[vegasmike]

I have been buried in the garage working in this stifling heat here in Vegas, trying very hard to learn how to paint by 65 Coupe. Paint is not cheap, and now after a couple of months I know why. The old saying you get what you pay for is very true when it comes to paint. I purchased some paint on line, yep mistake. How so? Well the short story is this, I bought some nifty color teal green metalic paint, looked great on the website, at paintforcars.com dont let the image fool you. This paint is NOT good at least the two gallons that I purchased. I used a good sherman williams primer, sanded it nice a smooth, (400 grit) and then applied the base coat, (urethane) it looked ok but no matter what I did the paint came out gritty, like there was sand in the paint, but there was not. Decided, not knowing much that the paint was just that way, it was metalic so I thought better of sanding it and applied a clear coat from the same maker. It was so orange peeled that I could not stand it. Asked for help, they gave me two answers, more air and move the gun further out, neither of which or both together eliminated the orange peel Fortunately I saw a 2004 Thunderbird with a Vintage Mint Green paint job, fell in love so decided to change the color before I got too far, resanded all the parts, as I was doing so the clear coat came off in sheets, like it was plastic wrap that did not hold, Thanks to the paint gods as it would have been horrible tooling down the road just to watch the paint come flying off in sheets. So I removed all the clear coat, resanded to primer, reprimed with SW primer, and then applied the Sherman Williams base coat in mint green, The paint went on perfectly, it flowedout, and is so smooth its almost like I dipped the parts that I painted it looks great and it was much easier to paint with, no runs, no orange peel, its really nice paint. I would like to take some credit but I cant, its the paint. I am using a cheap gun and doing the work in my garage, semi-uncontrolled environment, but the painted parts are great. Have not yet clearcoated them but will be using SW clear coat. So as a heads up to anyone who might find the ad for this comapny, paintforcars, a word to the wise, dont buy their paint. Whne I sent them an email, not even complaining just asking what I did wrong, the only tech answer they could give was, we will give you a refund. Thats nice but its not the money I want its an answer to what I did wrong. Well now I know, I bought the wrong paint from the wrong company. FYI.
MIKE

[1Again]

A couple of questions I would like to ask You is first, You don't mention using a sealer before You applied the basecoat, did You? You should to get a uniform shade of paint and of coarse seal the car.
One of the most important things when painting a car that I have found to avoid some of the problems that You experienced is to stay with the same brand product through the paint job. The primers I have found not so critical but the sealer, basecoat, clearcoat, be from the same manufacturer, and compatible. Not doing so is taking a chance because different manufacturers use different mixtures and solvents which will not necessarily work with one another. Another critical area is paying close attention to the products flash times, and apply the next coat within the time limits they specify, if not pealing off a coat as You described can accur or orange peal ( but orange peal can occur for a variety of reasons.
Just a thought.

[vegasmike]

I did seal the primer, and I did seal it with the same chemistry as the paint. Again it could be all me, but today I finished several parts of the car with SW paint base and it is flawless, it is really nice, no thanks to my hack abilities. I just thought that the manufacture, would jump all over and try to help figure it out, if it was me, I would have gladly admitted the fault, I want to learn during this process, not just paint the car and hope. I am pretty picky about flash times etc. So I follow directions pretty good, imagine that, a guy who reads directions. I have gotten lots of help from SW they have been great so buying local is better than online. Local 1, online 0.,
Thanks for your comments.

Mike

[65rangoon]

metallics can be tricky pending the physical size of the pearl thats mixed in.

There are fines, medium & coarse and they can spray differently. I know some PPG metallics you only want to use 10psi when spraying.

and yes when it comes ot paint the saying you get what you pay for does hold some truth.

im not saying some crazy ass $500/gallon paint will be better then $200/gallon paint but there are differences.

PPG omni for example is a single stage paint, messy crap to pain with and cheap. looks decent but you dont even clear the stuff (thats why its called single stage)

Some colors are more expensive then others. Some of this is due to how much color is actually mixed in. Some colors 1 gallon of paint is 75% mixing clear while another color might not even have mixing clear in it.

I always stick with PPG plus i used to work at a parts store and if i mix it myself i get it dirt cheap haha

[dlinebar]

I had the same friggin problem...I did eventually get it to look.....ok....but not good. I was going to put it in a paint shop but you have convinced me to try again with real paint...Thanks.....

Dan

[vegasmike]

Hey Dan

I was ready to give up, but I was lucky, and the Sherman Williams paint store is close and the people at this store are great. They take their time and they actually know about the chemistry they sell. I know that the paint I now have is great, lots of work to get it ready to paint again, but now all the parts look the same, they are smooth as silk and it seems like the paint can should say, for professionals only, which it does and dumb guys that dont know how to paint but want a great paint job. I dont know about any other paint I am sure that PPG and other higher end companies are just as good. Go to the local store that the factory has, but them some beer and ask for help. The people that I am working with are great. I got my clear coat today and they were very interested in my level of ability, they gave me a clear coat that will run less, harden properly and should work perfectly with the paint I bought.
So go for it. I am getting itchy to be done now. Yahoo.