Painting my car? how much..

[CD5Accord]

Lemme start this by saying i think we should have a paint/bodywork section in the mods section. just sayin.

So i've been thinking about my spoiler and how much it would cost to paint it and color match. And it got me thinking about just paintin my whole car myself. My grandpa has experience with paitning cars and it'd be a good chance for me to learn this skill. So, Right now im just in brainstorming stages. I found a site that sells autopaint in gallons. My question is how many gallons would it take to do my car? It's just Acrylic Enamel paint. And Also, im chosig between Black diamond firemist, and dark charcoal metallic. Is there any difference in the application of the "firemist" and Metallic? i've never really heard of the firemist but i like the color much better. Either color im lookin at $50-70 per gallon. And then i wil buy the clear and everything else later. so any input and info is appreciated.

Heres the site i'm lookin at, the firemist is towards the bottom, the metallic is towards the middle, idk you'll have to look. http://www.tcpglobal.com/restorationshop/rspcolors.aspx

Thanks:lawl:

[gotrice93]

You will need a primer sealer, base coat, reducer, clear coat, and clear coat reducer (some of the time it is different then base coat reducer), tack cloths, grease and wax remover . DON'T paint your car and then wait to do clear coat. If you are going to paint your car do everything at once. Also dark colors are a very hard color to paint. It will show every flaw you have in body work and scratches and dirt specs. As for how much paint you will need, I'm not 100% sure. I have always done spot repairs.

[CD5Accord]

Yeah, i know about all the other stuff, reducers/clear. but you think the paint is a good paint?
So would both those colors be hard? or would the lighter charcoal color be easier since it is lighter

[gotrice93]

I have never heard of the paint. I have heard of Acrylic Enamels but not that specific brand. Every paint I have ever sprayed has been a PPG paint. I really like the results I have gotten with PPG but they aren't always cheap. They lower end stuff that sprays really well. I have also never sprayed an Acrylic Enamel. It has always been Acrylic Urethane, and I recommend it. Acrylic Enamels have a long curing time. Your Urethane paints are going to be more durable and is are slightly harder. Plus Enamels are a single stage paint, this meaning you don't have to nor is it recommended that you put a clear coat on top of it. Since Urethanes use a clear coat that is where it becomes more durable. http://www.tcpglobal.com/restorationshop/rspubprod.aspx

As far as difficulty, the reasoning dark colors are more difficult is because you will notice every ding and bump in a panel. So the difficult part is the body prep. If you look at a car that is black you will notice a ding quicker then you would say a white car. Also when it comes to detailing I have notice dark colors show swirls a lot more and scratches also. When it comes to spraying any kind of metallic you just want to make sure your coats have the proper overlap and are even. If they don't get even you won't have a proper metallic lay and you might notice stripping in a section or one part my not look the same because your metallic orientation is different so they are no longer laying the same way. I will do a write up on metallic and then on over lays here in the next couple days so you can kind of see what I'm getting at. I have great picture that explains them in my notes. I'm not saying it's hard to spray metallic you just want to make sure it's even.

[gotrice93]

This is a tech sheet for the Acrylic Enamels you where looking at:
http://www.tcpglobal.com/restorationshop/docs/techsheet_ae.pdf

Here is the tech sheet for the Acrylic Urethane's:
http://www.tcpglobal.com/restorationshop/docs/techsheet_ub.pdf

If you look at the flash and drying times you can see a big difference. To safely tape an enamel you would have to wait 16-24 hours at 70* but, with a urethane you can tape within 20-40 minutes. Urethane's also have an indefinite pot life(how long the left over paint is good for once reduced).

[CD5Accord]

Yeah, a writeup would be good. Thanks man your a ton of help.

[gotrice93]

No problem man. One big thing is to read tech sheet on products, they will tell you pretty much everything, ie: what to set your gun at, what reducer to buy, how long in between coats.

[CD5Accord]

Ok, yeah. I talked to my grandpa today cuz he's the one teachin me everything. We found the color we want at big R for around $25 a gal. And the good thing abotu that is its $3.50 for a can of spray paint that is the exact same color so if i scratch it i have a way torepair it. They also sell $40 clear. So I'm gunna start savin up to buy those. And we should be paintin sometime mid april (: im stoked

[MetaEnder]

If you're gonna do your whole car, I vote pick a color that's easy to like, repair and make and stuff.

