Whitjr

I painted the '84 about 3 years ago, sanded it only a little and did a real crappy job. The sig photo is the last photo of the '84 where the paint job really looks OK. I did spray it, practiced on a barrell until I got the smoooooth motion needed. You know, one of those 10ft paint jobs. [If you get any closer that 10 feet to it, it looks like ****.]

I did tape it off very well, but the real prep work like a pro would do it -I did not do. I figured that I had nothing to lose as the gobi gold paint was badly deteriorating. Looking back, I know I should have done more, in fact. And I was hot to try it anyway, and I like custom paint schemes, so I did what I did.

I'm thinking about the imminenet paint job on my '84. No, I'm not going to do this myself... having learned my lesson!

Sallad

Prep work is the BIGGEST factor in a paint job.

If the prep is bad, the paint will look bad. Just sand everything with about a 600 grit or gray scotchbrite pad. Make sure you get those edges!

The paint gun should be only about 12-16" away from the panel you are painting. Overlap about 50% per coat. Three good coats should be enough. Unless it's a really light color.

I'll be painting my Titian Red one black as well... soon hopefully.

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/80494/p7131776.jpg">

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/80494/p7071737.jpg">

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/80494/p7131765.jpg">

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/80494/p7170009.jpg">

84gtguy

that includes doing the bady work on them as well. the key is in the prep work and the wet sanding/polishing after the paintjob. you can make a poor paint job pretty nice with the right polish job.

summer before last i did a 54 mga (i think it was a 54 i can't remember). beautiful black car. unfortunately the po the guy bought it from had a crappy paint job done. it even had a few runs. worse yet, black. black shows everything.

anyway, the current owner had me wet sand and polish it for him to try and bring the paint out. he wanted to show the car and parade it. i worked on it for a week. the thing turned out beautiful. like glass. very nice, especially compared to what it did look like. but that's just tooting my own horn (i am awesome though ).

well a year later he painted it anyway, he wanted a red one like he had in high school. the new paint job is really a nice job.

of course i could always improve it. lol

chefbob

<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/84147/paintpics_008.jpg"></center><p>
you really need the patients to do it right, you can't rush the process. I bought 2 SATA spray guns, 1 for base and 1 for clear. I have since painted 2 more cars and various body panels on others. I really enjoy it

chefbob

<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/84147/paintpics_007.jpg"></center><p>the paint, not the HK

84gtguy

i do go more than 3 coats for room for a good polish afterwards (but that's what i do). if it's a clearcoat same deal. a good extra 2 layers gives you plenty of room to wet sand and polish afterwards. remeber, no wax though, just compounds and glazes.

i also recommend a foam pad for new paint work unless it's really in bad shape. but alot of bodyshops clean up their work with a wool pad (usually white even). i think spending the extra time and useing foam slowly working an area work s better. and never do the entire vehicle at once. work in smaller areas at a time because very area of paint is a little different.

just my opinion. on the buffing and polishing i am a professional with 24 years experience though. take that for what you will. i'm proud of what i can do with a buffer and by hand. it's truely an art.

do it right, it'll last that way. that's how you save money. if you do a cruddy job and have to redo it, your not saving money.

jmho. ; )

84gtguy

ppg is good stuff. some of the european import paint is incredible though. : )

Capt Solo

really high quality paint, and I had thought I sanded well enough, but the small ripples of the sanding still showed through. Sand very VERY well! I used 600 grit, and then buffed with a Scotch pad. However, I used a flat sander instead of a rotational one, which is a big mistake.

YukonAudi

I take on most new projects where I can learn new things - and a few of these ago, I learned I can't paint worth a damn.
I can weld and fill and sand pretty well - but me with a paint gun leaves a lot to be desired.
I hire the pros if I want it done right and I don't mind paying for it to be done right either.
I did the rough body work on the 4K's resto.

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/48672/pdrm0558.jpg">
I paid the local hot rod bodyguy to finish prep and paint- glad I did. Flawless and nothing to worry about for errors.
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/48672/pdrm1518.jpg">
Need a better image, she's like glass with 4 base coats metallic sable and 4 clear with sandings between and final wet gloss polishing $9500 worth I got a deal I think. <img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/48672/4k_td_resto_finished.jpg">

teach

....in person.