Should I wet sand my base coat b4 clearing??

[CobraDan]

Don't sand unless you have a run or problem your pressure was to low if the paint was not smooth. I painted my car with base coat-clear coat also and I never painted a car before. I painted the white wide enough down the center first for the stripe then taper masked off the stripe and painted my yellow body coat followed by the clear-coat. A buffer does wonders for a paint job.

[Duffinatur]

Thanks CobraDan,

The rough texture wasn't as bad as my sleep deprived mind said it was. Mostly it was overspray and was limited to the top surfaces. A spray bottle and a few sheets of 2000 grit paper took care of it. I let the paper due the work and didn't apply hardly any pressure.


I had one run right next to my tailight and wetsanded it out with 1500 grit. Then I loaded my spraygun and upped the pressure. It worked great, and I liked the results better than my first couple of coats! I have enough to give the car one more coat so I may do that this afternoon and see if I can improve my base coat finish.

I'm thinking I may do the stripes tomorrow, lol

Duff

[Duffinatur]

Hi All,

I was able to lay a fifth basecoat using more pressure at my spraygun, a little improved technique, and I added a little black to the shade for a darker siver. The finish is smooth, semi shiny, and even.

Many kudos to the folks that have posted about doing doing thier own paint, your post and replies were very informative and very helpful.

It was a near perfect day for painting this morning, 74deg. a little cloudy but little humidity and only a slight breeze. I got a little worried when I opened my garage and it was pouring rain after being locked inside all day. I let the garage air out for a few minutes then closed it back up.

My goal is to drive to a friends house on the 4th of July. I may not have my interior completed but the car will be functional (lights, gauges, seatbelts, door latches, etc.)

Duff

[FUNFER2]

You don't need 4 coats of base. The base should look dull, dry and flat, the clear, is what makes it shinny. With a lot more practice, your color coat should be flat, no orange peal at all, and put at least 4 coats (even 5) of clear on it if you plan on wet sanding and polishing. This step can take off two coats of the clear and leave two coats of clear on the car for buffing out minor scratches later in it's life. I put 5 on mine and the paint looks very deep.

With the stripes. It depends on the painters preference. I like painting the stripes first, then putting on a light coat of clear. That way, if you get any of the other body color under the tape, you can wipe it off with some wax and grease remover very easily. Then, cover the entire car with more clear coats.

I hope I've made my painting process clear (hehe, "clear")

(also, make sure you use a tack cloth in between coats and wrap yourself with plastic like a condom, if you're a hairy beast like Sasquatch !!!
It makes me so,oooo when I get hair in the paint. And, please turn around if you have to sneeze unless you like the old "splash graphics")!

[cobred]

If you sand a metallic base coat you have to recoat it with more base coat before clearing or you will have stripes in the metallic. (not the kind you want). You should talk to the paint supplier because all the paints have a window of working time when you can and cant apply more paint.
In other words, normally after you spray the base you let it dry an hour or 2 but no more then 24 hours before you clear it. After 24 hours you have to sand it and apply more base, let itdry, then clear it. This is to have the correct chemical bond between the base and clear.
Instructions vary from different paint brands so that is why I would check. I would hate for you to make a mistake that would be hard and costly to fix.

[Duffinatur]

Thanks, Kevin,

I know that if I a professional painter, or even a little more experienced I wouldn't need 4 base coats, but I'm far out of practice and would say I've been reduced in rank to amatuer status, so I wanted to be sure of my coverage. My primer was touched up in a few spots and those had a lighter shade than the rest of the car and these were very light coats, so I was worried about transperancy. On my last coat I was able to up my gun pressure and put a proper "wet" coat on thanks to CobraDan's advice. There might be a spot or two that isn't perfect, but I'll live with it.

I've followed the re-coat window instructions as well, so that means I'll be striping and then clear coating most of the rest of the night. I had planned on at least 5 coats as well, maybe more, depends on how much time and material is left in my garage and me.

Thanks guys, I'll post another update late tonight.

DUFF

[Duffinatur]

hi guys,

I skipped the wet sanding of the clear coat so I could drive the car for the July 4th weekend. I finally had a blast driving my car, if only for a first weekend. (new pic in my gallery) It had a unique look and I was told by more than a few of my buddies that are "car guys" that I should just leave it as is as they liked the satin looking finish. Not too sure they weren't pulling my leg a little.

So here it is a week and a half later and I'm tearing off all of the shiny parts: roll bar, lights, windscreen, etc. for the full wet sanding treatment of the clear. I stand back and I come to the realization that I'm just not that happy with the job I did. I realize that I'm probably being a little picky, and seeing every tiny flaw as a gaping hole or cavernous scratch. There are a few light areas but I would have to point them out.

I ordered a new trunk from Shell Valley, (original didn't fit) so I have to paint that anyway, and I have a few nicks in the channels of the doors and hood where I didn't wait long enough before trying to set them in. So being a little disappointed in my handy work and with a few flaws due for repair anyway, why not just go ahead and re-paint anyway??

I really appreciate the good advice from the forums here and I really don't mind if anyone says " I told you so." I take the advice here when I can, but with my business (RV supplier) being so slow, I really have to cut my spending. This means I must do as much myself as possible. It's kind of a pride thing at this point, other than advise, and a little help from a neighbor to set my windshield, I've done the entire car solo.

So I'll post again when I get the repaint completed.

Thanks all
Duff