warning not maverick part............. I have a brand new ford repop bumper cover for my mustang, I already have it pre fitted and all looks good there. It is black ABS type plastic. How do I go about getting this ready for paint? I REFUSE to pay 3-400 to have a damn bumper painted, I will try myself and screw it up 4 or 5 times and spend 1000 before I do that:16suspect. I need to learn to paint and do body work what better place to start So what I'm thinking is scuff plastic with 300 or so grit paper air it off to get dust particles out of corners grease remover on cloth wipe down. clean cotton cloth wipe off again rattle can primer 3- 4 coats. than sand with 400 dry sand 600 wet grease remover steps again ready for paint????????? I will go to local paint shop with my gas door and have them match that into a single stage nasson brand paint. And next I need to purchase a decent quality LVLP gun (I don't have the air comp at this time to handle a HVLP gun) any recomendations? I here good things about astro? any one have any links to specific guns? Thanks for any replies!:Handshake
I do research on this site. It is a little slow on responses but still has good info. http://www.paintersforum.com/search.php?searchid=2877
Thanks blugene, doing some research over there I think I may have found a gun to my likings....... http://www.eastwood.com/ew-concours-gun-1-2-and-1-4-tips-plastic-andmetal-cup.html This fits my compressor well, i just hope the requirements are true. I will be doing some internet searching trying to verify this before spending the coin. As for the rest of it................ still researching and EVERYONE seems to have different opinions on "how". Is it really that much of a black art that you must just try and try again?
Painting and body work is not a "black art" so much. However, if you ask 10 different body guys how to change a quarter panel you will likely end up with 8 or 9 different ways. As long as the end result is the same it shouldn't matter the exact steps taken. Talk to your jobber about what products they recommend. I don't know anything about DuPont/Nason so I am no help. I am a PPG guy. Glenn
I could easily tell you the proper way to prep that bumper so you never have any problems,but your comments on body shops has made me hope you screw it up completely.Everyone is a bodyman/painter,but when they have a problem or take it to a shop,they all expect it for free.Good luck.......you will need it!!!!!!!!!!
I would stick with a good supplier and follow the recommendations of the company that makes the product your going to use. As for paying body men its worth every penny. After spending countless hours working under our body man at work on my car for 11 months I can honestly tell you these guys are way under payed. Even the shop rate is not outrageous by any means. The overhead is huge with todays paints and supplies. I can understand a guy wanting to learn a bit but its worth the money to get it done right. I way underestimated the amount of work and experience needed to do the job properly. Its like a big chemistry experiment. Mess up on your fascia and you'll be upset when the powerwasher blows all that new paint down the sewer.
Mike and Glen I'm sorry if I offended you, I promise you I never meant or was I trying to say that bodywork is not worth the money or that you guys are over priced. Sorry if it came off that way its not what I intended. What I was trying to express with that comment is that I can spend 3-400 in "tools and supplies" and LEARN how to do another skill and I would feel better about myself spending more and learning vs just paying someone to do something and not learn anything. We have 7 cars, 2 sand rails, quads and dirt bikes at this house, why not learn how to paint?
No harm. It does get really old reading many different guys trashing the profession. It is expensive to get quality work done with good materials. I have said it before, and maybe it bears repeating. On the average restoration or hot rod build, the paint materials average less than 10% of the cost of the entire project. But it is the first thing you see when looking at a car. It makes an impression.
TRUE. however, the personal satisfaction of doing it yourself is worth more than someone's opinion of your work. it's been said a thousand times on this board, IF IT MAKES YOU HAPPY, WHO CARES WHAT ANYONE ELSE THINKS!
Well said. No chance my car would have turned out like it did if I did it myself. I had a body man and painter leading me through the whole project. Luckily I had that option at work thanks to my employer. We spent many nights and Saturdays at work. I cant begin to express how much i learned from both of them. Its a real skill. As I said before I thought my job as a mechanic was tough and involved. I really underestimated the guys in the body shop. That is one tough job that requires a huge amount of skill and experience. I couldnt be happier with how much they taught me and how the car turned out. Every time I look across the roof of my car I smile. I know what it looked like when we started. Its my favorite part on the entire car. I still havent found a little wave or wobble on it. Its a great feeling to accomplish something new. 74GRABBER, As for the fascia go for it but it might be tough without someone to guide you though. Good news is its a new panel so its only prep and paint. I tried the paint thing on the inside of my panels. Lets just say I'm really glad I didnt paint the outside of them. Good luck with the fascia and the learning experience. Like I said a good, knowledgeable supplier will be a huge help. You may need some flex agent on that fascia but they can help with that.
I agree,and just to add that everyone wants it perfect(myself included) and usually a few dollars less than shop rate.(which is ok,I appreciate the work) BUT what really ticks me off is I feel most of my old car customers(over 20 years) will pay there bill and never(or rarely) tell anyone who did the work.They must feel that since they paid for it(at a discount) that they can have all the bragging rights.This is why I don't take on much anymore.
