Do-It-Yourself Painters
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 399
Likes: 0
From: Haslet,Texas
Do-It-Yourself Painters
I'd like some advice from you folks who have painted your own cars in the garage. I've read two different opinions about using products with isocyanates in them (BC/CC urethane paints mainly). Some say that you should only use them with a supplied air system, while others say that an organic vapor type respirator will suffice, assuming you change the filters frequently.
While I'd like to attempt to paint my own 'Vette, I also would like to live to be able to drive it afterwards. I would like to use BC/CC for its durability factor (Texas heat can be brutal), unless someone else has any other "safer" suggestions. What kinds of paint did all you garage painters use, and what respirator equipment did you use?
I don't have several thousand bucks to spend on a paintjob that most of the paint places are asking for. I figure I can buy my own gun, compressor, and paint for much cheaper. On the plus side, I'd also have a compressor for running airtools afterwards. My main concern is that I need a paint that's durable, relatively easy for a beginner to use, and that won't kill me when I use it. Is all of this possible on a budget of about 1,000 bucks?
While I'd like to attempt to paint my own 'Vette, I also would like to live to be able to drive it afterwards. I would like to use BC/CC for its durability factor (Texas heat can be brutal), unless someone else has any other "safer" suggestions. What kinds of paint did all you garage painters use, and what respirator equipment did you use?
I don't have several thousand bucks to spend on a paintjob that most of the paint places are asking for. I figure I can buy my own gun, compressor, and paint for much cheaper. On the plus side, I'd also have a compressor for running airtools afterwards. My main concern is that I need a paint that's durable, relatively easy for a beginner to use, and that won't kill me when I use it. Is all of this possible on a budget of about 1,000 bucks?
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: cheltenham victoria
Re: Do-It-Yourself Painters (73'Vette)
The best advise i can give you is dont paint the car in your shed at home. I have a body shop in Australia i aslo have a great deal of experiance with painting corvettes. One factor you have not taken into account is the amount of dust you will get in the job. You will be shocked. Also if you dont have enough ventalation there yes you will collapse. These paints really are no good for your body. The resperator you asked about will be ok. Have you tried to see if there is a body shop in your area that will allow you to hire there oven or even you prep the job right up to the point that you pay a painter to come and just do the last part for????? Try this it will work for you...
Best Of Luck
Best Of Luck
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,958
Likes: 0
From: Middletown Connecticut
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Re: Do-It-Yourself Painters (jason_c)
There's nothing wrong with painting in your garage, just be sure to have a good ventilation system. a canister style respirator will work, but dont hang around the garage soaking up the fumes while you let the paint flash between coats.
thats how I did mine. came out fine (except for the dust, which is another thing to worry about)
Best of Luck
Corz
thats how I did mine. came out fine (except for the dust, which is another thing to worry about)
Best of Luck
Corz
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,053
Likes: 4
St. Jude Donor '03,'11
Re: Do-It-Yourself Painters (73'Vette)
do it outside and you wont be exposed to so many fumes.
i did a Dupont chromabase/chromaclear paint job in my driveway. I think only a few small bugs might have landed in the paint. You just sand them out when it cures with 800 grit paper and polish.
i did a Dupont chromabase/chromaclear paint job in my driveway. I think only a few small bugs might have landed in the paint. You just sand them out when it cures with 800 grit paper and polish.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Re: Do-It-Yourself Painters (jason_c)
My car is a home paint job and I will match it against nearly anyones. It was done in the driveway with centari acrylic enamal. I laid 7 liters of paint on the car by going around repeatedly pouring on the paint with a high volume low pressure gun.
After letting the paint set I wet sanded it and buffed out all imperfections.
I have no runs left, no orange peel or any complaints
This is after about 5 years,
Double click to enlarge
After letting the paint set I wet sanded it and buffed out all imperfections.
I have no runs left, no orange peel or any complaints
This is after about 5 years,
Double click to enlarge
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Re: Do-It-Yourself Painters (NOTHIN'LIKE'A'69')
What's to be skeptical about? I painted the car myself, no paint booth and if you were long enough here you would learn that I do EVERYTHING myself including machining my own axles from scratch.
No skeptical about it, I DID IT MYSELF, NO HELP, NO PROFESSIONAL PAINTER HERE AND YES YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE RESULTS.
No skeptical about it, I DID IT MYSELF, NO HELP, NO PROFESSIONAL PAINTER HERE AND YES YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE RESULTS.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,282
Likes: 172
From: Lake Wylie, South Carolina
Re: Do-It-Yourself Painters (73'Vette)
My car is a home paint job and also my first. I used PPG BC\CC and I am still here. :thumbs: Wet the floorput a couple of exhaust fans in the windows and duct tape around them for a good seal. Get a good canister type filter a set of lent free painters coveralls, a head sock and go to it. I did a lot of research on this last year and asked a ton of questions. If you were exposed to these fumes everyday then yes by all means you need a fresh air mask. But like others have said spray a coat then get out. Come back in about 15 minutes spray again and then get out. When you finish go in and take a shower. It is a lot of hard work but I to would stack my paint job up against any of the car show cars. Go to the tech forum and read lars' paper on paint and body folow what he says word for word and it will turn out awesome. :cheers:
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 9,622
Likes: 16
From: absecon nj
Re: Do-It-Yourself Painters (BlackRat)
Ive been painting my own stuff for 17 years,i cant say enough about using the proper respirator or fresh air supply,i did it for too many years with no mask and now im paying for it.I now have chemically induced ashtma so please use something.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 420
Likes: 1
From: Indianapolis IN
Re: Do-It-Yourself Painters (norvalwilhelm)
What's to be skeptical about? I painted the car myself, no paint booth and if you were long enough here you would learn that I do EVERYTHING myself including machining my own axles from scratch.