Like black, or white, or solid colors, ha. That way when you get a new spoiler or something it's easy to paint. :D

[gotrice93]

Ok, yeah. I talked to my grandpa today cuz he's the one teachin me everything. We found the color we want at big R for around $25 a gal. And the good thing abotu that is its $3.50 for a can of spray paint that is the exact same color so if i scratch it i have a way torepair it. They also sell $40 clear. So I'm gunna start savin up to buy those. And we should be paintin sometime mid april (: im stoked

That is some good news. 2 stage paints (basecoat and clear coat) is a great way to go. I try to recommend people staying away from single stage just because it isn't as durable but its easy and that's why fleet vehicles are usually single. Since ur grandpa is helping you I'm sure he knows what he is doing. I'll still do some write ups for people.

[CD5Accord]

If you're gonna do your whole car, I vote pick a color that's easy to like, repair and make and stuff.

Like black, or white, or solid colors, ha. That way when you get a new spoiler or something it's easy to paint. :D

Color is stil hangin in the air at the moment. I do like white but its too comon, black would show many flaws. atm its probably my grey color, white, or blue. Always liked blue for some reason. and i gotta take into account my blacked out tail light and how it will look all together

[CD5Accord]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v306/scanlessfool/JDM%20Parts/GreyMugenAccord.jpg


This is exactly what i was invisioning. Except my rims, and black lights.

this is more the blue i'd consider. I think i've sized it down to these 2 colors. Not exact same shades but you get the idea.

http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/86/l_eb3eeb8b615f4f4a9f57a98f2bd02607.jpg

what do you think? i'm partial to both. blue might be a little more unique cuz it doesnt come in stock colors until later gens. does it even come in stock blue? idk if it ever did or not.

[gotrice93]

I'm a big fan of blue, my car is blue, my 4 wheeler is blue, my snowmobile is blue, my bedding is blue, my ipod case is blue so you could say I am bias!

[MetaEnder]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v306/scanlessfool/JDM%20Parts/GreyMugenAccord.jpg


This is exactly what i was invisioning. Except my rims, and black lights.

Looks like a more VIP look. I can be down with the VIP, ha. And from the looks of it, some aftermarket lip kit? Looks pretty decent. I'd be careful though, the fancier the lip/body kit is the more maintenance you'll have to do to it, and the more careful you'll have to be.

Take it from someone who's had a full body kit before, ha.


this is more the blue i'd consider. I think i've sized it down to these 2 colors. Not exact same shades but you get the idea.

http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/86/l_eb3eeb8b615f4f4a9f57a98f2bd02607.jpg

Blue is definitely good man. I like blue. I personally like dark blues, like, darker than the NWT background, ha.

[CD5Accord]

Yeah that grey accord is just showing the color on the same car. I'm not goin with any lip kits atm and body kits never. I'll look to see at what kinda blues they got. Gtta find that color sheet.

I'd like a blue metalic. I don't like the solid colors. They look wierd and cheap. I'd rather do it once and like it then a color i'm not satisfied with and then have to paint i again ya know? I still gotta find the smples though.

[Bmer89]

That dark silver looks great IMO. But if you go blue, make is a nice deep blue. Maybe not as dark as midnight blue, but getting there. Just my opinion, both colors would look good though!

[gotrice93]

I love Electron Blue Pearl
http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs212.snc3/21946_233463457065_732722065_3659971_5720244_n.jpg

Fiji Blue Pear
http://pictures.topspeed.com/IMG/crop/200707/2008-honda-civic-mugen-si_460x0w.jpg

[Bmer89]

That Fiji blue is what I was picturing, very nice color

[gotrice93]

this shows the color better for fiji blue
http://tinypic.com/i52bv4.jpg

[CD5Accord]

That fiji blue is pretty cool. Thats more what i'm thinkin. It just looks deeper and shineir. The solid basecoat blue just looks alot like flat with clear. I want it to have metallic, a little flake, or at least be deeper. but I'm still likin the gray.

