Spray Technique - top to bottom or bottom up ?

[Drbraunsr]

I have always sprayed beginning with the roof but got to thinking it may not be the best method. Is there a spray pattern technique that is better than top to bottom ?

[962porsche]

there are many factors you should take into consideration .
for example your type of spraying environment cross draft or semi cross draft to full down draft .

what you want is your over spray landing on wet not on a dry surface . the reason is if it lands on dry when you wet it up it will look dirty . were if it lands on wet it well melt into the wet surface .

the best way I have found to paint a over all is like this .

start at the rear body panel and trunk lid .

next move to the right QTR and spray 2/3 of it and up the sail panel to the roof .
move to the left side and do the same .

back to the right and spray the rest of the QTR and 2/3's of the door .
move back to the left side and do the same .

now move to the right side of the roof and spray that and then to the left and finish the roof .

move to the right side and finish the door and go 1/2 way into the right fender . move back to the left and do the same .

move back to the right side and spray the rest of the fender and then to the left side and do the same .
now back to the right side and spray half the hood and then to the left and finish the hood .

move to the nose and finish you 1st coat .

on your next coats you do not want your stop areas to be the same so change your starts and stops about 10 " farther or shorts then on your last coats .
this is for eliminating runs and sags in your finish . when your always start and stop in the same areas you will be applying twice the amount of product in your start and stop areas . this is were and how many sprayers get runs and sags .

depending on the car and if the panels are on it or not some of the things will change as if the car has no doors on it or say trunk and hood .

also again when it comes to the type of booth if it's a cross draft back the car into the booth so your starting point is at the exhaust filters .

because you want the over spray falling into wet if it's a semi or full down draft start it the lowest part on the car and work to the top .

[Drbraunsr]

Understood. My pattern was a$$backwards. I'll report back - good or bad.
Thanks once again for the expert opinion. This paint job just may turn out OK.