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Old Sep 24, 2025 | 12:57 PM
  #21  
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I applaud your efforts, nice to see someone step outside their comfort zone and give it a try. Thinking the results aren't half bad.
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Old Apr 29, 2026 | 01:53 PM
  #22  
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Made some progress after another failing effort in March where I was impatient and painted below 40 deg. outside temperature. The paint scaled and I thought I was completely done. This month it was warm enough, above 50, and I was able to sand and re-apply the base coat and a clear. Then with some wet sanding at 1500 grit and some rubbing compound I have some level of mirror finish. It is not a professional job by any stretch, but it worked out pretty well for a driver. The color is a good match in some lighting angles, and changes in others. The rest of the car doesn't really change with the lighting, so in some angles it looks better than others.



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Old Apr 29, 2026 | 07:28 PM
  #23  
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Originally Posted by gccch
Made some progress after another failing effort in March where I was impatient and painted below 40 deg. outside temperature. The paint scaled and I thought I was completely done. This month it was warm enough, above 50, and I was able to sand and re-apply the base coat and a clear. Then with some wet sanding at 1500 grit and some rubbing compound I have some level of mirror finish. It is not a professional job by any stretch, but it worked out pretty well for a driver. The color is a good match in some lighting angles, and changes in others. The rest of the car doesn't really change with the lighting, so in some angles it looks better than others.
I think that looks pretty good.
I'd give it another wet sanding at 3000 and buff it out again. 1500 is still pretty coarse for a good smooth surface and high shine.
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Old May 1, 2026 | 04:36 AM
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Well done! I started out just like you with rattle cans. Did a decent job even with black. Finally upgraded to compressor and gun. That Black Widow paint gun mentioned above starts just over $100 and you can find great used compressors dirt cheap all over craigslist and facebook. See if you can find a 2 gallon paint pot. No cup on the gun and paint a whole coat without stopping.Once you've got a compressor a whole new world of air tools opens up too!
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Old May 2, 2026 | 05:10 PM
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Originally Posted by LeeS
Well done! I started out just like you with rattle cans. Did a decent job even with black. Finally upgraded to compressor and gun. That Black Widow paint gun mentioned above starts just over $100 and you can find great used compressors dirt cheap all over craigslist and facebook. See if you can find a 2 gallon paint pot. No cup on the gun and paint a whole coat without stopping.Once you've got a compressor a whole new world of air tools opens up too!
Thank you! I agree on the compressor. I used to have a nice setup and painted a frame before my life changed - for the better - but came with fewer workshop options.
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Old May 2, 2026 | 05:12 PM
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Originally Posted by barkingrats
I think that looks pretty good.
I'd give it another wet sanding at 3000 and buff it out again. 1500 is still pretty coarse for a good smooth surface and high shine.
Thanks. I wasn't sure about the steps in grit. It's also hard to tell if I got enough thickness of clear so not sure if I may have been sanding down to the color.
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