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I think I'm going to have to end up doing the body work/painting myself. So far my family has had problems with two of the local shops around here (which have reps of being the best) so I'm going to try to do some painting on my own. Instead of repainting the whole car I will have to do it in sections.

 
Rep Power: 1069

here's a few look at the prices, then ask what you need, I can explain the basics, also read the body forum on nastyz28 there are a few pros who post often
http://www.fetchbook.info/Auto_Body_...echnology.html

 
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Wow like buying books for college lol, I'll take the free advice first. Well, Arch what I was planing on doing was to start off small. Start mainly off with small interior pieces and just work my way up. I figure it takes a bit of talent (ability to draw, which I lack) to do things like flames but I figure just basic painting shouldn't be to hard. Hopefully I could do my own berger panel, spoiler and other small things, my final goal would be me being able to do bodywork and paint my own car. I'm still debating on whether or not to buy a gun from work or go online and get something. We carry a few at O'reillys but I'm having doubts about the quality of the gun (digital gun looks fancy though lol). Let's see if I can get your opinions on some of the questions I have. When you do the first sanding stages how do you know what is to fine or two course? I mean how do you know whether to use 1500 or 2000 grit or is it more of matter of just educated guessing? When your done with a gun how do you clean it (I'm assuming you just run paint cleaner through it)? And finally where is a good place to actually buy the paint? The few places around here only sell in bulk to the local shops and buying paint through the autoparts stores means you get rapped on price.

 
Rep Power: 1069

get one online, devilbis finish line is a decent cheap gun (that's what I use for base) paint there should be a place that sells dupont or ppg paint those are the only brands I use, sherwin williams is too thin to me. For sanding it's experience (1500 is a final step after paint) for prep I normally use 600 grit no more than 800 grit (paint tends not to stick with the 1000 from my experience, and 400 grit can leave sand scratches that show in teh final paint)to clean teh gun you use laquer thinner and brushes

 
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Sorry to jump in your post Chris but I need Arch's help here as well. I've painted small parts and they've come out really good but I'm thinking about painting the hood myself. Which book would you recomand?

 
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I can't think of any really (all the books I used were back in the late 80's and at school) scuff with red scotch brite,mix paint per label, I like to use sealer but that is optional, keep the gun about 6-8 inches from the panel and move your body not wrist (no fanning or it will have light spots) practice with on some scrap metal to get the feel for speed, when the paint flashes (dulls out) you can apply a second coat, apply 2-3 good coats of base clean teh gun good and spray the clear (again following label directions for time between coats and base to clear) same instructions.Be carefull around body lines as paint will want to puddle and run there, if you get a run in the base use a razor blade to clean it up as soon as possible, if in the clear wait until it's dry and shave it then wet sand and polish

 
Rep Power: 902

Just wondering Chad what kind of parts did you paint and what kind of gun did you use?

 
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Arch you have to use a special additive for rubber right since it flexes?

 
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I helped my brother paint the center section bewteen the taillights on his car. It was his gun so I don't know much about it, all I know is that it was a gravity feed but that makes since.

 
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many new paints don't need it (read the label it will tell you what you need) also get some fish eye kill (armor all works for that too)gravity feed guns are my favorite (I use a suction feed for primer becasue they are cheap and disposable)

 
Rep Power: 902

What do you think Arch? Have you heard of them?

http://www.paintforcars.com/Merchant...Store_Code=pfc

 
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http://stores.ebay.com/Auto-Paint_W0...eNameZl2QQtZkm

Ebay store.

 
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never heard of rayflex, but found
http://www.autobodystore.com/cgi-bin...ames;read=1577
http://blazinlow.com/forum/showthread.php?postid=423506
looks like cheap junk to me.

 
Rep Power: 902

Looks like the same kind of reviews I have seen. It seems that the paint in the beginning looks and performs as well as HOK, DuPont and PPG but seems to have a problem with lasting for any length of time. Also colors like gunmetal and their metallics seems to be poorly developed. I still make give them look when I paint my interior though since the interior does not needs to be high quaility paint to begin with.

Now on to the paint guns. I found these two starter kits, what do you think?

http://www.eastwoodco.com/shopping/p...word=Devilbiss

http://www.eastwoodco.com/shopping/p...word=Devilbiss

 
Rep Power: 1069

both good sets that's basically my base gun (I use a sharpe for clear)