Painting recommendations

[Qingdao]

Originally Posted by 986Chick

Ocean Jade Metallic.

Is that your car or a stock photo?

Why the re-spray? Have you tried calling a detailer?

There are quite a few mobile detailers around that will show up to your house and wash and buff your car with guaranteed results. Honestly they might be the ones to call to get advise on where to go get your car painted. I'm sure they refer people for paint all the time.

[986Chick]

Originally Posted by Qingdao

Is that your car or a stock photo?

Why the re-spray? Have you tried calling a detailer?

There are quite a few mobile detailers around that will show up to your house and wash and buff your car with guaranteed results. Honestly they might be the ones to call to get advise on where to go get your car painted. I'm sure they refer people for paint all the time.

It's my car.

There is peeling clear coat (you can see two small areas of peeled clear coat on the lid for the convertible top in the photo), areas on the hood that are faded, and lots of chips and scratches. I might be able to get away with the horizontal surfaces (hood and trunk lid) painted and the rest detailed, if they can match or blend the color.

But I've already had detailers look at it, and everyone says it needs to be painted, unfortunately.

[Qingdao]

Originally Posted by 986Chick

It's my car.

There is peeling clear coat (you can see two small areas of peeled clear coat on the lid for the convertible top in the photo), areas on the hood that are faded, and lots of chips and scratches. I might be able to get away with the horizontal surfaces (hood and trunk lid) painted and the rest detailed, if they can match or blend the color.

But I've already had detailers look at it, and everyone says it needs to be painted, unfortunately.

Any body dings or dents that you couldn't live with?

You might be able to get away with a Maaco job if you aren't apposed to doing some 320 or 500 grit sanding before you send it in. Take the headlighs, tail lights and intake scoops off too.


That's really simple work you can do with a Philips head screwdriver and some patience.

[986Chick]

Originally Posted by Qingdao

Any body dings or dents that you couldn't live with?

You might be able to get away with a Maaco job if you aren't apposed to doing some 320 or 500 grit sanding before you send it in. Take the headlighs, tail lights and intake scoops off too.


That's really simple work you can do with a Philips head screwdriver and some patience.

What kind of sanding is required? Just rough it up, or do I need to remove clear coat, or what? And does it matter if I'm doing it by hand, using an orbital sander, or a circular one? I don't have the faintest idea what to do, but I'll do the work if I can learn and it will save me buku bucks.

[Qingdao]

Originally Posted by 986Chick

What kind of sanding is required? Just rough it up, or do I need to remove clear coat, or what? And does it matter if I'm doing it by hand, using an orbital sander, or a circular one? I don't have the faintest idea what to do, but I'll do the work if I can learn and it will save me buku bucks.

https://www.harborfreight.com/9-in-x-11-in-wetdry-sanding-sheets-assortment-10-pk-63778.html

Get a box of 220 and a box of 500. That's the grit count (grains of sand per square inch I think).

If you have a garden hose that helps but a bucket of soapy water works too.


Using one of these is suggested, but depends on the contour of the piece you are working.

https://www.harborfreight.com/4-78-in-soft-rubber-sanding-block-69574.html?_br_psugg_q=sanding+block




Take all of these things, and start with the block and some 220. Dip the 220 in soapy water (or run the garden hose over the piece you are working). Work the sandpaper with the water running (the water flushes the paint so it doesn't clog the sandpaper).

Work the 220 until most of the big scratches and the clear is mostly gone. Don't work all the way to seems in the parts. Another words don't go to the edges where the doors are and where the trunks seal etc.


NOW give your car a good rinsing with clean water. Start with the 500. Do the same with the 500 grit paper as you did with the 220. Try to cross hatch it (do strokes perpendicular to each other). This step should take out most of the clear.


One thing you should NOT have when finished are areas that have flakes. If you have a flake under the base coat your base coat is probably gonna pull up. If you encounter stubborn areas you can sand in one direction away from the higher build area.








^^^^ BUT take all this as a grain of salt i'm only a hobbyist not a professional. Regardless this is what I'd do if I had about $1000 to spend on a paint job.