In the process of getting quotes for respraying my mini (1977 Clubman van - windows)
All major body repairs were done professionally and all other prep and small repairs were done myself - here is where the problems start;

1. Most painters do not want to paint cars prepared by others (I already knew this and that isn't much of a problem for me)
2. Car was stripped to bare metal (in most places), etched and primed with acrylic primer - unknown to me that you can't paint 2pac over acrylic (ignorance and lack of thought on my behalf) and besides I don't have the gear for 2pac primer.

Most painters will not paint acrylic due to labour and effort in buffing and polishing (esp with seams, hinges etc that make it difficult)

My other option seems to be to strip the acrylic primer (not what I wanted to hear) and start with a mare metal shell

I would like to paint it myself, however do not have the experience to do it and would be devistated if I were to ruin it after all the time and effort I put into it

Obviously I can get a professional to do it - if I cough up the big bucks, however money is an issue so that just isn't on the cards.

Some advice please from anyone who knows a painter who would be willing to take on such a job, a fellow ausmini'er who has experience who would be happy to help me out (for a price of course) or any other details I may need to know.

Please help as it appears I am in a pickle

Hmmm tough situation indeed
if it were me i would strip it back to metal and give it to them if your intent on getting 2 pac sprayed

there are benefits in using 2 pac primer also no sink back and gives better results apparently and can be used with both acrylic and 2pac top coats

soo i quess your other option is to spray yourself it sounds like you have allready put a bit of work in so why not have a go at acrylic top its more forgiving and worse case you sand the runs and orange peel out and spray again

There may be a Mini restorer in the Hills district of Sydney who has shown to be an accomplished spray painter who would do it for a price because he woill need the money to buy a mini suntastic van.

Is that some sort of clue - a mini restorer in the hills district (there are a few!) and some one who is willing to help me in my time of crisis!? who is this magical man?

I was having a friendly joke shot at a mate - if he was interested he would contact you directly and I know he reads nearly all the Ausmini posts.

Beyond that I wont name him because he already has a number of pressures on him and his time.

I reckon you should give an acrylic top coat a go yourself. I did, with help from my dad and it first turned out pretty crap. So i sanded it and sprayed again, then clear coated, looks great, but hours and hours in polishing are nneded to get anything that can be considered a nice paint job PS the clear coat can mess up your entire painting if sprayed too heavy or on a too hot day in dire3ct sunlight, trust me I know....

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1964 Morris 850, 1330 Supercharged - 81.8hp atws.
1975 Leyland Mini S 1100S powered - Nice and reliable.
1977 Leyland Mini LS - Project LS-T

well its reccomended that you dont - but thats only if the primer hadnt dried properly first, then you go and put the 2pac on. Ive been told that you shouldnt have a problem doing it that way if the acrylic primer has had good time + conditions to set - so there are no reactions when the 2pac paint goes on

For the record, I will happily paint anyone's Mini.

I LOVE painting cars! It give me great satisfaction!

But.......with a 8 - 5 job, my current GT restoration, and a wife and 2 kids.....I won't do anything other than apply colour.

So if anyone wants to weld / bog / prime / sand etc their own Mini, I will happily rock up and wack colour on it for a reasonable fee. I reckon $250 - $300 to walk in, apply colour, and walk out would be very fair.

In saying this, I know EXACTLY why most pro's won't touch a car that has been prepped by someone else. When you apply gloss to any panel, you immediately see any imperfections in that panel. 99% of people will judge a paint job by 1. The gloss and 2. How straight the panels are.

If a pro does a top job of applying gloss to a car, but it is covered in small dents and wripples, or sanding marks, or lumps of bog etc, then THE PAINTER will be criticised for the job, even though they ARE NOT responsible for that.

Also, if you go cheap with the paint, you will get cheap with the results.

If you want to make your car look great TO SELL IT, then use MOTORSPRAY. If you want to make your car the best it could be, then use PPG paint. Same goes for thinners. Good thinners give GREAT results. Cheap thinners are only good for cleaning out your gun AFTER you have painted your car.

I have painted with both brands, and I stand by my opinions of each.

My GT is getting PPG acrylic, and believe me, I am not cutting corners with this restoration.

I have had a few PM's in the past about painting cars. This post is now applicable to those PM's too, even when I have said no.

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Website: www.justanothermini.com

sorry for the slight hijack
but what are peoples thoughts on using a good etch primer in a can rather then using a compressor and real gun - as i am still looking and choosing a compressor and set up
can i use this to seal the metal and then spray Good paint over it later

Over the years I have had very poor results with so-called etch primers in cans.
Adhesion is crappy...

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

reallly mnnmnm maybe i could just coat it in rust converter or buster or something then leave that should seal it and just before painting wipe it down some prepsol stuff as i have heard bad things about using wd40

Many people just coat it in WD40 or RP7. seems to work.
Don't just leave bare, it'll rust....

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

apparently wd40 has caused probs with paint sticking later down the line

On this topic is it ok to use 2k primer over acrylic etch primer?

Also are acrylic and enamel paints also known as 1pac? i was speaking to a painter at work and he said to use 1pac etch primer as the 2pac etchs can be very expensive!!


i am using PPG OEM Base coat, Deltron clear, and PPG Primer (all 2pac) but what can i use for the etch?


Cheers


Rohan

(sorry for the hi-jacking)

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1964 MORRIS 850 - POST ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE CAFE RACER INSPIRED.

https://spotify.link/D0P4KtIP2yb

1098 +0.40
266 Kent Cam
GR Flat top pistons
HS6
1.3:1 Roller tip rockers
Stupid high CR

I bought a ton of PPG paint recently.

The PPG rep told me that 2K Hi Fill primer over 1K Etch was perfectly acceptable.

_________________
Website: www.justanothermini.com