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Perfect Paint Job
[Note: The Perfect Paint Job is how
the Blackened Mustang, Y1 Mail Order Camaro, Y1 '66 Mustang, and Y1
RedRunner on the
cover of our
catalog were painted along with countless other show
vehicles.]
The Perfect Paint Job
December 2008
Our goal is to accomplish a
paint job that with a strong foundation, with a maximum
gloss that will last for many years. This type of painting is not
practical for the
everyday production body shop but will serve you well when you do a
restoration or a
street rod job. We are going with the assumption that the metal, or
fiberglass has been
stripped of all paint.
All bare metals and aluminum should have 80 grit DA scratches.
Bare metal is always best cleaned with #700-1 waterborne wax and grease
remover then
let it sit 30-6o minutes before applying epoxy!
After first reading our Epoxy Tech Sheet, mix enough #6600 series epoxy
to spray two
wet coats over the entire car. Spray one wet coat and let flash about 30
minutes, then
apply a second wet coat. Let the epoxy set overnight and then apply
body, or fiberglass
filler and glazing putty over the epoxy. It is not necessary to sand the
epoxy before
applying the fillers, as they will bite into the epoxy, and feather
great. When you have
finished sanding all of the bodywork, you are likely to have some bare
metal spots from
sanding. Spray one wet coat of epoxy over all filler spots and over any
bare metal spots.
Let the vehicle set overnight.
The next day, you can start spraying the 2K primer over the epoxy. Once
again, it is not
necessary to scuff or sand the epoxy before applying primer. The most
important
thing to remember at this point, is spray one wet coat of primer, and
let it set for 30
minutes before applying the second coat. Follow this procedure between
coats of primer.
This step, when abused, messes up more paint finishes than anything
else!
When all of the primer blocking and any necessary primer repairs have
been done, it is
always best to use the epoxy as a sealer. Mix up enough epoxy to go
around the car with
one wet coat, adding a double shot glass of SPI #885 urethane reducer,
per quart. Let the
epoxy set for 30 minutes. Stir one more time, and strain. Spray one full
wet coat of epoxy
over the entire car. The epoxy should set for 24 hours, then wet sand as
needed, with
600-800 grit paper and then you are ready to base.
Next to rushing the 2K primer, rushing the basecoat is the second cause
for the final gloss
and depth of a paint job to look bad. It is very important use the
slowest urethane reducer
in your base that you can get away with, no matter what the outside
temperature is. Just
allow enough extra time for the basecoat to flash and dry. The
difference between a very
slow grade and medium grade reducer will show up in the final gloss. The
slower grade
also has better solvency and will give you far better adhesion. Spray
the first coat, and let
it totally dry, before spraying the second coat. It is best to wait 45
minutes between
coats.
Option if basecoat
isn’t perfect:
After two coats, the vehicle should set overnight, then do minor wet
sanding with 1500
grit sandpaper to remove any orange peel or trash. Apply the next two
coats with 45
minutes of flash time in between. Some colors require additional coats.
If this is the
case, again, wait 45 minutes between coats. Let the basecoat set
overnight.
Tack off the next day, apply a wet coat of SPI-Universal, SPI-MS or SPI-HS
Clear, and
let the clear flash as needed. Let the first coat of clear set 30
minutes.
Spray the second wet coat of clear, let it set 30 minutes, then spray
the third coat of clear.
From two days to two weeks after the job has been completed, wet sand
the clear with
400-800 grit sandpaper, blocking out any orange peel or dirt. After wet
sanding, let the
car set in sun for a day then apply a wet coat of clear. Let the clear
flash 30 minutes.
Apply a second coat of clear, then 30 minutes later come back with a
third coat of clear.
Let the vehicle set two or three days in the sun to help to get all of
the solvents out and
settle the paint job. If any wet sanding is required before buffing,
sand with 1500 grit
sandpaper, then set the vehicle in sun for two to three hours. Bring the
car back into the
shop, and allow it cool to room temperature, then buff.
If you follow these directions, you will have a durable paint job, with
maximum depth
and gloss over a solid foundation, which will last for many years to
come.
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