No skeptical about it, I DID IT MYSELF, NO HELP, NO PROFESSIONAL PAINTER HERE AND YES YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE RESULTS.
No skeptical about it, I DID IT MYSELF, NO HELP, NO PROFESSIONAL PAINTER HERE AND YES YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE RESULTS.
Norv I've followed your posts since I've been here and have no doubt you are telling the truth. Was this just a standard HVLP painter like you'd buy at Lowe's or Home Depot?
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Re: Do-It-Yourself Painters (blunsford)
Norv I've followed your posts since I've been here and have no doubt you are telling the truth. Was this just a standard HVLP painter like you'd buy at Lowe's or Home Depot?
Thank you blunsford. Once again home grown. I took a normal siphon gun and pressurized the jar, I put a miniture regulator on the handle that is totally adjustable with a tube to the jar. I set the canister pressure at about 5 pounds or less to push the paint out. I wanted it thick to give depth and I knew that I would be sanding out any imperfections but I needed depth.
I spent 40 hours wet sanding and buffing. I also invested $430 in a makita adjustable buffer and another $100 in the compound and wheel.
Thank you blunsford. Once again home grown. I took a normal siphon gun and pressurized the jar, I put a miniture regulator on the handle that is totally adjustable with a tube to the jar. I set the canister pressure at about 5 pounds or less to push the paint out. I wanted it thick to give depth and I knew that I would be sanding out any imperfections but I needed depth.
I spent 40 hours wet sanding and buffing. I also invested $430 in a makita adjustable buffer and another $100 in the compound and wheel.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
Re: Do-It-Yourself Painters (blunsford)
I second Norvals choice ... single stage enamel - centari or what ever you choose.
It will be easy to lay on heavy and fix the mistakes of a beginner.
A lot of the 2 stage paints need to be recoated within 24 hours of BC (or less).
That is no where near enough time for me to fix the mistakes I plan on making.
Then, after a few :lol: hours of wetsanding and buffing - it looks sweet.
:seeya
It will be easy to lay on heavy and fix the mistakes of a beginner.
A lot of the 2 stage paints need to be recoated within 24 hours of BC (or less).
That is no where near enough time for me to fix the mistakes I plan on making.
Then, after a few :lol: hours of wetsanding and buffing - it looks sweet.
:seeya
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 16,978
Likes: 7
From: In Dreams There Is Truth Ohio
Re: Do-It-Yourself Painters (73'Vette)
I've read two different opinions about using products with isocyanates in them (BC/CC urethane paints mainly). Some say that you should only use them with a supplied air system, while others say that an organic vapor type respirator will suffice, assuming you change the filters frequently.
One word of advice, if you can't afford the proper safety equipment, then save your sheckles till you can. Don't kill yourself to save a few bucks.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 631
Likes: 0
From: Northern Virginia
Re: Do-It-Yourself Painters (GDaina)
i bought a 3m organic vapor resporator and i cant smell a thing with it on much less feel any effects of the fumes. get some kinda fan to push all the crap out the windows too
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,688
Likes: 201
From: Loveland, CO
Re: Do-It-Yourself Painters (73'Vette)
Yes, you can do it yourself. The last one I did using BC/CC, I built a paint booth in my garage by hanging visqueen plastic sheeting from the ceiling. On one end I made a frame door out of Sears filter material for air intake. On the other end, I lowered my garage door down to about 2ft. and placed two box window fans to exhaust the fumes. Wet down the floor prior to each spray, and it worked perfectly. Very little dust or particles.
I agree renting a paint booth would be great. But, since I like to take my time and paint different parts at different times, it was not feasible. Also, you can do primer and sand, more primer and sand. And then base coat and then clear coat. I like to do the doors, conv. panel, small grills and other misc. parts separate from the main car.
Go for it. :cheers:
I agree renting a paint booth would be great. But, since I like to take my time and paint different parts at different times, it was not feasible. Also, you can do primer and sand, more primer and sand. And then base coat and then clear coat. I like to do the doors, conv. panel, small grills and other misc. parts separate from the main car.
Go for it. :cheers:
Racer
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 404
Likes: 0
From: RED SOX NATION
Re: Do-It-Yourself Painters (Mr D.)
I own a commercial paintning company in the northeast and we spray every type of paint and fillers you can think of. Go to home depot and spend 50 bucks on a nice 3M mask with replacable filters... as long as its tight and wear latex glove and long sleeves you'll be fine.... keep in mind that a direct shot of paint close to skin can cause major problems... the pressure could inject the paint into your bloodstream.....always becareful with any pressure systems..no matter how low the pressure.. :steering: