How long does paint last before it is sprayed.

[ObscureMachine]

I'm getting a grill and brand new custom dash, plus my fenders and hood are off. I was thinking it might be cool to go ahead and paint them, especially the dash so I can get it wired up and installed quickly. But it would be a while before I got to the rest of the body with paint.

Should I just wait and paint everything at once? Hit them with primer? Go ahead and spray them if the paint will last a while (not sure how long)? You guys are the experts!

Thanks,

Jim

 

[sykanr0ng]

What I would suggest is to get a small container of paint for just the dash, so you can paint it and wire it, but wait on the rest until it is all ready.
It would make you pretty unhappy to have nice new paint on those parts and ruin it while you work on parts next to them.

 

[Rustytruck]

Most paints will last about 2 years or so. But dont trust the hardener that long. Get a new can of hardener yearly. Take your paint and dish it out in quarts. Opening and closing a gallon can frequently is not the best way to store paint when you close opened cans of paint put a sheet of plastic bag between the lid and the can.

 

[bronkenn]

As Rusty said. I get my paint mixed and take the total amount and break it into quarts. My paint is a 1:1 mix ratio with the reducer so it is easy to mix the right amount when you are ready to start painting each piece. 2 years is a good timeline for paint storage.

 

[Pa PITT]

I agree GET AN EXTRA QT PAINT CAN & move some into it. I'd paint both grill & dash if your going both the same color. Just don't put any of your thinned or hardened paint back into the qt can. & DON'T LET IF FREEZE OVER WINTER . tHE FEWER TIMES IT CAN BE OPENED the better off you'll be .
If the grill fades back your can scuff it up & repaint it when every thing else is painted .
To me primer will let moisture thru. The full coat of paint will save it .
Hang it on the wall for yard art while you wait.

 

[ObscureMachine]

Would it be better to buy a small amount to paint the grill and dash, then buy the rest later, assuming they get the mix perfectly matched?

 

[CraigS]

if you have a mig welder around, spray some gas into the container (removing the oxygen) before you close the lid - argon would be best, or nitrogen, but you don't usually have that laying around.

 

[markw]

One of the problems with getting several batches of the same color is they are almost always a little different. If you are just painting your dash I'd get a pint...that goes a long ways really. For body panels you might want to paint at different times do as the others have said. One batch and divide it.

 

[sykanr0ng]

One of the problems with getting several batches of the same color is they are almost always a little different. If you are just painting your dash I'd get a pint...that goes a long ways really. For body panels you might want to paint at different times do as the others have said. One batch and divide it.

If the dash is a slightly different shade than the rest of the Bronco will be less noticeable than if a door and the fender next to it are different.

 

[sprdv1]

If the dash is a slightly different shade than the rest of the Bronco will be less noticeable than if a door and the fender next to it are different.

True dat.....

 

[ObscureMachine]

True dat.....

Good Point.