Project: Aborted paintjob (please help)

como · 10-07-2009, 07:33 PM

So I got all the way to ready to shoot my topcoat when I lost, outside of my control, my clean dust-free environment.

I wound up shooting my topcoat in a tent made of sticks and tarps, in the rain.

You can guess how well that went.

So, the car is *painted*, but it has, of course, little bumps all over it, spots where it looks like water dripped into it, etc. So I started wet-sanding with 400 grit tonight, but I need ideas for how I can topcoat this thing without a spray gun- I have a relatively dust free environment I can use, but only If I don't use the spray gun. Sigh.

We're going for a black, low-gloss (satin, flat black, anything that's not shiney) finish, if it can be done. Must be black.
I've already got about a half gallon of single stage urethane paint, and some additive to make it less glossy, although its designed for spraying so I don't know how well it will work.

If I thin paint enough, does it become brushable, in that strokes won't show? I'm not sure how to deal with drips other than to brush on with very thin coats, which I can imagine would create problems with brushmarks.

This paintjob has to last a minimum of 2 years, which is how long it will be before I have access to a place in which I can do this properly.

Unfortunately, the plot thickens. This car was supposed to be DONE 2 weeks ago. As in, I've outstayed my welcome.
Furthermore, I've got 2 weeks of assembly to do (all trim, windows, interior, etc is stripped from this car) before it's done. So this paintjob NEEDS to be done asap. Maybe even this weekend, but I've got about 10 hours of block sanding to do to remove the bumps and whatnot from this abortion.

328FTW · 10-07-2009, 10:47 PM

Can't just do the sanding and wait for a fine day out then hit it up then?

como · 10-07-2009, 11:12 PM

Project was supposed to be *done* two weeks ago. I've lost my garage privs, so the car is effectively out in the rain now.
And the snow is coming. Soon.

Also, I have another car I need to sell, but I can't sell it until this one is back on the road. That car has to be gone by december at the latest. I'm also supposed to have a contract on a house by december, and I havn't even found one that's suitable.

This car MUST be done, soon. It's going to the crusher if not.

SW21T · 10-08-2009, 12:37 AM

Man that sucks, see if a friend can lend you his or her garage. OR rent a garage, maybe one of those storage places.

328FTW · 10-08-2009, 12:50 AM

You could rattle can it if you are real desperate it won't be an awesome paint job but satin black is not picky about surface it hides a lot of imperfections since it is low gloss.

LeePeyton · 10-08-2009, 02:26 AM

Good luck man.

te51levin · 10-08-2009, 02:29 AM

If you have to brush it or roll it, you will have brush marks, but they can be block-sanded away. You're just trading elbow grease for air power.

efx · 10-08-2009, 06:31 AM

Just call it texture like my graphic artist friend always says to me. Haha...sorry just couldn't help myself.

traintech86 · 10-08-2009, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by como

Project was supposed to be *done* two weeks ago. I've lost my garage privs, so the car is effectively out in the rain now.
And the snow is coming. Soon.

Also, I have another car I need to sell, but I can't sell it until this one is back on the road. That car has to be gone by december at the latest. I'm also supposed to have a contract on a house by december, and I havn't even found one that's suitable.

This car MUST be done, soon. It's going to the crusher if not.

you'd seriously crush your 2 for this reason? worst comes to worst, buy a storage room and park it in there. you can just leave it there for the winter. you could also paint it in there i am sure.

como · 10-08-2009, 06:27 PM

Storage rooms cost money, I'm out... I'll have to see if I can brush it and make it look not terrible.

I've got 400 grit, but I'm not sure if that will do...

Is there a certain grit level, or perhaps a method, that I can sand with to make a not-so-terrible finish? I was trying to wet block sand with the 400, but it kept picking up paint and leaving marks. (I've never really wetsanded before, so I'm not sure if theres a trick to it)
I think I'm going to try and sand out all the crappy spots and try for a less fubar top coat to work with out in the driveway this weekend. Sunday is supposed to be fairly cool, unfortunately, but not raining. Hopefully not windy, as that would be futile.

te51levin · 10-08-2009, 09:12 PM

Dumb question, but you are using a sanding block, aren't you?

400 is pretty rough. Anything under about 1200 is going to leave pretty big grooves. Use the rougher stuff to get it flat and smooth, then progressively finer to eliminate scratches and even the finish out.

como · 10-08-2009, 09:30 PM

Alright, I'll pick up some 1000+ as soon as I can.

As for the sanding block, hows a piece of wood sound? it's all I got.

traintech86 · 10-08-2009, 11:35 PM

well it is a block lawls

MR JAS · 10-09-2009, 01:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by como

Alright, I'll pick up some 1000+ as soon as I can.

