Help with Painting

[Jafxod]

So I fully prepped my car. 200 grit 400 grit 600 grit 1000 grit. Wax/grease remover, tack clothes, everything. I bought a spray gun kit form loews and some auto primer from pepboys. Started spraying and it just came out very very thin and as soon as it started covering then it would run. Now I have to re-sand a bunch of areas and I am not happy. I did practice on an old hood and thought I was good.

The primer seemed thinner then what I would have thought, just a little thicker then water. Not sure if this is normal. Also, its gray and you could barely tell it was covering over my white paint.

I need to get this shit down before I spray the white. Any help will be appreciated.


Thanks.

[Big Willy]

Sounds like you put too much thinner in your primer. Also 1000 grit seems like it is a little too fine to paint on, I usually end with 600. Also are you panting the car a different color? If you are priming the car entirely is the way to go. But if it is just the same color then you should be using a sealer coat, it is much thinner than primer and just creates that uniform surface that you want for your final paint.

[Jafxod]

I didnt use any thinner. Car is staying white.

[george graves]

I would recommend taking it to a shop in NJ - Pm "vlad" on this forum.

























(just kidding)

[Pinepig]

If you can't guess at the thickness of your mixed product before application, go to an automotive paint store and ask for a zahn cup. It's a little cup with a specific sized hole in the bottom, you dip it in your mixed product to fill, hold it over the bucket you mixed it up in and time how long it takes for your paint to run out, to quick and it's too thin, too long and it's too thick. For a new guy painting it's worth it's weight in gold ( they are about 10-20 bucks ). Always start thick and work your way to just right.

[Pinepig]

I didnt use any thinner. Car is staying white.

It's not supposed to cover in one coat, it can take 4 or 5 before you stop seeing through it depending on color.

[Jafxod]

I would recommend taking it to a shop in NJ - Pm "vlad" on this forum.

























(just kidding)

I was trying to throw a vlad joke in somewhere but it wasnt working haha.

[Keith M]

It's not supposed to cover in one coat, it can take 4 or 5 before you stop seeing through it depending on color.

What kind of primer are you using? I shoot light colored primer over black sealer and it covers completely in one coat. It's Debeers fwiw.

[Pinepig]

What kind of primer are you using? I shoot light colored primer over black sealer and it covers completely in one coat. It's Debeers fwiw.

My bad, I was reading paint not primer. I use PPG stuff, can't remember the name ATM and yes the primer covers in one coat no problem.

[Wh33lhop]

I was trying to throw a vlad joke in somewhere but it wasnt working haha.

u vlad?

[Keith M]

My bad, I was reading paint not primer. I use PPG stuff, can't remember the name ATM and yes the primer covers in one coat no problem.

PPG has gone downhill in my opinion. The only product of theres I use is DCC 9300 single stage black. Using Standox now for other colors.

[KI4UJO]

First off, what are your products based off of (Lacquer, enamel, urethane, etc.)? Normally, your primer is about a 50/50 ratio of product to thinner/reducer. As for your actual product, you normally shoot in thin coats ( especially with modern paint products) and let each coat tack up until you reach the re-coat window so that it does not run. It sounds like you're using urethane, so just take your time. As for the paper, 1000 is too fine. I normally take it to 400 wet, and then shoot product (I use etching primer). That has always turned out fine for me, and I have never seen a reason to take it any further. In all honesty, if I were you, I would use a sealer, since you can pretty much go over the car with a DA, seal, and spray your paint. If you have any more questions, please ask.

[DatUtahGuy]

Are you talking about primer filler or sealer? Unless you have repairs to cover, you don't need primer, only sealer.

Was the primer you bought a "ready to spray primer"? or did you mix it yourself, if so, how many parts primer/reducer/activator?

It sounds like you either have a problem with your primer being over-thinned or you have your gun setup wrong(shooting too much air/not enough material) or have a problem with how close you are holding the gun to the vehicle.

If you mixed it yourself, try mixing more primer and less reducer, but the same amount of activator. Also, tweak your gun settings(less air) and don't "sit" on a spot, remember to keep moving at a steady pace throughout the entire coat, hold the gun about 6 inches away from the surface you are spraying.

The first coat should only half cover, and depending on the quality of the primer it will usually take 2 or 3 coats to fully cover. Don't get in a rush and try to cover it with the first coat, as you will run the f*%# out of it.

I really hope we are talking about sealer, not primer, you don't need to primer the entire car, you only need throw a light sealant coat before laying down your basecoat.

PM me if you got questions brah

[ak-]

u vlad?

lmao

[Jafxod]

I did do some body work. And i only sanded down to 600 grit.