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ok you guys.... im new to this i think i am going to paint my car before i put a system into it... you guys got any tips for me???

I'm to tired to write a big long how-to, but just remember that preparation is key, get the body work prefect before you lay your base...

hey do you mind writing a how to later??? LOL anyone else??? Its gunna be in a garage...

yeah, I'll try to do it tomorrow... I'm just soooooo tired right now and it's hard to make sense... I had truck problems and spent most of the day working in the rain trying to get them resolved... I'll probably end of getting sick, freakin fantasic.

In the mean time try searching google for (body work tips) and (paintings tips)

Use a block sander, no hand sanding. When you bondo, after it gets to that clay -like consistency, use a cheese grater to level it out a bit....will not take as much sanding. After you think you have it pretty smooth, this is what I like to do sometimes, put a coat of primer on. After that take a spray can of black and just kinda spritz it where you get a whole bunch of dots(Cheap spray paint that doesn't spray worth a crap works well for this). Then take a long block sander and go over the car, any indentations remaining will still have the spots in it. Theres a few tips :) As for the finish, wait until you think the body work is just dandy before you spray your base. You might consider just a regular ol epoxy paint versus the base clear method. They both will give you a good finish with some buffing, but the latter may require more work and money. However, the latter is also easier to fix a scratch when one arises. BUT, I am not an expert by any means. There are some really good automotive painters on here who may tell you different than I.

I am pretty sure Sinister does a bit of paint work. You might want to drop him a PM or something. He may have more to add on top of what joey already said.

ya i do alot of paint work, i worked in a body shop for 10 yrs. my best advice is if you have no idea on what your doing and dont have any of the proper equipment dont even try to do it your self cause its gonna end up costing you alot more than it should of. and shops really love it when people try to do body work then totally F it up.

best way to paint a car:
have a professional do it. period.

you don't have a paint booth, or proper paint guns for primers, color, and clear. You also don't have experience with techniques inhandling those paint guns. To properly paint a car, you need all of those things, along with the ability to take the entire car apart. hood, fenders, trunk lid, doors, etc.. then block off all of the openings like the engine bay and door openings to keep from overspraying your engine and interior. You need to do all of the bodywork first, and get your body lines straight, then lay down an etching primer, and a guide coat. block it all out then lay down an adhesion primer. Then block it again and do the detail work.
after that, you shoot the jambs and edgings, door sills etc..
then you lay down however many coats of color you want, then color-sand if desired. lay down your clear, then wet-sand that, then buff it out, then polish it.

I'm in the process of getting my car repainted, I'm three grand into the bodywork, and still have to finish the doors and fenders, then it'll be ready for the jambs and sills, and the base color.
I don't expect it to see paint for at elast another 2 weeks or longer.

im a go for it type.....i dont actually ever lay down my own paint but i do my own bodywork.......if i had a garage id probably try the paint too

GlassWolf wrote: I'm in the process of getting my car repainted, I'm three grand into the bodywork, and still have to finish the doors and fenders, then it'll be ready for the jambs and sills, and the base color.
I don't expect it to see paint for at elast another 2 weeks or longer.

Are you doing the work yourself, or no?