How much Paint to Buy??

[noreasteb]

I am sheduling my bronco to be painted at a friend's shop/booth and I need to supply all the paint & primer.

I have prep'd the body and have sanded through the original paint to bare metal in a few spots, and body filled in a few other locations. I've heard that I need to use epoxy primer first as I have bare metal spots. This will also work as a sealer too? I then plan I using a high-build primer, and finish with base/clear.

So here's the question - how much epoxy primer, high-build primer and base/clear should I purchase to paint the exterior of the body plus the underside of the hood, both sides of doors & jams?

Any advise on procedure and quantity would be greatly appreciated.

 

[DAKOTA7720]

Are you going to use a brush or a roller?

 

[noreasteb]

Are you going to use a brush or a roller?

Ha ... funny stuff

 

[needabronco]

If you use a 'direct to metal' primer you don't need the extra step(s) of using an epoxy primer, any catalized primer will seal the metal. If your body work is already finished you could get away with a quart of primer, if you still need to block sand some more, I'd say 2 quarts, but it will be cheaper (and good insurance) to buy a gallon.

As for paint, I just did a complete including both sides of the hood jams, full doors, under dash, both sides of dash, front clip, interior and used 6 quarts of red and a little over a pint of white. If your just shooting the exterior you could easily use 3 quarts (again cheaper to buy a gallon) of base, and I would guess at least 2 quarts of clear. I would double check with the guy with the booth and see what he thinks also.

As far as brands, I would use what the paint shop recommends. You do need to be careful when mixing brands as some solvents aren't compatible. I used U-pol primer and PPG single stage paint and it worked well, and I can still clear coat the single stage down the road if I want...

Unless your buddies booth has a bake cycle I would highly suggest you do your final prime and let it cure for a week or two before you do a final sand, that will let the solvents in the primer fully cure and allow for full shrinkage, with will make a better surface for the paint. I would also suggest wet sanding with 4-600 before you final prime, and also before you paint. The flatter the surface the better your paint job will be... Yes you can wet sand bare metal you just need to make sure it's 'dry' before your finished.

Good luck.

 

[noreasteb]

Excellent info. I believe the shop does have a bake cycle. It is about 3 yrs old and at a GM dealership. The owner is my future father in-law and I do not know the body guy ... yet.
My budget is extremely tight and trying to get decent job at a decent price. This will not be a show vehicle but a capable driver.
Thanks again for you input.