Im gonna be respraying my '65 deluxe project in the near future and was wondering if anybodies tried using metalic paint at home. I have a small air compressor and 4 spray guns, 2 HVLP and 2 HP, but i have been told that its hard to get metalic paint to look good when your a novice. so any insight into how hard it is to spray metalic paint, the kind of results that are obtainable for a begginer, and what are the best ways to do so would be very helpful.

Cheers

I sprayed my engine in BMC Aust. mettallic green, does that cont. I did also do my engine bay with 2pac and it was all good. One suggestion i can make it to prime a stray no to be used panel and pracice on it. Also allowes you to get the guns set up right. I am not an expert and others will have more pearls of wisdom i am sure.

Cheers
Aaron[/i]

_________________

i am currently doing a spraypainting course at tafe (6 lessons, 4 hours a piece, on the 5th one) and spraying metallic as opposed to a flat colour really is no different. The only thing you have to worry about with metallic is that you'll notice your gunstrokes and end up with "traintracks" ie, dark, light, dark, light... This is actually astonishingly easy to fix. All you have to do is say you are doing 5 coats of metallic, do 3 as normal then do the last 2 but spray them DRIER, either adjust your gun, your spray distance etc. you can further make it easier on yourself by doing the last 2 coats in a kind of diagonal to the initial 3 coats.

take aarons advice, practise on a spare panel just to get your technique right.. i know i will be when it comes time to do my deluxe

ps. dont forget to put at least a couple of coats of clear on top of the metallic

thanks

i've got a few spare doors lyin around so will have a go on them and see how i go and get the guns set up right.

cheers

Pics Pics gotta love those pics

_________________
Jet Red Mini K

Its been a while since I sprayed metalics but here is what I remember, put a couple of marbles in the pot of the gun to make sure the paint is kept mixed, the metalic paticles will sink to the bottom of the pot if not kept stirred, Tip size on gun is very important shouuld ahve a 2.0 or larger tip, ask whoever supplies your paint what size metalic particles they have put in the paint and what size tip to use. Mix enough paint each time to do the whole car for each coat, make sure its well stirred before you decant into the paint pot and make sure you keep the mix the same for each coat and make sure to overlap each swipe well. The colour or apperance is determined by how the metal particles lay in the paint and there reflective abilty is reduced the drier you put the paint on, drier coats does not allow the particle to sit as flat so reducing there reflective ability, less noticable effect of the metal flakes if there not lying flat, the last couple of cots should be put on in a fashion that is called wet on wet, one coat as normal and then go straight over again, be careful as it has to be put on to the point of nearly running, practise on those other panels and try your best to kepp the same distance from the panel at all times and keep your swipe speed the same, put a couple of coats 3 of clear over the top, dont worry to much if does run when you are putting the paimt on just rub it back before you put the clear on and the shine will come from cutting and polishing the clear top coats, its the same for acrylic and 2 pack and I know it sounds scary just take your time and make sure you get those later coats of paint on reasonable wet

_________________
Roundies and Clubbies(except vans) are both ugly that is why I have Midas and a van
1293 Mini Midas Bronze,1275 Clubman van

Thanks Feral - Repainting my wife's 850 in metallic is the first proper job on my list and advice like that is worth it's weight in metalflake (which I've found out is really expensive ).

I'll be getting as much advice as I can from the bodyshop supply guys anyway, but at least I get an idea as to what dumb questions to not ask.

I've been told that non metallic paints dont require clear coats and are therefore cheaper and easier to do, is this the case and if so is there any techniques anybodies picked up for spraying non metallic.

just trying to way up the pros and cons as i cant decide on what to do and i should be spraying in the next month or so, so i need to figure out what im goin to do so i can get some paint and practice first.

Cheers

.

i found your explanation a little confusing feral, the most disturbing part being the last few coats should be applied "wet-on-wet".......applying the last coats on wet like this will guarantee tiger stripes and train tracks.

when spraying any colour metallics the FIRST coats should be sprayed fairly wet (ie. your aiming for colour coverage not pattern).So that your colour lays flat.

The most important part of acheiving a flawless metallic paint job is adequate "flash off", inadequate flash off is what causes the "tiger stripes/train tracks" you see on ametuer jobs. This means the time you allow your paint to dry between coats.

most metallics require 2-3 covering coats to get a colour covering your primer, then use extra thinners in your colour mix and spray at a further distance away from the panel to try and get an EVEN colour pattern over the car, your best to try and avoid spraying panels edge to edge but rather painting between them so you avoid buildup on the panel edges (so if your painting the side of the car you'd start at the front, spray half the guard,move along and spray the other half of the guard and half the door and move along etc etc) keep going around the car until your basecoat is even and flat, like mentioned mist in diagonal directions etc.

Its no good trying to spray metallics evenly out in the sun or in the wind etc, either have a really neat shed set-up or try and get into a booth somehow as you'll only end up frustrated and waste your money and time on something that looks ordinary.

then allow your even Basecoat adequate "FLASH OFF" and then tack rag the basecoat and load on your clear coat.

I used tack rags a long time ago and they ruined my paint job. I am NOT a fan of them.

My suggestion is don't use one for the first time on that paint job you have slaved over for days, weeks, years!

850pete
not to start a flame war if your getting tiger stripes it is because your gun and tip set up are wrong,tiger stripes are caused by the tip size being to small and not allowing the metaic particles to pass through evenly, if the tip size is correct and your overlap is right no tiger stripes. Edges should be done first as you said, to stop paint build up on the edges and if you can yes get a booth, as i said its been a while since I painted the last thing being the Monaro which was raffled for summernats 1

_________________
Roundies and Clubbies(except vans) are both ugly that is why I have Midas and a van
1293 Mini Midas Bronze,1275 Clubman van

geez that was a bloody long time ago 81 82
makka

_________________
Anonymous moderation means the agro that is built up towards the mods isn't aimed at an individual (fewer "Makk" attacks). Less stress for mods means less moderator "retirements".

yeah seems like another life time ago, and as I hate hard work ( not the spraying its the bloody prep thats a killer) I found an easier way of making a living, now i do it for a hobby on my own projects, next will be the moke in Ducati yellow, hope it doesn' look like a giant lemon when finished

_________________
Roundies and Clubbies(except vans) are both ugly that is why I have Midas and a van
1293 Mini Midas Bronze,1275 Clubman van

oh it will have to look good in ducati livelry
luv duc's
oh i think i better go have a quiet moment
makka

_________________
Anonymous moderation means the agro that is built up towards the mods isn't aimed at an individual (fewer "Makk" attacks). Less stress for mods means less moderator "retirements".

of course gun set-up has a lot to do with tiger stripes but if you apply your last coats of metallic paint "wet on wet" like you recommend with little to no flash off there's a chance your finish will be mottled and have every chance of there being stripes in the finish.

JAM, like every product if tack rags are not used correctly you can do more harm than good. Adequate flash off is required before you go touching the surface with it.

I'm sure you guys are completely capable of painting your cars to an excellent finish, every painter has a different way of doing things. How its explained and interpreted on an internet forum is another thing. People need to perhaps read up a book from the library or spend some time with someone who's doing some painting, so they can get a genuine feel for how they want to be doing it