Any body shop guys out there? Quick questions

[blcknspo0ln]

I just got a nice big air compressor for christmas, so I was contemplating on painting my 2ga side skirts and installing them myself. I'm pretty competant at sanding and prepping correctly, but for you body shop guys, do you have any advice on doing a simple job like this? I want to paint it factory "chrysler bright white" to match my paint. I can understand sanding it down for some 240 and finishing with 400, primer, 400, then painting, but how does orange peel work? and more importantly, for a novice painter, what type of paint guns should I use? I was thinking to just buy one good $100 gun and use it for primer, paint, and clear and cleaning the gun really well during shooting. What do you guys think?

 

[aepimp04]

The best advice I can give for you since You have never painted before, would be to get a fender or a body part from a junk yard, sand it and prep it and paint it a few times, till you are happy with your own work....Painting is more of a hands on thing.....you just feel it.

 

[roadrunner2176]

Practice, practice, practice. Doesn't really matter what gun you have as long as you know how to use it. Be prepared to expect a slight color variation from current paint to fresh paint.

 

[tsidrift1]

as far as the prep goes, it sounds like you know what to do. When it comes to painting, it is a practice makes perfect trade. Although white is an easy color to spray,(if you have enough light). Make sure you pay extra close attention to the mixing instructions on the paint your using. When it comes to guns, there are a lot of really cheap guns out there that are JUNK! In my opinion, a really good gun will make you a better painter. I have an Anest Iwata. Its a $500 gun, but it is worth every penny! The best gun for the money that I have ever bought was a Cambell Hausfeld. You can get them at walmart and I think autozone. They usually run about 70 bux. As far as orange peel goes. You would be lucky to get something to come out with no orange peel. That is where wetsanding and buffing comes into play. If you want to eliminat it some, lay down the first coat of clear, not a real heavy coat. the second coat, kinda mist it on there. This can be your "tack" coat. While this coat is still sticky, lay a nice heavy coat of clear over it. Dont go crazy and run it all over the place. That usally will let the orange peel flow out a little more. Also if you clear has a hardener, get a slow harderner/activator. this also lets the clear dry slower which lets it flow and flatten out a little more.

Sorry for the Essay!

good Luck

Anthony