painting my car - color choice

[AngelOfPassion]

Can you show a couple pictures with the hood open? So we can see how it looks with the grey and red.

I think it's funny that you used my picture by the way...

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/dsm-build-journals/431336-1997-eclipse-gsx-4nxiety.html

 

[92AWDHX40]

Nice wheels looking to get some myself.

 

[MikeSD]

Can you show a couple pictures with the hood open? So we can see how it looks with the grey and red.

I think it's funny that you used my picture by the way...

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/dsm-build-journals/431336-1997-eclipse-gsx-4nxiety.html

I will do that later today, but I can tell you it looks like crap.
it is going to bug me so I am ordering rattle cans of the same color and going to mask it and try and shoot it myself.

Your picture was very handy since it had both colors.

 

[gofer]

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[MikeSD]

Thanks Corey, I think I am going to get the windows tinted and nightshade (lightly) the taillights then decide on the rims.

First thing i need to do is fix the damn AC! won't hold a charge and it was flippin hot out!

 

[gofer]

If you plan on tinting the tails or headlights I recommend using Plastidip Smoke and Clear that way, if you do get pulled over and get a fix it ticket, you can peel it off and re-apply it after you get the ticket waived.

PlastiDip Smoke
PlastiDip Glossifier

Definitely a less permanent approach to something that might land you a few tickets with the CHP.

 

[jakelandry]

If you plan on tinting the tails or headlights I recommend using Plastidip Smoke and Clear that way, if you do get pulled over and get a fix it ticket, you can peel it off and re-apply it after you get the ticket waived.

PlastiDip Smoke
PlastiDip Glossifier

Definitely a less permanent approach to something that might land you a few tickets with the CHP.

Do you guys get tickets in your states? In mine the law simply states that your taillights or lights in general must illuminate in an amber or red color and your taillights must be visible from 500 ft away. I know this cause i've physically argued with an officer before until they showed me the book and the above is exactly what it read. But if your state is hardass I recomend gofer's suggestion, if not get them professionally sprayed with a real black clear mix at a shop, its much nicer. Nice paint btw.

 

[MikeSD]

we are in California, if they can imagine a reason to write a ticket, they will.

 

[MikeSD]

well this paint job did not last long. Went out to the car today and the top had weird marks on it. Looks like the clear coat split. Mainly on the roof but also near the antenna.

Curious if the rest of the clear is going to do the same thing.
The painter said bring it back and he would fix it, but I want to understand what happened better before I let him.

Anyone ever seen this problem before?

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photo(3) by Mike Murad, on Flickr

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photo(2) by Mike Murad, on Flickr

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photo(1) by Mike Murad, on Flickr

 

[95eclispe]

woah! im stumped...it looks like scratches from a tree branch...is it a smooth surface scratch?

 

[MikeSD]

not a scratch, you can see the color coat under neath, plus it is all smooth. It is like the clear shrunk and split. There is a little lip at the ends the thickness of the clear coat. Really strange.

 

[cfelix]

That's a good price I took mind to adult school and still drop 1100 Hun on stock polo green.

 

[MikeSD]

That's a good price I took mind to adult school and still drop 1100 Hun on stock polo green.

I guess you did not read the last couple posts

 

[95eclispe]

do you know what kind of paint he used? if it didnt fully cure and from how hot it is in SD it could have seperated. it cant be a mixing issue because its only the clear coat.

 

[MikeSD]

do you know what kind of paint he used? if it didnt fully cure and from how hot it is in SD it could have seperated. it cant be a mixing issue because its only the clear coat.

no clue what paint he used. I know the day he painted it was super hot and humid. The paint was almost still tacky when I picked it up.

never heard of something like this happening.

 

[gofer]

In my experience after a car's painted they let it cure inside for a few days before releasing it (the car or part) to the owner. This was the case for my front bumper, side skirts, and spoiler pieces I've had painted, they finished them and told me I had to wait a few days before I could pick them up.

Strange though, not exactly sure what would cause that.

