
Go for it I know you can handle it.

A very very long time ago I decided to paint my '68 VW thinking that it couldn't be that hard. After some prep work, sanding and taping I was ready to go. I had the bug parked in the upper part of a barn surrounded by hay and straw (would of made a great pix). I fired up the compressor and started painting away. Actually it turned out pretty well but then decided to take on the crackle look. The next day it was back to sanding and another paint job. It turned out pretty good and lasted for about 70 or 80k miles when I sold the car for what I had paid for it.

Right now My '41 has been in a body shop for over 8 months. It has been prepped, painted, stripped, sanded, painted, stripped, and painted again.

I say go for it! With you background you'll do fine.

Don

A very very long time ago I decided to paint my '68 VW thinking that it couldn't be that hard. After some prep work, sanding and taping I was ready to go. I had the bug parked in the upper part of a barn surrounded by hay and straw (would of made a great pix). I fired up the compressor and started painting away. Actually it turned out pretty well but then decided to take on the crackle look. The next day it was back to sanding and another paint job. It turned out pretty good and lasted for about 70 or 80k miles when I sold the car for what I had paid for it.

Right now My '41 has been in a body shop for over 8 months. It has been prepped, painted, stripped, sanded, painted, stripped, and painted again.

I say go for it! With you background you'll do fine.

Don

Weeds:

I started restoration work back in the 70's and early 80's on aircraft as well. Didn't paint my first auto until 1999. Believe me, it is not a great jump. Chances are you used some form of enamel for painting your cowls and metal fairings. I know I did, as dope doesn't stick real well to metal. If so, acylic enamel is the same. Last plane I painted was a Globe Swift in PPG BC/CC back in 1990. Plane still looks great. Current owner flies it regularly. IMHO, go for it. With your experience, you should be fine.

Weeds:
Man you've done the hard work, body prep. Painting is the easy part. I'm like Down2sea, 8 months waiting for the paint shop to finish is way too long. Go for it. Think about it like a haircut. Any screw-up can be cleaned up.

your paint supplier will help you so you get the right products. Just make sure you get the tech sheets for each product, read them carefully.
Gun control is important so practice on something first.
Any mistakes can be wet sanded out afterwards.

why pay big bucks just to have an old lady with a big car slam her door into your truck then say oh im sorry always happens paint it your self then you wont feel bad when you get your first ding

Weeds, built my Pitts S1D from the ground up from scratch. I did all the painting myself, all 12-15 coats, a typical dope on Dacron two color with double row striping. All the metal work I painted with Imron and I also painted five vintage BSA motorcycles at the same time I was spraying the fuselage.
I can't see any difference and if you have a booth and equipment that's 95% of the battle. The only thing special that I see is that you need to do is select a paint systems and stick with materials that are compatible with that system.
I was very leery about using the newer pants but have been spraying some smaller parts with it lately and it tain’t no different than the older stuff, goes on nice and dries fast almost like lacquer. Just follow directions for mixing and one other thing I’m sure ya know, ya can’t go getting a high like ya got with the dope, this new stuff will kill ya.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Denny G, 32fire, Wilbur, Big Chevy, Clint L, Down to Sea, J Lucas, Bigbass, SW Radial, Bluepen, atomarc and 19673ontree thanks for the encouragement. I AM gonna try it. Denny your'e right nitrate/butyrate and Old Milwaukee do strange things. Down2sea, what kind of ship is that anyway? Bluepen your handle should be Redfloor. Looks like overspray city on that floor to me and thats only the first guess, 2nd 2 don't count. You guys have all been great. Thanks again. What a great site this Bolt. Weeds