My first time with automotive paint.......

[JayL]

And it did not turn out too shabby. (at least in my unprofessional opinion.)

I took the Intercoat and mixed two batches of paint with different pigments/mica's/etc.

So far I only have the intercoat down. Clear will come tomorrow. (weather permitting)

Here are the results. (And any advice, opinions or criticisms are welcome.)

Blutonium - It's a little out of focus (Stupid iPhone)


Blue Shimmer - also a tad out of focus (also stupid iPhone)


Test panel (Wood Square made from a 2x4 ) with Blue Shimmer. - The black line near the middle is the reflection of the phone.


The Blue shimmer is for a customer that will be getting it sprayed on a guitar.

Thanks for the looks.
Jay
Tampa, FL

 

[crashtech]

Looks good!

 

[JayL]

OK folks here are a few more pics.

Ran into an issue and hope someone can give me some advice as to why.

The bubbles are in the intercoat not the clear.

Blue Shimmer with clear coat


Blutonium with clear coat


Close up of Blue Shimmer with odd bubbles


Close up of Blutonium with odd bubbles


Once again thanks for looking and thanks in advance for any help.

Jay
Tampa, FL

 

[crashtech]

I'm going to send this to the top so that you might get more help. I don't know what that could be, it's one of those things I think needs to be examined in person. Maybe a phone call to the tech line would be in order?

 

[JayL]

Thanks Crash,

I have a feeling it might be a touch of water in the line or putting down a tad too much material at once. (But I am only guessing.)

Overall I am happy with my first attempt. I am sure I will get better with more practice.

Thanks again.

Jay
Tampa, FL

 

[Bob Hollinshead]

I would guess water, but a few look like small dirt nibs.

 

[JayL]

I would guess water, but a few look like small dirt nibs.

Bob, I am not sure its dirt as I spray in a paint booth (Its a small home made one but a booth none the less.)

I think it is water as some of the bubbles look like little craters like the bubble popped.

But they are so small and it was only a few of them I was not sure.

Thanks for looking though. I really do appreciate it.

Jay
Tampa, FL

 

[mlp-mx6]

What filtration do you have on your air line?

 

[JayL]

What filtration do you have on your air line?

I have an air regulator/water trap and at the base of the gun I have an in line Desiccant filter.

I have also started using 125 micron paint strainers and I think that is going to help out as well. (Because I mix up my own colors using pigment I am thinking that its possible some of the "dirt" I was seeing was actually pigment that did not break down.)

 

[mlp-mx6]

When you are mixing the pigment/pearl into your basecoat, do you just mix it straight in, or do you pre-wet/dissolve the pigment with reducer? I'd recommend the latter. Get the pearl/pigment wet with reducer first and you'll have way fewer clumps to filter out.

I use my SPI on guitars too (not cars). I'd love to try my hand at a car, though.

 

[JayL]

When you are mixing the pigment/pearl into your basecoat, do you just mix it straight in, or do you pre-wet/dissolve the pigment with reducer? I'd recommend the latter. Get the pearl/pigment wet with reducer first and you'll have way fewer clumps to filter out.

I use my SPI on guitars too (not cars). I'd love to try my hand at a car, though.

I premix, always.

As this is a learning curve thing for me I am finding that I add a little bit of pigment at a time then stir it in and repeat until the color is where I want it to be. Then I add the clear to the pigmented reducer.

I also think that I had been using more pigment than needed and have since cut that back.

Once this weather starts to cooperate more I hope to have some more stuff to post.

Thanks for your time.