Painting Update

[widebody911]

I spent the entire day working on the rear bumper getting it ready for bodywork - yes, getting it ready for bodywork. It didn't match the profile of the car, so I had to do some creative fiberglass work on it. Now I can begin the actual bodywork on it.

I'm hoping I can get the rest of the sanding and whatnot knocked out this week and shoot it next weekend. I'll have competent help at least during the first part of the week.

If anyone in the Sacramento area wants to drop in and help out, or just check out the progress, drop me a line. The fridge will be stock with refreshments for the helpers.

Pix of the progress are at http://vintagebus.com/howto/paint/ and will be updated as appropriate.

[widebody911]

Started disassembly tonight. A wonderful bit of social engineering to get people to come over and sand my car...

More pix @ http://vintagebus.com/howto/paint/

[CamB]

Thom,

Why is it you always make me feel so lazy and inefficient. It is obscene how quickly you get stuff done...

Cam

[Jack Olsen]

Are you planning on having that ready for Thunderhill in July?

(I feel glacial, by comparison. I hope to maybe wash mine, by then.)

[CamB]

Jack - thats not fair! You have an excellent history of getting stuff done too.

Since you got your car- about when I got the 75, you have managed a few successful upgrades.

I pulled a car apart and had it painted (not yet reassembled). I bought another and it ALMOST has a new engine and performance upgrades (and I'm paying someone to do that...).

I am slow . Oh but I will get there

[Jdub]

Thom:

Be sure to remove the sanding particulates from your engine bay prior to starting the car. I would consider washing the engine down prior to spraying to do this.

This may not be true any longer(?), but my understanding is that the particulates of body filler are quite flammable and can easily catch fire under heat. I have seen the results and this was the advice given to me by an old pro.

John

[Kurt B]

You are the man thom! Can't wait to see how that sucker looks.

[dickster]

top, can't wait to see the next lot.

now, if i could get my car shipped over to you next week............

[widebody911]

The plan is to get all of the body work done this week, and paint Saturday or Sunday. A couple of days color sanding and various cleanup, and then re-assemble late next week. I have a track day on the 26th - shoulda got offen my a$$ sooner...

[Moses]

It's taking shape! Looks great.

[Kurt B]

What kind of equipment do you need to paint a car? Do you have a list of compressor, paint gun parts etc that is needed?

I'd really like to try and undertake a project like that myself. I think I could get it prepped and read to shoot different parts very quickly!

The main thing is the equipment. The paint can be gotten fairly easily I think.

Let me know what you have to do this project.

[gr8fl4porsche]

All you really need is a somewhat dust free garage, a compressor, and a decent gun.

Devilbis makes lots of models which will work.
The standard these days is HVLP (high volume low pressure)
models which are gravity fed thru a cup on top of the gun.

I prefer the old guns - lots of pressure and lots of overspray.
Lays on a nice finish though.

A good gun will set you back up to $500 beans!
A cheap gun will work if you don't mind a little extra buffing and polishing.

Practice on your wife's car first

[htbetz]

Do you make house calls?

[widebody911]

I have a 5hp 90g 2-stage compressor, in a little shed of it's own outside of the garage. This makes for a fairly tolerable work environment inside the garage, as most of the noise is eliminated. For warm days, I run the line coming out of the tank into a bucket of cold water to cool down the air and condense the water out of it. From there it goes into a Sharpe water trap.

I'm using a Devilbiss "Finish Line" gravity-feed HVLP guy, which I actually bought @ Harbor Freight. I haven't seen one there since - coulda been some sorta fluke that they carried it at all. Cost me ~$190.

For sanding, I have a couple of Harbor Freight palm-held DA's. My compressor can barely run both of them at the same time. They work fine, as long as you're not expecting them to last you more than a year or so. I really need to break down and pony up for a new National Detroit DA - I broke my last one.

I get the paint at a local auto paint supply house. No special permits or anything required, but I'm sure it was raise flags if I was buying a gallon a week or so.

I have a Scott 2-stage full face mask I wear when I paint. It's not positive pressure, which is really the best way to go, but it definitely works better than other masks I've tried.

[Matt Smith]

Thom- do you spray 2 pack with this set up? In your garage?
I'm keen to know if it is viable. I know you don't need to bake the 2 pack if it's warm (thus no need for a bake oven), but the fumes? You yourself would be fine with head gear, but what about neighbourhood environmental issues?

Like I say, I want to do this myself. I'm totally familiar with Sikkens 2 pack, proper booth etc, but now I don't have access to that gear, but have a spray-friendly garage and like the sound of PPG.

I agree with the others: you are a fast worker!

[Kurt B]

Who in so cal has painting euipment? I'd rather pay a local P-guy and work on a project with someone else than pay a shop. speak up and name yer price. We'll do it on a weekend! I want a new paint job again.

[widebody911]

I'm using PPG CLV, which is a single-stage paint. I've done base/clear in a garage a few times now.

I shot PPG Concept base/clear on this ghia in my friend's garage:



In the same garage, using CLV



Gotta give him the credit for doing the final polish work, though.

[CamB]

Originally posted by Matt Smith
but the fumes? You yourself would be fine with head gear, but what about neighbourhood environmental issues?

Careful Matt (of me! You know I will help):

http://www.nohsc.gov.au/OHSInformation/Databases/topics/i/isocyanates.htm

I don't like the bit about becoming sensitised. The neighbourhood children will be fine though.

[Matt Smith]

Wow. Excellent paint Thom.
Those photos are absolute proof (to any doubters out there) that top class jobs can and are completed by people like us in garages.
Mostly it's all about time, and the majorityy of that obviously is down to prep. It's a long task.
We've just started getting PPG paints out here, so I would be keen to know a bit more about their product range. Any tips?

Cam: those links are good. The sensitisation problem is real. I worked with these paints professionally for a year and a half, using all the proper gear, and was beginning to become sensitised. Not many old professional painters out there!

But I am still keen to do a home two pack. I just KNOW that with a bit of thought it could be done easily. The main thing about spraybooths is that they are supposed to be a dust free environment. Often (believe me) they are not!
A garage, with installed-for-the occasion clear plastic sheeting over every surface- and an air extraction set up is close to being equal to a proper booth in my opinion.

Any more home painters care to contribute??

[widebody911]

Pulled the roll bar and top last night.

The Schedule

Tonight I'll clean up the welds from the cab bracket install, and doing the last of the fill work on the rockers and rear bumper, and the sanding and cleanup in the door jambs. I hope to shoot the filling primer before I go to bed tonight.

Tomorrow night I'll block down the filling primer, and address any 'discoveries'

Friday night I'll finish blocking, and mask the car.

Saturday morning I paint.