Paint Roadmap

Nochain

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Hi guys, I am looking for some advice on a roadmap to follow while attempting to paint my car. Not just where to start panel wise but with respect to assembly and disassembly, trunk interior, jams and inner doors (parts of which I believe are exterior colors). I’ve done car exteriors only where all interior areas are taped but not a full on resto.

Here is some background information:
1970 Sport Satellite currently in epoxy primer and final stages of blocking and priming.

Plan is to use epoxy primer as final sealer just before I base coat it.

Doors currently off trunk lid off and hood is off.

My initial thought is to hit seal, color and clear the:
jams, trunk interior, trunk lid underside, trunk lid inner deck where the lid seal is also the inner doors and not do the interior other than what ever overspray hits it. Then assemble and tape off interior and get a clean exterior shoot. Is this a good path?

Questions Comments and suggestions appreciated.
 

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Is it a metallic color? If not I would paint it apart and assemble after paint. Back taping and avoiding a hard edge is something I try to avoid.

Don
 
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Is it a metallic color? If not I would pint it apart and assemble after paint. Back taping and avoiding a hard edge is something I try to avoid.

Don
Hi Don thanks for responding. No metallic no pearl. So if I paint it apart it would have to be in stages as I am painting it in my garage with limited space to have doors and trunk on stands. Would also like ideas then for stands since I am not a professional and can’t justify big bucks for rotating stands.
Thanks!
 
Hi Don thanks for responding. No metallic no pearl. So if I paint it apart it would have to be in stages as I am painting it in my garage with limited space to have doors and trunk on stands. Would also like ideas then for stands since I am not a professional and can’t justify big bucks for rotating stands.
Thanks!
I have the same problem, posted this thread:

 
I paint in pieces in a small garage - I find all kind of places to put my parts as I paint in stages - back porch, in the house, back yard on picnic table- if it’s clear coated why not put parts outside ? Helps the clear coat cure !
 
I am kinda liking the concept of painting the car in pieces. Will be more work but less stressful and more accurate. I am starting to develop the plan in my head. Have several more primer coates which I can use to firm up and practice my roadmap.
 
I see lots of pictures where people mask off the back side of things while they paint the front, I.e. Hood, deck lids, valences.

The pictures are never high enough resolution to see exactly how this is done so that you end up with the edge covered properly and so it looks nice with the deck lid or trunk open when finished.

Anyone have any recommendations on that?
 
Painting in pieces isnt bad at all, just try to paint as much as possible in every session. This will help avoid waisted materials and time.
 
Painting in pieces isnt bad at all, just try to paint as much as possible in every session. This will help avoid waisted materials and time.
Yes I can see it taking more material and cleaning supplies and time but with limited space staging for me might be the best way to go. I can’t shoot it outside under a tent on a nice day for several reasons.
 
My current situation initial epoxy primer and body work and more primer.
 

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I see lots of pictures where people mask off the back side of things while they paint the front, I.e. Hood, deck lids, valences.

The pictures are never high enough resolution to see exactly how this is done so that you end up with the edge covered properly and so it looks nice with the deck lid or trunk open when finished.

Anyone have any recommendations on that?
It depends on whether the underside is going to be painted in the body color or not.
If yes, hang the part such that front and back can be sprayed in the same session.

For my project, for example, I'm painting the exterior black in Base/Clear, so it will be glossy (hopefully!)
I'm doing the engine compartment and underhood in black SPI epoxy, which will be semi-gloss.
On the fenders and hood, the external metal parts are joined to the internal metal parts with some kind of joint. That is the point I tape to, so any paint line will be on a metal joint and look natural.

Hope that helps. I'm still figuring out which end of the gun paint comes out of, so take my advice with that in mind ;)
 
I did all my work in 1/2 of a 30 x 40 shop with "stuff" in it .
Plastic sheeting and tarps and imagination.
divided the 30' width into separate 15 x 20 sections and with the vehicle in 1/2 and parts in the other 1/2.
Then lifted the divider to paint the whole vehicle together for metallic and such.
If you plan on panel/piece paint over an extended Time Frame, keep records of of everything from paint ratios,spraygun air pressures,mistakes,Everything, because depending on color/brand,Temperature, things can and possibly will be "off".
I lost a lot of later projects pics
 Paint area 1.JPG
when a computer drive wrecked and a few I still have but it can be done. you just have to imagine it and figure it out.
Hung most everything usually.
DSC02929.JPG
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100_0051.jpg
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Yeah,even an 85 Quad Cab Dually.......
 
