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Paint questions

Jakedog

Bronco Guru
Joined
Jan 25, 2010
Messages
1,010
I have decided to paint my bronco with spray paint until I can have it professionally painted. I saw a bronco online that is flat tan and flat green and I like the way it looks. I'm using the krylon camo colors.
I painted my fiberglass hood with the tan color. I like the color, but the paint is splotchy. I have used this paint before on smaller items and it looked good, but my hood does not look like it should.

The paint should dry even and flat. I have put 2 coats on so far. I'm starting to think I didn't prep rhe hood correctly.

Any advice?
 
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Jakedog

Jakedog

Bronco Guru
Joined
Jan 25, 2010
Messages
1,010
Like this:
 

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suckerpunched

Sr. Member
Joined
Aug 24, 2006
Messages
882
it's pretty hard to paint big panels with rattle cans, the paint flashes off before you can cover the whole thing. you need to spraying against a wet edge. try wet sanding the hood with 500 grit and recoat. you might try it eary in the morning when it is cooler so the paint dries slower.
 

rjrobin2002

Contributor
Bronco Guru
Joined
Oct 13, 2007
Messages
2,947
It would be cheaper to buy a $15 harbor freight hvlp gun and a 2 quarts of the rustoleum paint you want. Then you will have the speed and control to make the panels look even and not splotchy.
 

Hazegray

Sr. Member
Joined
Aug 10, 2004
Messages
795
IF you do use rustoleum, ensure you get the enamel hardner from Tractor Supply. Also, it's an oil based paint so if you decide to paint it again with regular automotive paint, it must be removed 100%.
 

AZ73

Bronco Guru
Joined
Mar 28, 2012
Messages
3,813
You'll never get it looking good without wetsanding when you're done. But it will look fantastic after wet sanding. Painting it when it's cooler, in the shade, and 30-50% humidity will help. After painting, Start with a 400 grit, then move to an 800 or 1000. Other note is Krylon isn't UV resistant without it's clear topcoat so it will fade over time, but if this is just a temp job, doesn't matter.
 
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Skiddy

Bronco Guru
Joined
Oct 8, 2003
Messages
11,587
IF you do use rustoleum, ensure you get the enamel hardner from Tractor Supply. Also, it's an oil based paint so if you decide to paint it again with regular automotive paint, it must be removed 100%.

I found out this the hard way on my grill insert:cry:
 
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Jakedog

Jakedog

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Joined
Jan 25, 2010
Messages
1,010
Thanks for the advice. I considered wet sanding( I've never actually done it myself ) but I wasn't sure if it would work on spray paint.
 

pcf_mark

Bronco Guru
Joined
Jun 11, 2010
Messages
3,696
I know you are trying to do it on the cheap but...no matter what you put on it you are going to have to get it off 100% and it will be a beast when you try to put real paint on it.
 
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Jakedog

Jakedog

Bronco Guru
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Jan 25, 2010
Messages
1,010
I have decided to leave painting to the professional's. I can't afford to get mine painted right now, but I have realized I suck at painting.
 

Skiddy

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Joined
Oct 8, 2003
Messages
11,587
I have decided to leave painting to the professional's. I can't afford to get mine painted right now, but I have realized I suck at painting.
to bad you wasn't closer I would spray it for you
 

pcf_mark

Bronco Guru
Joined
Jun 11, 2010
Messages
3,696
This a case of 'learn by doing' but the grill is so darn hand to sand. Door is a great thing to practice on!
 

AZ73

Bronco Guru
Joined
Mar 28, 2012
Messages
3,813
I have decided to leave painting to the professional's. I can't afford to get mine painted right now, but I have realized I suck at painting.

When I was very young I wanted to paint my car but didn't have a clue how. I talked with a bunch of painters and figured if I screw it up, a pro (or me) is going to have to sand it down and paint it anyway so why not try it. Got a cheap gun, used a giant piece of cardboard to do my best to dial in the gun, and shot it. I had the occasional run here and there but I was shocked at how good it came out. Most of the hard work is the sanding and wiping prep, and you can practice shooting with the primer which you sand anyway.

Seriously, use a coupon for Harbor Freight's gun and you can get it for $9.99. Get some cheap primer and single stage paint, borrow a decent compressor, and try it. TCP is a good source for reasonably priced paint and if you just do the outside of the body, it'll take less than a gallon. TCP basic paint is about $300/gal

https://www.harborfreight.com/20-oz-8-cfm-gravity-feed-spray-gun-67181.html

http://www.autocolorlibrary.com/

Another option for the short term is plastidip. Goes on pretty nice, and will peel off when you're ready to do a real paint job. Same HF sprayer and $66/gal

https://www.dipyourcar.com/collections/gallon-colors
 

Rustytruck

Bronco Guru
Joined
Feb 24, 2002
Messages
10,872
The fiberglass hood needed to be sanded and primed then sanded again before you put the top coat on. That way the gel-coat would be sealed and of one complete sealed surface with even texture. Then you have a chance to have an even coat of paint. Otherwise some areas of the paint get sucked in or flash dry differently. I had a friend that used flat non automotive paint to do a temporary cammo job and the truck sits out side and the tan turned a pink tint on him. He got allot of razing about that. Allot of flat paints do not have UV protection in the paint.

My first paint job I was 15 and I rented a compressor and paint gun. I learned allot and made quite a few mistakes by jumping in with both feet and no help (Pre Internet) but no mater how it cam out it was better than a spray can.
 

KeithKinPhx

Sr. Member
Joined
Jan 8, 2017
Messages
451
Just painted my engine bay and tub interior a month ago. Never done it before. Perfect? No. But pretty damn good. Went with a single stage lacquer enamel. Original body color.

Interior and engine bay are great places to learn. But the worst case is you have another layer to pull off in a few years to have it done professionally. You can always buy a compressor off craigslist, use it and then resell. Should get back every dollar you spend there. The harbor freight spray gun is a throw away item but will cost you less than $10 as AZ73 stated. Paint is cheaper by the gallon versus the rattle can.

You're never gonna know until you try.
 

vtboy51

Contributor
Sr. Member
Joined
Aug 26, 2016
Messages
403
Just painted my engine bay and tub interior a month ago. Never done it before. Perfect? No. But pretty damn good. Went with a single stage lacquer enamel. Original body color.

Interior and engine bay are great places to learn. But the worst case is you have another layer to pull off in a few years to have it done professionally. You can always buy a compressor off craigslist, use it and then resell. Should get back every dollar you spend there. The harbor freight spray gun is a throw away item but will cost you less than $10 as AZ73 stated. Paint is cheaper by the gallon versus the rattle can.

You're never gonna know until you try.

Where did you buy your single stage enamel and did they have the color code to get you a good match or did you have to supply a sample?
 

KeithKinPhx

Sr. Member
Joined
Jan 8, 2017
Messages
451
I bought everything from Space Age Paint in Mesa Az. They are an independent paint store. I had my VIN and they looked everything up from there. I did not have a sample.

I bought a good paint and primer. I heard long ago that good paint will help a bad painter. Which is why rattle can paint jobs turn out so bad. My video dropping this Sunday has a segment on the paint I bought. Rising Phoenix Bronco.
 

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Jakedog

Jakedog

Bronco Guru
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Jan 25, 2010
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1,010
I noticed that the spray gun from harbor freight is gravity fed. Is that ok or should I buy a more expensive gun that's not gravity fed?
 

KeithKinPhx

Sr. Member
Joined
Jan 8, 2017
Messages
451
Gravity fed.

Just make sure the lid is on tight. Trust me.

I'll probably never get the blue off my driveway.
 
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