ratsun

Ok all you auto body and paint guys I need some info (or a place to get it) on painting my truck.
The truck I bought has tons of little rock chips and I want to try and paint it myself. I have had a little experience spraying laquer but not on this large of a scale and have never sprayed base clear. My plan was to respay the same color so I dont have to worry about the jams and so on. I have a new HVLP gun with a 1.4 tip and a good air supply but will have to spray in my garage so I will have to pick a good day weather wise. Do I need to fill the paint chips or can I spray primer and block it out? Should I spray base clear? ect
Any advice would be helpfull. One other thing is I plan on doing sections at a time, the truck is Dark Chestnut pearl coat on top and bottom and Driftwood satin glow in the middle Thanks

blackdiesel

DA sand the whole truck, feathering the rock chips with 180 grit. Pull and fill all dints at this time. then spray a sealer-surfacer and block sand that. As for paint the sky is the limit. can get an off brand acrylic enamel with hardener for around $100 gal, or you can spend 4 or 500 for ppg base clear sys. depends on your budget. I would paint the whole truck at one time. just wet the floor down, and remenber you can wet-sand and buff out your inperfections.

Dr. Evil

You can practice on yours and then do mine.....Id be happy with just 1 color

Gotlift01

For the rock chips it all depends on how big and deep they are. If they only chiped the paint you can sand them down no big deal, but if they hit hard enough to leave a small dimple in your metal you can use a minor amount of bondo to fill in and wipe smooth over the chips.

And I agree with painting the whole thing at once, work on one side at a time and keep the paint wet and glossy looking until you have finished with that side. Doing sections usually doesn't pan out so well, especially dealing with two different colors!!

Paint is all up to you, depending on your budget and how well you want it to hold up.............there are TONS of options out there for you!

Good luck man, it's quite a project for a first timer!!


~Nick

blackdiesel

forgot to say wash the truck with hot soapy water first, really really good to remove all wax and oils that might be on it. Dawn dish washing soap is good and when I say hot I mean as HOT as you can stand it. It will save you a lot of trouble with fisheyes down the road. Be sure you have a water trap on your line, and there is a cheap little water trap that goes on your gun also that is well worth the cost

ratsun

Thanks guys, I think I will give it a go when it warms up.
I know its a big job but thats me LOL

Chrisreyn

Gee, whats wrong with a brush and a gallon of Rustoleum???????

Mexstan

It goes faster with a roller.

Geico266

Rock chips = character