How much paint? (quantity)

[GWP911T]

How much paint should I estimate for a full paint job. That is; how many gallons?

[962porsche]

i can't tell you with out knowing what color ? single stage or base/clear ? just what kind of car are you painting ? will you be painting the jams, under hood, under side of lib ,inside of doors ? most 911 size cars will use from 3 QTs to 6 QTs of color and from a gal of clear to 7 QTs of clear .

[GWP911T]

Thanks-- I have never painted a car and had not idea how many gallons it might take.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by 962porsche

most 911 size cars will use from 3 QTs to 6 QTs of color and from a gal of clear to 7 QTs of clear .

962Porsche - You are a wonderful resource for us noobs and semi-noobs.

Please help me understand the quantities better. Are the quantities you mention mixed with reducer and/or hardener to arrive at the total?

The fat end of your range just seems like a whole lot of paint. If you are painting a naked tub (floor, pan, inner fenders, etc) in it's entirety then the numbers seems to fit.

[962porsche]

Bob no that would be colors that are not mix for spraying or non sprayable QTs . again it depends on the color your spraying , that paint line , if its base /clear or single stage , if its a HVLP , HVLP compliant , or just a old HPLV gun . there are so many factors that come into play . take the color black i can spray a hole car ( out side only )with about 2.0 QTs of color ( not reduced ) reduced 2 parts color to 1 reducer it comes out to be 3 QTs mixed color . take the same car and say your painting it orange you will need allot more color say about 4 QTs unmixed to start with . the main reason is its coverage ! colors like yellow and orange are very pour hidding colors . this is one reason i tell people to use a sealer 1st before you start laying down your top coats . if you sand throw an edge and you just try to spray over it it will take many coats of base color to cover the sand throw with a color like orange . also a sealer will help to stop it from sinking in after the paint job is finished .

[robmog]

on my 72, bare metal:
i used 6 quarts epoxy primer, 2 quarts filler primer and 6 quarts single stage finish.
i sprayed the whole car except interior in primer, only the exterior in finish
i used an old hplv gun and put down 3 coats finish.
all PPG

[Bob Kontak]

OK - Thanks to you both - 962Porsche and robmog - When I painted my 81 in red with single stage Glasurit I painted directly over the good existing paint as instructed by my jobber. I used three quarts and had a little left over. Coverage is the issue and I don't have enough experience with different colors to know that.

All the best and Happy New Year.