How much Paint?
 

This is a question for those who have sprayed their own cars.
After several years of track work and long runs my cobra is now due for a respray (and filler of the million little stone chips etc) and I'm enquiring as to how much paint is required to cover a cobra. Don't need it down to last ml. just an average so I can get my colour mixed- Princess (Alice )Blue.

Single stage or base clear ?

If single I would buy a 4 litre tin and blast away till you run out (should get 3 - 4 coats)
But if you go for 2 x 4 litre tins it will give you plenty to wet rub and polish if need be.

If 2k then i would think 3 in color and 3 in clear (although again, probably more cost efective to buy in 4 litre tins)

Thanks Boxhead,
Probably go 2k and maybe a few more clear coats to stop the stone chips again. Although it will be a lighter colour so they wont be as noticeable. May even consider a clear pvc skin on the nose also.

I am not sure how true it is, but I was told less hardener results in less chips, but the paint is softer, so it can go "funny" if bird crap sits on it too long (eats into the paint)

And more hardener prevents the acid in pooh getting in, but chips easier.

I'd be wary of playing with ratios for any 2 pack product.

Certainly 2 pack epoxies really stuff up, ie don't go hard at all, if you get too out of sync to the prescribed hardener to resin mix in either direction.

I can't see there being much difference with two pack paints in this regard but I might be wrong.

Don't you find it ironic that the only responses thus far have been from two guys who seemingly have unpainted cars. Well if we are to believe their avatars and picture galleries. :p

And to add to the irony. I'm certainly no help. Sorry.

1) I don't know squat about paint other than boxhead's is beige (sorry Dave - Mike made me do it). :o
2) ...and I'm not painting mine either. :cool:

Sorry to say it, but the answer is like "how long is a piece of string". You need to clarify the following to your paint supplier:

1. Are you painting it in Direct Gloss (DG) or Clear Over Base (COB)? If DG, are you doing 2 or 3 coats?
2. If you using a colour-keyed primer or sealer?
3. Is the colour a solid or metallic. If metallic, you'll need an extra 1-2 coats to orient the metallic.
4. Is the colour you have chosen considered translucent needing more 'coats to hide'? If so, then if using COB you may need up to double the amount of basecoat to get full coverage. Obviously this will completely blow-out your paint requirements.
5. What paint system are you using? For example, PPG COB reduces 1:1, but Standox reduces 2:1.
6. If you're also painting under the bonnet & boot or any others areas that aren't the main body.

The above taken into consideration, you might use between 3 and 5 litres, but as mentioned, it depends on all of the above factors. I own a bodyshop and we paint both metal and fibreglass cars...and between 3-5 litres is about what we'd use.


PS> With regard to changing the product ratios....we categorically don't do it...with the sole exception of altering the amount of reducer (thinner) but within the product specs (ie. some systems allow between 0-30% reducer for example). Changing the product to hardener ratio is asking to open a HUGE can of worms. You can, however mix two of the same system hardeners together (ie slow and medium to make a semi-slow) or reducers.

Thanks all for your input and especially Paintwerks . Princess Blue is a very light silver blue metallic, popular on Healeys but also used in the early 289 Cobras . The one I'm basing mine on was one of the last remaining ACs that Shelby didn't take. The AC 289 was the 427SC body and running gear with the small 289 left over from the very first batch built.
I've got a lot of prep work to go before the final coats as I think mine has about 6 clear coats to rub back .