[Bmer89]

You won't go wrong with the gray. And IMO, the gray will sport metallic flakes a little bit better than blue.

[CD5Accord]

Yeah. At this point thats probably wht im going with.
dont ya think like gray with a red underneath would look cool? like gray base with light red flake. almost like pearl. Too bad i'm not skilled enough to doo none of that :/

[CD5Accord]

http://www.summitracing.com/search/Brand/Summit-Racing/Product-Line/Summit-Racing-2-Stage-System-Base-Coat-Paint/?autoview=SKU&RC=50

what do ya think about that? i've been plannin on just cheap $30 gal of single stage basecoat from Big R, but i think the summit package might be a little bit of a better deal and better quality,

[gotrice93]

Check with local paint shops (KC Auto Paint and Supplies) is who we went through. I would stay away from a single stage, it doesn't have clear coat so less protection! stay with a 2 stage.
7403 East Sprague Avenue
Spokane Valley, WA 99212-0671
(509) 444-7901

[jon]

im gonna use latex house paint...should come out good

[gotrice93]

im gonna use latex house paint...should come out good

NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It won't have a good quality or durability .

[jon]

its gonna work out great...dont worry ill get high gloss

[gotrice93]

even if you get high gloss you're not going to have the protection as you would with a clear coat. Clear coat is what give the paint durability.

[jon]

ill be fine...ha!


ill just run some clear over it...ill be ok

[gotrice93]

Ok suit yourself lol. CD5ACCORD don't copy ninja. do it right the 1st time. lol

[jon]

nah dude...get some high gloss latex paint...just make sure to get exterior paint...holds up better


haha

[gotrice93]

Are you drunk Jon? lol

[jon]

no just fuckin with ya...

[gotrice93]

so ur not painting ur car with house paint? cuz i will kick u in the nuts!

[CD5Accord]

im gettin basecoat from Big R, nly thng is i don't think they sell the flex paint for the urethane bumpers and stuff. Do you think if i used the reg. paint on the bumpers it would last a decentamount of time. I'm goin to have left overs for touchups but i don't wanna be out there every week sprayin my bumper.

Oh and you said stick with 2 stage, could i put clear over the single stage stuff?

[gotrice93]

I prefer BC/CC because of the deep shine. You can certainly get a single stage to shine also, but they seem to look oxidized and show more surface scratches faster than the BC/CC unless you are diligent about keeping it up. There really is no advantage to using a single stage then clear coating it. It would be easier to just do a BC/CC 2 stage. It is also easier I think to fix rock chips in a 2 stage. If you are going with metallic, I wouldn't even think of a single stage. From what I heard, unless you are great with a buffer single stage is a lot harder to prevent swirls.

As far as the flex for the bumper goes. You don't have to buy a flex paint. They actually have a flex additive you can add to the paint for the bumper. I would imagine if you don't use it, it is only a matter of time until something hits the bumper and causes spider webbing. It is also recommended to paint the bumpers off of the car and put them on a stand so, you can get it all.

[CD5Accord]

think i could find some 2stage with clear for around $100? or is that gunna be askin too much. I'm low buget but im not gunna get it done completely horrible. $100-130 i could probably do.

[gotrice93]

I don't see why you shouldn't beable to get get paint for that price. Idk bout the cost of primer-sealer and the stuff to clean the surface but what you might try is going to these paint stores and seeing if they have any wrong mixes in colors you might like. Sometime they don't mix the right amount of color so it isn't the right shade and instead of throwing it away they sell it for cheap.

[CD5Accord]

Didn't think of that either. I'm going up to KC auto paitns this week. neighbor works there and he said med line basecoat(just basecoat) woud be $100. but he said if i went in and chose my color they might be able to find me a cheaper alternative with the same color. But i'm gunna ask em about their mess ups. At this point im piecing together all my supplies. It will take a bit to get em but im doin smll jobs like painting/yardwork for neighbors and such so i should only be a few weeks once i get the prices and supplies lined out.

[gotrice93]

i'll get a write up posted this week hopefully. i'll go through priming all the wait to clear coat

[CD5Accord]

Sweet, that would be very helpful.

[gotrice93]

i've done a few write ups. i'll have some more.