A question for car painters

[ViperZ]

What is your technique for applying coats of primer/paint/clear, do you sand in between every coat?

[box]

i sand back with 400-800 (depending on primer), spray primer, block sand smooth to 800 if its a metallic colour, 600 for gloss, base coat goes on in either:
-2 light coats and a medium-wet coat if its a gloss, no sanding between coats just waiting for the previous coat to flash off
-3 very light coats if metallic - same as above no sanding between coats

If i have runs in a base , ill sand them out once it dries and scuff the rest with 800, apply a layer on top, apply the clearcoat just after the base flashes off. Clearcoat done as one mist, two wet coats

Once it dries, wetsand with 1000, 1500 and buff

This is what i do, hope it helps

[ViperZ]

Very helpful, thanks for the info!

[thor'svr4]

like box said you shouldnt have to sand a color coat. also iirc i was told that if you add excess thinner to the clearcoat it will help it to lay down nicer which means less sanding/buffing later. ive tried it a few times before and it seams to have helped out a lot, but you might want to varify that with someone who knows more.

links that might be usefull:
http://www.southernpolyurethanes.com/adjusting%20your%20gun.htm
http://www.autopaintinginfo.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=news;action=display;num=1216692703

edit:
Box, what do you use to buff the final product? i used to wet sand down to 2200 then use 'meguiars fine cut cleaner' but im curious as to what some other good products may be.

[ViperZ]

Very helpful info guys, I really appreciate it!

[box]

theres really no need to sand more than 1500. I buff with a high speed orbital buffer and wool pad(the one that looks like an angle grinder) starting with meguires fine cut cleaner then swirl remover.

[hotrodln]

I like to sand to 2000....it almost starts shinning again at that point.....if i get a run in the base coat or junk, i use a hair dryer to speed up the dry time.......then wet sand with 400, then spot spray over the affected area.......once i've sprayed the color, i can't wait to cover it with clear!

[mcshooter]

just saw a tv show {scearch and restore] the head guy has restored over 250 cars and is considered a top guy. he has won awards with some of the cars he has done. he said he puts on 11 coats .primer sealer , base and 7 coats of clear. they did not say if he puts on 3 or 4 coats of clear then sands and puts on 3 more clear. he said to get a perfect job sometimes you sand as much as 2 or 3 coats of clear off. question is do you put all 7 on at once... thanks ..chuck

[nodoze]

my opinion is to let the clear flash then wet sand it then spray it again then do a final buff out on the last clear

[mcshooter]

guys i just finished painting the body of my son in law 1969 nova. it has to be the best one i have did. the clear layed down like glass. i have no need to sand and buff. this is the first time i have used montana paint and would recommend it to everyone. i put on 1 coat of primer sealer, 3 coats of base and 3 coats of clear. it took me about 6 hours and still have the hood, fenders and trunk to do. iam not sure how to do the hood and trunk yet as i have to paint both sides of the hood and trunk. i will probably hang them. the cost of the montana paint that included 1 gallon primer sealer and 1 gallon base and 1 gallon clear along with reducers and activaters was $601...

[ViperZ]

guys i just finished painting the body of my son in law 1969 nova. it has to be the best one i have did. the clear layed down like glass. i have no need to sand and buff. this is the first time i have used montana paint and would recommend it to everyone. i put on 1 coat of primer sealer, 3 coats of base and 3 coats of clear. it took me about 6 hours and still have the hood, fenders and trunk to do. iam not sure how to do the hood and trunk yet as i have to paint both sides of the hood and trunk. i will probably hang them. the cost of the montana paint that included 1 gallon primer sealer and 1 gallon base and 1 gallon clear along with reducers and activaters was $601...

Wow, that's not a bad price. Any certain techniques you used to get the glassy finish without sanding/buffing? Did you sand the primer or base coats at all?

[mcshooter]

i did not sand any coats, if you get a run in the primer or base you can sand, but do not sand the last base coat. my son in law built a paint booth so i had a good place to paint. when i go back to paint the hood and trunk i will see what montana paint products we used. if you look at montana web site you will see they have multiple clear coat.i will post the one we used. since i had never used there paint we went with the paint dealer advised..

[mcshooter]

the clear i used is montana pe2100 eurospeed. you can look it up on there website

[ViperZ]

Awesome, I'll have to look into it, thanks! Do you have any pics of the car?

[mcshooter]

i will see if i can get some pictures when i can, i was planning on doing the trunk and doors this weekend but this is on hold since i dont feel to good , the car is 50 miles from me so maybe next weekend

[athamay]

I will be painting my car next week, if anyone is interested I can post pictures of the process and how I will be doing it, I don't think any of us have an oven in our houses but I am using 4 portable heaters, I need this to work, or it's to the expensive body shop with it, my main concern are things like the front bumper which is nothing but a piece of plastic