10 replies to this topic

[mahican]

Hey,

I need to spray a new bonnet in British Racing Green. I bought a couple of cans of primer and paint and tried my best but the result is awful!
The paint isn't even and there are spots everywhere. This is my first try and I probably need more practice but does anyone have any advice to make it go better next time? I'm getting quotes of £200 ish to get it done professionally

Thanks!

[Artful Dodger]

rub back down, sounds like the paints reacted, so going back to bare metal may be a good idea, but really only necesarry on the parts you see, going bare metal on the whole bonnet will be tough:P

then etch primer it, edges first and then the big spaces, doing light coverings and layering it up. then a LIGHT rubbing down (180 or 240 grit), just to get rid of the uneven layer of paint ( not visible to the naked eye)

then a primer, preferably a good quality one, may be expensive but it depends on what outcome you want!

after a few coats of this, rub it down, with 240 grit. guide coat it ( either the proper powder, or people use a light dusting of a rattle can paint, and rub off this with wet and dry 800 grit. then clean the
painting surface ( panel wipe)and top coat it. doing sides first, then the main parts. to get the right coverage, spray until the sprayed paint goes shiny, then stop, when it gets shiny, its getting wetter and thicker,
which causes runs. too little paint and it will take forever to get coverage.

what paint are you going to use? cellulose or base coat + lacquer?? if you use celluloce, you can rub ( very gently!) it down with 2000 grit wet + dry to get mirror finish paint:) and it is far easier as you down have to use lacquer etc.

[digler]

if its metallic brg you need to try paint it by doing light coats at a time, like your dusting it on, trying not to get it so it looks wet, if you know what i mean. then when its all covered laquar it as normal. worked for me when i did some on mine with cans a few years ago.

[AVV IT]

I find it helps to immerse the cans in warm/hot water for a short while first (not boiling unless you want an explosion) and then re-immerse them between coats as they cool down. This increases the pressure inside the can and reduces the spots and splashes of paint you get due to the pressure dropping off. Another tip to avoid spots & splashes is to have a rag to hand with the corner dipped in a liitle thinners (you can usually buy a very small tin of thinners at most motorfactor shops for a couple of quid), use the rag to regularly wipe away the excess paint that builds up around the nozzle on the top of the can.

[sonikk4]

Are you spraying the bonnet with it laying flat or vertically?? If you have sprayed it laying flat then this could be the cause of a lot of your problems.

Try spraying it with the panel in the vertical position, this will help to alleviate any spotting caused by drips from the spray tins.

[Artful Dodger]

if its metallic brg you need to try paint it by doing light coats at a time, like your dusting it on, trying not to get it so it looks wet, if you know what i mean. then when its all covered laquar it as normal. worked for me when i did some on mine with cans a few years ago.

how you spray if you use basecoat + lacquer 8)

[mahican]

Are you spraying the bonnet with it laying flat or vertically?? If you have sprayed it laying flat then this could be the cause of a lot of your problems.

Try spraying it with the panel in the vertical position, this will help to alleviate any spotting caused by drips from the spray tins.

Ahh I have been doing it flat because when it was vertical the paint seemed to drip down! Light coatings is definitely the way forward

[mahican]

rub back down, sounds like the paints reacted, so going back to bare metal may be a good idea, but really only necesarry on the parts you see, going bare metal on the whole bonnet will be tough:P

then etch primer it, edges first and then the big spaces, doing light coverings and layering it up. then a LIGHT rubbing down (180 or 240 grit), just to get rid of the uneven layer of paint ( not visible to the naked eye)

then a primer, preferably a good quality one, may be expensive but it depends on what outcome you want!

after a few coats of this, rub it down, with 240 grit. guide coat it ( either the proper powder, or people use a light dusting of a rattle can paint, and rub off this with wet and dry 800 grit. then clean the
painting surface ( panel wipe)and top coat it. doing sides first, then the main parts. to get the right coverage, spray until the sprayed paint goes shiny, then stop, when it gets shiny, its getting wetter and thicker,
which causes runs. too little paint and it will take forever to get coverage.

what paint are you going to use? cellulose or base coat + lacquer?? if you use celluloce, you can rub ( very gently!) it down with 2000 grit wet + dry to get mirror finish paint:) and it is far easier as you down have to use lacquer etc.

Yeah I'm using base coat and then lacquer, thanks for the guide...I never really thought you'd have to sand it so much but I'll definitely give it a shot tomorrow when I buy more paint

[Artful Dodger]

yup, as they say

its all in the prep. make sure you get some good sandpapaer, preferably M3 paper, i have seen some propper cack paper!

[mahican]

should I sand it all the way to the fibreglass before i try again?

[Artful Dodger]

if by fibreglass you mean filler, then yes.

if there is any paint underneath the filler, then you should pull the filler off at etch primer the metal and then filler it :)

now you can see why the quotes are normally so high :) lots of work!