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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.
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.
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!
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.
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.