Respray Method?

[MDPotter]

As some of you know, my first restoration project was my dad's 1964 C10. I had painted a Camaro (black), a Firebird (metallic, but painted all at the same time), and lots of other individual parts off a variety of vehicles before this, but I'm most disappointed with the final finish on my dad's C10 because the doors and hood are different shades than the rest of the truck. I was looking at it last night as the evening sun hit it and I could really see what appears to be a lack of coverage on the bed, fenders, and cab. At first I thought it was a color variation between gallons of base, but the sun showed me that I don't have complete coverage on those panels. I'm pretty sure I put 3 coats plus an orientation coat on the bed, cab, and fenders and put 4 coats plus orientation coat on the doors and hood. I would like to respray it one day but I want some advice to make sure my plan will work. I plan to leave it assembled, but obviously taking off door handles, trim, etc. and spray it all at one time. My theory is that if I put two coats of base on it, that the coverage will be complete and it will all be uniform. I would wetsand with 600, then 2 coats base, followed by 3 coats of clear.

Here is a picture that you can kind of see the blotchiness.

 

[Chris_Hamilton]

Blue's are sometimes one of the hardest colors to get coverage on. Most of the time it takes 4 sometimes 5 coats to get coverage depending on the shade and brand of base.
Here's what I would do in keeping with your plan to not take it apart. I'd prep with 800 wet. You could start with 600 but I'd want 800 scratches on there as sometimes metallics don't like 600 grit scratches and they can show through. 800 is what I'd use for that reason. Don't worry about blocking it, just sand it with a hand pad like the durablock af4405 and the curved areas with something like a Motorguard roller block. Flexible but not so soft it follows texture. Keep all your scratches going in one direction. Meaning sand back and forth and keep the scratches that way, not haphazard. Once you've got it sanded, it's a good idea to use a grey scotchbrite and some scuff stuff and go over the entire vehicle, paying extra attention to the edges and anyplace you may have missed sanding.
After you have it masked, wiped down and ready, start by spraying the panels/areas that are the lightest. Concentrate on not having hard start stop areas, start moving the gun just before you squeeze the trigger, this will help you blend the color into what's on the truck. Spray those panels/areas that are light. Concentrate on being even and complete with your passes. It will probably take 2 coats to get everything relatively uniform. Once you have done so then spray 2 more complete coats on everything. By then you should have complete uniform coverage.
One more thing try to walk each side meaning don't panel paint.

 

[MDPotter]

Thanks for the feedback Chris, I hadn't thought of starting on the lighter panels.

 

[Chris_Hamilton]

Thanks for the feedback Chris, I hadn't thought of starting on the lighter panels.

Main concern if you don't is that you'll end up with the same situation only all panels will be proportionately darker. Concentrate on getting the lighter panels close to the darkest ones, once you do that then spray 2 more coats over everything. What brand of base is it?

 

[MDPotter]

Chris-it's Wandabase.