diy paint job

lucky_charms · 08-18-2009, 05:25 PM

thinking about starting to do the paint and body work myself on my 87 any tips, pointers, advice, or suggestions would be greatly appreciated

TomsMR2 · 08-18-2009, 05:58 PM

buy the right tools the first time, it'll save you significant headache!

its like 50% experience and 50% right equipment. try to read some books on doing bodywork and see if you can get someone with experience to help you get started. its a really steep learning curve.

328FTW · 08-18-2009, 07:33 PM

And prep work, almost all the work is in getting the right surface for the paint to stick to and using the right base coat. Also keeping the car more than hospital clean because otherwise stuff will get into the paint and ruin the finish or cause the paint to "bloom"

lucky_charms · 08-19-2009, 12:41 PM

thanks guys but what are the right tools that your saying i should look into buying

Davis · 08-19-2009, 12:49 PM

I say go to your local college and take a painting class.

That's what I'm doing at the moment.

lucky_charms · 08-19-2009, 12:54 PM

really like an automotive painting class or like an artsy one

Davis · 08-19-2009, 01:17 PM

Automotive.

lucky_charms · 08-19-2009, 01:28 PM

got ya i wonder if i would have to apply of if they would just let me look around and give me some tips

TomsMR2 · 08-20-2009, 06:22 PM

some peoples learning style needs the structure of a class. im the exact opposite, ive managed to teach myself welding and painting with minimal input. theres SO much info out there these days its reasonable to say you can just teach yourself.. if you're the kind of person that needs structure, you'd benefit from a local class though.

i like just diving in and seeing what happens

like 328 said, the whole job of painting really is prep. actually spraying paint is pretty easy. theres a lot of guides online for equipment. buy as much as you can afford.

i have an astro evo LVLP gun id be willing to sell. its an excellent gun, you can do some research, but its the most highly recommended starter gun, best gun for the price, and makes the best use of smaller compressors.

mr2_guy · 08-20-2009, 07:53 PM

It helps if you can find a messed up bumper, door, well any body part you can practice on, are a neighbor's car if you don't like them

nemysis99 · 08-20-2009, 11:03 PM

I think our local community college has a body shop class for car enthusiats where they teach you how to do it yourself on your own car. Plus you get some old guy pointing out where you are doing it wrong or telling you how to do it right. And you get to use their tools and state of the art paint booth. Im looking into that for my next paint job. I think the class is like $650 and I am sure you have to provide your own materials.

Davis · 08-20-2009, 11:08 PM

The reason why I'm taking the calss is to take advantage of the spray booth and all the cool gadgets they have to offer. Plus I don't have anywhere to practice painting.

lucky_charms · 08-26-2009, 05:05 AM

astro evo LVLP gun can i see a pic of it because im looking for a gun

08-18-2009, 05:25 PM	#1 (permalink)
lucky_charms custom Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: moving back to tpa fl thank god Posts: 442 Thanks: 10 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (-1/0% )	diy paint job thinking about starting to do the paint and body work myself on my 87 any tips, pointers, advice, or suggestions would be greatly appreciated

08-18-2009, 05:58 PM	#2 (permalink)
TomsMR2 Still not heraldo. Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Pineapple under the sea Posts: 4,911 Thanks: 18 Thanked 406 Times in 303 Posts Blog Entries: 1 iTrader Rating: (4/100% )	buy the right tools the first time, it'll save you significant headache! its like 50% experience and 50% right equipment. try to read some books on doing bodywork and see if you can get someone with experience to help you get started. its a really steep learning curve. __________________ Science fact: If you took all the veins from your body and laid them end to end, you would die.

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08-18-2009, 07:33 PM	#3 (permalink)
328FTW Crazy Nasty Honey Badger Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 5,235 Thanks: 24 Thanked 266 Times in 239 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	And prep work, almost all the work is in getting the right surface for the paint to stick to and using the right base coat. Also keeping the car more than hospital clean because otherwise stuff will get into the paint and ruin the finish or cause the paint to "bloom"

08-19-2009, 12:41 PM	#4 (permalink)
lucky_charms custom Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: moving back to tpa fl thank god Posts: 442 Thanks: 10 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (-1/0% )	thanks guys but what are the right tools that your saying i should look into buying

08-19-2009, 12:49 PM	#5 (permalink)
Davis Radical Dreamer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Long Beach, California Posts: 4,536 Thanks: 85 Thanked 125 Times in 113 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (7/100% )	I say go to your local college and take a painting class. That's what I'm doing at the moment.

08-19-2009, 12:54 PM	#6 (permalink)
lucky_charms custom Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: moving back to tpa fl thank god Posts: 442 Thanks: 10 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (-1/0% )	really like an automotive painting class or like an artsy one

08-19-2009, 01:17 PM	#7 (permalink)
Davis Radical Dreamer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Long Beach, California Posts: 4,536 Thanks: 85 Thanked 125 Times in 113 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (7/100% )	Automotive.

08-19-2009, 01:28 PM	#8 (permalink)
lucky_charms custom Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: moving back to tpa fl thank god Posts: 442 Thanks: 10 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (-1/0% )	got ya i wonder if i would have to apply of if they would just let me look around and give me some tips

08-20-2009, 06:22 PM	#9 (permalink)
TomsMR2 Still not heraldo. Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Pineapple under the sea Posts: 4,911 Thanks: 18 Thanked 406 Times in 303 Posts Blog Entries: 1 iTrader Rating: (4/100% )	some peoples learning style needs the structure of a class. im the exact opposite, ive managed to teach myself welding and painting with minimal input. theres SO much info out there these days its reasonable to say you can just teach yourself.. if you're the kind of person that needs structure, you'd benefit from a local class though. i like just diving in and seeing what happens like 328 said, the whole job of painting really is prep. actually spraying paint is pretty easy. theres a lot of guides online for equipment. buy as much as you can afford. i have an astro evo LVLP gun id be willing to sell. its an excellent gun, you can do some research, but its the most highly recommended starter gun, best gun for the price, and makes the best use of smaller compressors.

08-20-2009, 07:53 PM	#10 (permalink)
mr2_guy Cage Fighter Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 196 Thanks: 5 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	It helps if you can find a messed up bumper, door, well any body part you can practice on, are a neighbor's car if you don't like them

08-20-2009, 11:03 PM	#11 (permalink)
nemysis99 No Skills Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	I think our local community college has a body shop class for car enthusiats where they teach you how to do it yourself on your own car. Plus you get some old guy pointing out where you are doing it wrong or telling you how to do it right. And you get to use their tools and state of the art paint booth. Im looking into that for my next paint job. I think the class is like $650 and I am sure you have to provide your own materials.

08-20-2009, 11:08 PM	#12 (permalink)
Davis Radical Dreamer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Long Beach, California Posts: 4,536 Thanks: 85 Thanked 125 Times in 113 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (7/100% )	The reason why I'm taking the calss is to take advantage of the spray booth and all the cool gadgets they have to offer. Plus I don't have anywhere to practice painting.

08-26-2009, 05:05 AM	#13 (permalink)
lucky_charms custom Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: moving back to tpa fl thank god Posts: 442 Thanks: 10 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (-1/0% )	astro evo LVLP gun can i see a pic of it because im looking for a gun