painting basics

[wondersparrow]

Good day everyone. Well, after spending the last 3 weeks sanding, I think my track car is finally ready for paint. As I have never really done this, I have a few questions. Believe me, I have searched. Sometimes I find answers, but then they are contradicted by something else.

 

1- I think I am going to go for an enamel. From what I Understand they are fairly easy to spray, durable, and rather inexpensive. This is a track car, and I know the paint is likely going to be ruined by something I do long before things like UV have a chance to have any effect. How much do I need to paint a 240z? I have some HVLP guns someone is going to loan me for this if it makes a difference.

 

2- This is an odd one, I seriously couldn't find the answer to this.... Do you need a primer for an enamel? I have a mix of old paint, primer, body filler, and fiberglass showing. I am assuming its probably best, but I thought I would ask.

 

I like the look of the 350z and Porsche silvers. I doubt you can get an enamel that looks anything close to that good, but I will try to find something close. Hopefully it all works out.

[ballin280z]

enamel is very durable and about half the amount per gallon than single stage urethane, the one down side is that unless you're a highly experienced painter it doesn't lay out as easily as urethane or lacquer for that matter.

 

in the long run it's a track car, and i mean nothing bad by it loke you said it'll see some damage, and it'll see wear and damage that most cars won't so i would go with an enamel for track purposes, but for looks i'd go urethane. it's durable but not as much as enamel but urethane is much easier to get the gloss and layout and still keep quite a bit of durability. and even with a little bit of orange peel you can buff out urethane much easier than enamel.

 

painting enamel over a primer is fine, as long as you double check to make sure the primer you are using is compatible with the enamel paint line you are using...i always recommend using a primer/sealer surfacer to help hide blemishes in body work.

 

i had to come back and edit how much you'd need. if you pick enamel you should be able to cover your whole Z with two coats no sweat so a half gallon maybe 2.5 qts. If urethane, i painted a subaru justy today, about the same surface area as a Z, i used about 3 qts. but it was a taxi yellow and a color that doesnt cover very well. a very close barrier coat like a non catalyst sealer helps those hard to cover colors cover better so you're not putting on 6 coats to get it to even all out in case you burned through your primer anywhere or have fiberglass, bondo, metal, previous paint etc spots showing anywhere.

 

I've sprayed Starfire Enamel and had great turn outs with great shine. a gallon sprayable is 71 bucks so it's quite unbeatable. you can check out trinity 1945 products and such and other colors at the link below, the link is for a silver gun metal enamel.

 

http://www.paintforcars.com/kits_gunmetal.html

 

 

good luck with your track car, i'd love to see pictures when you're done painting it which ever way you go

 

cheers

Edited August 27, 2009 by ballin280z
finishing up

[wondersparrow]

Awesome, thanks for your help. I'll be sure to post pictures when its done