What you know about painting cars?

Bar_Down

Bar_Down

Active member
Yo. My brother and I have been sharing a gold 2001 Mazda Tribute for a few years now, and ya I was never really feeling the gold color, so I'm thinking of painting it black this summer. This car is already pretty old and probably wont last much longer, so I'm definitely planning on doing it myself, I'm not about to drop a bunch of cash on a piece of shit car you know. Is there anyone on here who has painted their car on their own before and could help me out by giving me tips and detailed instructions on how to do it?
 
Never done it, but I would definitely advise picking up a cheap air gun and compressor as opposed to the spray paint can route. besides a good airgun and compressor is a great pair of tools to add to the manlist of things you should have as a guy.

 
it already looks like shit now ahaha

and ya my step father has a compressor so i could go and borrow his and do it that way
 
first off just know that it wont look very good. I work at a bodyshop and ive done numerous paint jobs out of the garage. You can find a lot of info about spraying techniques from the paint store you pick up your supplies at. They should be helpful. If not go somewhere else. Your biggest enemies will be quality of air, dust, and tempurature. 1st. Make sure there is at least one air dryer on your compressor. If there isnt you will get water in the air and then into the paint. As air is compressed the moisture turns from humidity into actual water droplets. Second you need to contain the dirt. even in a state of the art paint booth dirt is something you cant get rid of. You should build a cheap booth out of 2x4s and clear plastic in your garage. If you want specifics you can pm me and i will fill you in. Lastly make sure you spray when the tempurature in the garage is above 70. you will need to coordinate the activator and hardeners in your clear with the tempurature you are spraying at otherwise you will have clear that wont harden or runs, sags ect. This is something you will most likely get either way but using the correct activator, hardeners with reduce your problems significantly. I could write a pages of tips. Get at me if you want more advice.
 
1. its gonna look like shit.

2. if you want it to look anything near decent, build a cheap ass spray booth, nothing fancy, pipe and plastic are all you really need.

3. air compressor and an paint gun

4. PREP PREP PREP, 99% percent of painting a car is prepping the body before you even think about picking up the spray gun. Sanding, primer, etc.

That being said, painting a car to look semi decent isnt cheap at all.
 
alright thanks guys. so, are you guys telling me its impossible to make it look good unless you throw a bunch of cash into it?
 
I know if you change the color to something other than what's on the title, you will have to retitle the car. Probably $50 or so, depending on your state.
If you have to ask, it WILL come out looking like shit, but if you do three things TO THE MOTHERFUCKING BEST OF YOUR ABILITIES it will help it suck less.
1). Prep like you mean it. Sand it all down nice and smooth, to bare metal if at all possible. A DA sander will make things easier. Be sure to finish with a fine grade sandpaper, as if you can feel it, you will see it. If there's spots that need touch up with some bondo, just make sure you can't feel the difference between the repaired surface and the shit next to it. Also, tape off your moldings and windows, using a razor to cut the tape and get it right down into the cracks.
2). SEAL IT UP WHILE PAINTING! Get one of those ghetto garages made out of tarps, tape down the edges and seal it up. Hose it down just before you bring the car in to minimize dust, just don't have the thing dripping on the prepped car either. Minimizing airborne shit while your primer/base/clear are drying will make those fisheyes, dead bugs etc in your paint fewer and farther between.
3). Use good materials. basically any assclown can spray on the new auto-leveling and quick drying paints, just follow the mix destructions from the auto store you're getting it from and you should be good. They even have one step paints my little cousin could spray now, but they cost more. I'd say spend it if you want decent results, and your auto paint store guy should be able to help you. A decent HVLP gun will work ok even on a shop compressor, gravity feed is best and be sure to paint something else first to get used to the spray pattern so your shit doesn't look runny and drippy.
Or you could go to Maaco and have a semi-pro fuck it up for you for around the same cost.
Either way, good luck!
 
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