As for the sanding block, hows a piece of wood sound? it's all I got.

i would say the palm of your hand would do a better job than a wooden block as that will just go through all the paint in the high spots on curves etc much better off with a rubber block

como · 10-09-2009, 08:11 AM

Didn't know such a thing existed.
and yeah, it was going through in all the high spots... made for a long couple of days getting the primer sanded, but in the end shes pretty darn smooth. I'll look around for a rubber block when I pick up the paper tonight.

te51levin · 10-09-2009, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by como

As for the sanding block, hows a piece of wood sound?

Sounds like a very bad idea. With as much as effort as you're going to on this job, I'm surprised you haven't done more research...consider yourself reprimanded.

You want this:

muffinman · 10-09-2009, 11:05 AM

even Walmart sells the rubber blocks and wet/dry sand paper (cheap).

'91mr2 · 10-09-2009, 11:40 AM

Yea a rubber block should run you about $5 tops. And as said 400 grit is WAY to rough for sanding topcoat. You was a very fine paper to just remove blemished, not the paint. 400 will strip it off way to easily and will not finish smooth unless you are very experienced, as you seem not to be. I would go for higher than 1000. Like said above at least go 1200 if not a little higher. Or get some 1000 and then some even finer to finish with.

como · 10-09-2009, 12:42 PM

Alright, I'll hit up walmart and get some 1000 to get the crap off (I started with 400 on the hood, and where it did take it down to the primer in a spot or two it took some work to clean up the poor spots in the paint) and then some 1200, or higher if I see it... and one of those rubber looking block things.

The good news is it looks like sunday will be fair weather, and if the wind is low I can lay down a tarp and do a shoot out in the open air. Not great, but better than what I had to work with last time.

Maybe this abortion won't look so much like an abortion in the end, but we'll see... Thank you guys for the help, and the slap on the wrist

muffinman · 10-09-2009, 12:47 PM

i've seen 2000 at Walmart.

10-07-2009, 07:33 PM	#1 (permalink)
como Road Warrior Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Southern Maine Posts: 652 Thanks: 13 Thanked 10 Times in 9 Posts iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	Project: Aborted paintjob (please help) So I got all the way to ready to shoot my topcoat when I lost, outside of my control, my clean dust-free environment. I wound up shooting my topcoat in a tent made of sticks and tarps, in the rain. You can guess how well that went. So, the car is painted, but it has, of course, little bumps all over it, spots where it looks like water dripped into it, etc. So I started wet-sanding with 400 grit tonight, but I need ideas for how I can topcoat this thing without a spray gun- I have a relatively dust free environment I can use, but only If I don't use the spray gun. Sigh. We're going for a black, low-gloss (satin, flat black, anything that's not shiney) finish, if it can be done. Must be black. I've already got about a half gallon of single stage urethane paint, and some additive to make it less glossy, although its designed for spraying so I don't know how well it will work. If I thin paint enough, does it become brushable, in that strokes won't show? I'm not sure how to deal with drips other than to brush on with very thin coats, which I can imagine would create problems with brushmarks. This paintjob has to last a minimum of 2 years, which is how long it will be before I have access to a place in which I can do this properly. Unfortunately, the plot thickens. This car was supposed to be DONE 2 weeks ago. As in, I've outstayed my welcome. Furthermore, I've got 2 weeks of assembly to do (all trim, windows, interior, etc is stripped from this car) before it's done. So this paintjob NEEDS to be done asap. Maybe even this weekend, but I've got about 10 hours of block sanding to do to remove the bumps and whatnot from this abortion.

10-08-2009, 06:27 PM	#10 (permalink)
como Road Warrior Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Southern Maine Posts: 652 Thanks: 13 Thanked 10 Times in 9 Posts iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	Storage rooms cost money, I'm out... I'll have to see if I can brush it and make it look not terrible. I've got 400 grit, but I'm not sure if that will do... Is there a certain grit level, or perhaps a method, that I can sand with to make a not-so-terrible finish? I was trying to wet block sand with the 400, but it kept picking up paint and leaving marks. (I've never really wetsanded before, so I'm not sure if theres a trick to it) I think I'm going to try and sand out all the crappy spots and try for a less fubar top coat to work with out in the driveway this weekend. Sunday is supposed to be fairly cool, unfortunately, but not raining. Hopefully not windy, as that would be futile. Last edited by como; 10-08-2009 at 07:02 PM..

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10-07-2009, 10:47 PM	#2 (permalink)
328FTW Crazy Nasty Honey Badger Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 5,236 Thanks: 24 Thanked 266 Times in 239 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	Can't just do the sanding and wait for a fine day out then hit it up then?

10-07-2009, 11:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
como Road Warrior Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Southern Maine Posts: 652 Thanks: 13 Thanked 10 Times in 9 Posts iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	Project was supposed to be done two weeks ago. I've lost my garage privs, so the car is effectively out in the rain now. And the snow is coming. Soon. Also, I have another car I need to sell, but I can't sell it until this one is back on the road. That car has to be gone by december at the latest. I'm also supposed to have a contract on a house by december, and I havn't even found one that's suitable. This car MUST be done, soon. It's going to the crusher if not.