I did all my work in 1/2 of a 30 x 40 shop with "stuff" in it .
Plastic sheeting and tarps and imagination.
divided the 30' width into separate 15 x 20 sections and with the vehicle in 1/2 and parts in the other 1/2.
Then lifted the divider to paint the whole vehicle together for metallic and such.
If you plan on panel/piece paint over an extended Time Frame, keep records of of everything from paint ratios,spraygun air pressures,mistakes,Everything, because depending on color/brand,Temperature, things can and possibly will be "off".
I lost a lot of later projects picsView attachment 23949 when a computer drive wrecked and a few I still have but it can be done. you just have to imagine it and figure it out.
Hung most everything usually.View attachment 23943View attachment 23944View attachment 23945View attachment 23946View attachment 23947View attachment 23948
View attachment 23950View attachment 23951View attachment 23952

Yeah,even an 85 Quad Cab Dually.......
Great input! I like the part of recording everything. With my memory I’d forget the recipe the next day. If I had the room I could shoot everything in one batch which is my preference but I am going to need to plan and move a shit load of stuff. Why couldn’t I’ve been a farmer with a big barn….
Thanks for the perspective it’s helping me think through this!
 
I did all my work in 1/2 of a 30 x 40 shop with "stuff" in it .
Plastic sheeting and tarps and imagination.
divided the 30' width into separate 15 x 20 sections and with the vehicle in 1/2 and parts in the other 1/2.
Then lifted the divider to paint the whole vehicle together for metallic and such.
If you plan on panel/piece paint over an extended Time Frame, keep records of of everything from paint ratios,spraygun air pressures,mistakes,Everything, because depending on color/brand,Temperature, things can and possibly will be "off".
I lost a lot of later projects picsView attachment 23949 when a computer drive wrecked and a few I still have but it can be done. you just have to imagine it and figure it out.
Hung most everything usually.View attachment 23943View attachment 23944View attachment 23945View attachment 23946View attachment 23947View attachment 23948
View attachment 23950View attachment 23951View attachment 23952

Yeah,even an 85 Quad Cab Dually.......
Curious how did you handle dust from doors and ceiling prior and during paint? Did you wet the floor at all? What part of the country are you in?
 
Did you wet the floor at all?
"Wetting the floor" is one of those bits of "wisdom" that drives me a little nuts.
Sure let's  Increase the humidity in the space as that water evaporates.

i use this, the day before I paint to meticulously clean the floor and then let it dry completely.
20230208_152906.jpg

**I spent 6 years active duty in the US Navy, so I'm fully qualified to operate this equipment.

After the floor is "swabbed," I lay a damp towel at the entrance to the spray area and walk on it to remove any dirt/dust from my shoes and not track it onto the clean floor.

I'm also intrigued by @Barry suggestion to ground the car.
Air flow can generate static, which attracts dust.
I made a ground cable out of an old extension cord.
Cut the black/white power wires, taped ut up and then added an alligator clip to the ground wire on the other end.
Before next spray I'm going to plug it in and clip it to the frame.
20230207_192231.jpg

20230207_192520.jpg


I hear some guys saying they loop a chain over the axle and let it lay on the floor to "ground" the car.
That's actually kind of funny.
Is your axle bare metal?
Is concrete a conductor of electricity?
Will this ground the vehicle?
Probably no, no, and no.
 
Sealed the sheeting up to the roof,no ceiling.
Vacuumed, blew air,water hosed,squeegee the floor. Ran the ex.fan and reblew everything.
Painted....
Not something you're likely to do in Town or your Home unfortunately.
Ask my Wife and she will state,
We bought a SHOP,the house came with IT.....
 
Not pretty but damn sure Functional. Kinda 'evolved' overnight once people got wind of what I did.


Housekeeping IS Key.
You either work Hard keeping shite out from the start or you deal with It Later.
I hate Later work Period.
 

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"Wetting the floor" is one of those bits of "wisdom" that drives me a little nuts.
Sure let's  Increase the humidity in the space as that water evaporates.

i use this, the day before I paint to meticulously clean the floor and then let it dry completely.
View attachment 24020
**I spent 6 years active duty in the US Navy, so I'm fully qualified to operate this equipment.

After the floor is "swabbed," I lay a damp towel at the entrance to the spray area and walk on it to remove any dirt/dust from my shoes and not track it onto the clean floor.

I'm also intrigued by @Barry suggestion to ground the car.
Air flow can generate static, which attracts dust.
I made a ground cable out of an old extension cord.
Cut the black/white power wires, taped ut up and then added an alligator clip to the ground wire on the other end.
Before next spray I'm going to plug it in and clip it to the frame.
View attachment 24021
View attachment 24022

I hear some guys saying they loop a chain over the axle and let it lay on the floor to "ground" the car.
That's actually kind of funny.
Is your axle bare metal?
Is concrete a conductor of electricity?
Will this ground the vehicle?
Probably no, no, and no.
Thanks “wet” was probably not a good choice of words. Wash and clean would have been better. I am in AZ so nothing stays wet for long. Grounding sounds like a good idea.
 
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