High Quality Paint Job???

[zigzag]

Lots of good looking cars on this site and certainly some good discussion on best paints, etc. However, I can't find anything that really talks through the best process and materials to really get a high quality paint job (from primer, to specific types of paints, spray versus brush on, sanding, to clear coats / wax, etc).

I have tried a number of things but I am not replicating some of the high gloss / waxed looks like some on here are getting.

Any thoughts and remedial advice would be appreciated......

 

[Chief]

First you need to understand that a clear coat shine out of the rattle can is not going to achieve the same results as the clear coat that I spray in a collision center or that I have put on custom motorcycles. They are WAY different entirely. I will tell you that either way is not going to make your car any faster, so if you want to spend the hours of making you car look like a real live show car that is up to you. I know how to do it both ways and so do several others on here but if you will notice...most of us on here either use a sharpie and or vinyl sticker (No fumes and way faster).
Hope this helps

 

[zigzag]

Appreciate the response -

I have seen some of your handy work - and certainly very impressive (the red lighting bolt car - amongst others - was really something). Didn't think I would be able to do something like that but just trying to up my game a bit.

Will be going printed vinyl or something like that for the NPWDRL - but daughter likes to paint the cars....of course she is only 6 and I am pretty sure her favorite part is really applying the stickers / decals .....

 

[TRE]

rust o leum primer paint and clear works pretty good..if you take your time

 

[Chief]

Appreciate the response -

I have seen some of your handy work - and certainly very impressive (the red lighting bolt car - amongst others - was really something). Didn't think I would be able to do something like that but just trying to up my game a bit.

Will be going printed vinyl or something like that for the NPWDRL - but daughter likes to paint the cars....of course she is only 6 and I am pretty sure her favorite part is really applying the stickers / decals .....

Oh ya I have a daughter too and this was her very first car, I just put the wheels and axles on it..

 

[GravityX]

That's Be-dazzling Chief!

 

[Quicktimederby]

Rattle can!!!

 

[Chief]

Rattle can!!!

Is that dry to touch or freshly done?

 

[Crash Enburn]

Rattle can!!!

... And a sneak preview. An Audi R8 joining the SR party!

Nice paint, QT. I'm still trying to dial in my paint. What's your clearcoat?

ZigZag: I would recommend using "scratch filling primer" by Dupli-color (from your auto parts store). It does a great job of covering the woodgrain and giving you a smooth foundation for your spray paint.

I am also a huge proponent of spray lacquers (like any of the Dupli-color metallic paints). It goes on well, has a nice gloss, and best of all, it dries almost immediately. Like magic.

My kids have liked picking out a color for their cars, and then using paint pens and/or stickers to decorate them further. I've got those trigger thingies to attach to the rattle can. They're easier for the kids to hold, and helps them put a nice spray coat on, too.

 

[Quicktimederby]

The first photo was wet. Here a couple of the more cured photos. It still needs a little color sanding but not much at all.

 

[Quicktimederby]

Dupli Color paint and clear.

 

[Kinser Racing]

Duplicolor works great. This was my son's first scout car, done with Rustoleum 2x and it was completely cured. I don't paint, too much work and no speed rewards!!! We both worked the sanding and multiple coats. He was to small to be able to hold down the nozzle so he held it while I held my hand on top of his and we painted it like that.

 

[BulldogRacing]

I like to use lacquer and tint it to what ever color using universal tints. You can use a aresol spray container called a prevale to pour your lacquer into. This will allow you to spray the material. I finish with an aresol clear coat called u-pol. This gives you a glass like finish, use fine sand paper between coats, very fine paper the last few.

http://www.amazon.com/U-Pol-Products-0796-Clear-CLEAR/dp/B009LHER0M

http://brodak.com/preval-spray-gun.html

 

[BulldogRacing]

+1 paint will slow you down a little

 

[Papa V Racing]

I use Dupli Color now.. It is way lighter dries faster..A little bit more $$ but easy to use... Only draw back they only have Black or Gray primer.. No White primer.. I have had 3 coats of paint and 2 clears on a car in less then 2 hours. I have not played with PC & Printer to produce the label finish yet... Maybe one day....

I have used Rustoleum, Testors, House of Color & WalMart... They all can work... I know more and more guys using the Monokote or labels to do the finish with...