10-08-2009, 12:37 AM	#4 (permalink)
SW21T 400HP 3rd gen?? Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Washington St Posts: 1,853 Thanks: 143 Thanked 32 Times in 30 Posts iTrader Rating: (18/100% )	Man that sucks, see if a friend can lend you his or her garage. OR rent a garage, maybe one of those storage places.

10-08-2009, 12:50 AM	#5 (permalink)
328FTW Crazy Nasty Honey Badger Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 5,236 Thanks: 24 Thanked 266 Times in 239 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	You could rattle can it if you are real desperate it won't be an awesome paint job but satin black is not picky about surface it hides a lot of imperfections since it is low gloss.

10-08-2009, 02:26 AM	#6 (permalink)
LeePeyton Building Motor from Hell Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Tennessee/USA Posts: 1,696 Thanks: 23 Thanked 67 Times in 61 Posts iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	Good luck man.

10-08-2009, 02:29 AM	#7 (permalink)
te51levin LithiaToyotaParts.com Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Copperhead Road Posts: 3,707 Thanks: 50 Thanked 324 Times in 268 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (193/100% )	If you have to brush it or roll it, you will have brush marks, but they can be block-sanded away. You're just trading elbow grease for air power.

10-08-2009, 06:31 AM	#8 (permalink)
efx Cage Fighter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 215 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	Just call it texture like my graphic artist friend always says to me. Haha...sorry just couldn't help myself.

10-08-2009, 09:12 PM	#11 (permalink)
te51levin LithiaToyotaParts.com Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Copperhead Road Posts: 3,707 Thanks: 50 Thanked 324 Times in 268 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (193/100% )	Dumb question, but you are using a sanding block, aren't you? 400 is pretty rough. Anything under about 1200 is going to leave pretty big grooves. Use the rougher stuff to get it flat and smooth, then progressively finer to eliminate scratches and even the finish out.

10-08-2009, 09:30 PM	#12 (permalink)
como Road Warrior Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Southern Maine Posts: 652 Thanks: 13 Thanked 10 Times in 9 Posts iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	Alright, I'll pick up some 1000+ as soon as I can. As for the sanding block, hows a piece of wood sound? it's all I got.

10-08-2009, 11:35 PM	#13 (permalink)
traintech86 Cage Fighter Join Date: May 2009 Location: Yokosuka, Kanagawa Japan Posts: 1,802 Thanks: 27 Thanked 47 Times in 43 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (3/100% )	well it is a block lawls

10-09-2009, 08:11 AM	#15 (permalink)
como Road Warrior Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Southern Maine Posts: 652 Thanks: 13 Thanked 10 Times in 9 Posts iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	Didn't know such a thing existed. and yeah, it was going through in all the high spots... made for a long couple of days getting the primer sanded, but in the end shes pretty darn smooth. I'll look around for a rubber block when I pick up the paper tonight.

10-09-2009, 11:05 AM	#17 (permalink)
muffinman U-P-G-R-A-Y-E-D-D Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Sunny South Florida Posts: 5,881 Thanks: 53 Thanked 283 Times in 272 Posts Blog Entries: 1 My Google Map iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	even Walmart sells the rubber blocks and wet/dry sand paper (cheap).

10-09-2009, 11:40 AM	#18 (permalink)
'91mr2 No Skills Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 41 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Yea a rubber block should run you about $5 tops. And as said 400 grit is WAY to rough for sanding topcoat. You was a very fine paper to just remove blemished, not the paint. 400 will strip it off way to easily and will not finish smooth unless you are very experienced, as you seem not to be. I would go for higher than 1000. Like said above at least go 1200 if not a little higher. Or get some 1000 and then some even finer to finish with.

10-09-2009, 12:42 PM	#19 (permalink)
como Road Warrior Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Southern Maine Posts: 652 Thanks: 13 Thanked 10 Times in 9 Posts iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	Alright, I'll hit up walmart and get some 1000 to get the crap off (I started with 400 on the hood, and where it did take it down to the primer in a spot or two it took some work to clean up the poor spots in the paint) and then some 1200, or higher if I see it... and one of those rubber looking block things. The good news is it looks like sunday will be fair weather, and if the wind is low I can lay down a tarp and do a shoot out in the open air. Not great, but better than what I had to work with last time. Maybe this abortion won't look so much like an abortion in the end, but we'll see... Thank you guys for the help, and the slap on the wrist

10-09-2009, 12:47 PM	#20 (permalink)
muffinman U-P-G-R-A-Y-E-D-D Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Sunny South Florida Posts: 5,881 Thanks: 53 Thanked 283 Times in 272 Posts Blog Entries: 1 My Google Map iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	i've seen 2000 at Walmart.