 

[95whiteGSX]

the car didnt get baked long enough after being painted, and if it was hot and humid durring the day then at night it got alot cooler and the clear wasnt completly soild yet and it shrank and cracked the clear. i worked at a body shop for a while and if u leave clear coat in a cup unsealed it will become soild and it will shrink a bit so when u turn the cup upside down it would fall out so im assuming your car wasnt properly baked/ cured after being cleared ..... just my .02 tho and id just make sure they do it right next time

 

[MikeSD]

my concern is if he just fixes the area that split that the rest of the car could start splitting later.

Does the entire clear coat need to come off the entire car and should he shoot a new base coat as well?

 

[95whiteGSX]

if it hasnt split by now then i doubt it will split any where else, they probly put more clear on the roof than the rest of the car and thats another reason it split like that, basicly the rest of the car cured and the roof didnt cause it was a heavier coat of clear

as far as them repainting it, they should have to take down the clear till there is no cracks and blend it all to make it all smooth an what not, and if they take it down to the base coat then they will have to respray the base and the reclear it again and hopefully do it right this time

P.S. the color looks amazing and make sure they wet sand all the orange peal so you get a good shine on that car

 

[MikeSD]

if it hasnt split by now then i doubt it will split any where else, they probly put more clear on the roof than the rest of the car and thats another reason it split like that, basicly the rest of the car cured and the roof didnt cause it was a heavier coat of clear

as far as them repainting it, they should have to take down the clear till there is no cracks and blend it all to make it all smooth an what not, and if they take it down to the base coat then they will have to respray the base and the reclear it again and hopefully do it right this time

P.S. the color looks amazing and make sure they wet sand all the orange peal so you get a good shine on that car

thanks for the info

is wet sanding normally part of the deal with a two stage paint job?

 

[95whiteGSX]

no problem thats what the fourm is here for ..... help

wet sanding is mainly for imperfections in the paint ie orange peal, clear coat runs, and little air bubbles. its not always a part of it if you have a really good painter who doesnt run the clear or orange peal it, but if they do they can fix it with some wet sanding ###### start with some 1500 girt then 2000grit and finshing with a good buffing and polishing

 

[H@xtGSX]

Wet sanding is also for getting the glass smooth finish you see on show cars. I do it occasionally as side work for people who are showing their cars or just want it to have that super slick look. You have to be careful though. Cut through the clear, and there's even more work you have to do. If it is for a show car and the person is willing to pay for a thick coat of clear over what is already there, that usually nets the best result. Then you have a lot of "meat" to the clear and can sand it down absolutely mirror smooth.

As for your cracking, I am going to bet the painter used too fast of a reducer. If you use a real fast reducer on a hot day, the paint can set up too quickly and shrink as it cures. Fast reducers are fine if used in a climate controlled or cool environment, and they help with the productivity of the shop because they can paint more cars per day... But, if it isn't allowed to cure itself a little or fully forced dry under heat, especially on black, it can trap solvents and shrink. When it gets nice and hot sitting outside, the combination of those things can force cracks into the urethane. It usually happens when it is sprayed on really thick, or if they didn't pay attention to the flash times and just sprayed multiple coats in succession.

 

[MikeSD]

I took the car back to the painter today and he was amazed. Never seen a clear coat split like that. He agreed to repaint the car. Going to sand all the clear off the entire car and reshoot base and clear.

This time I am going to take my tools with me when I drop it off and take off all the trim, head lights, tail lights and skirts off the car to help get better coverage.

to be continued.

 

[H@xtGSX]

Good idea. I think your painter just made an honest mistake. I wouldn't hold it against him. It really looks like he was trying to get it on nice and heavy in the important spots, and it looked good for being shot like that. The weather and heat too soon is likely what conspired to crack the paint. Him sanding back the clear to fix that is a LOT of work, so you have to appreciate the fact he is willing to go back and do it right... Because he probably lost most of the profit from your paint and is doing it for reputation now.

 

[MikeSD]

That is true, but I did pay for a 6 year warranty and I dangled the carrot of 6 vans that need paint for my company as well.