floridadiver81 0 #1 December 9, 2007 Im wondering if any of ya'll know anything about automotive paint. I plan on turning my car into a show car. With that comes custom painting...something i dont have a whole lot of experience with. I plan on doing my interior and the exterior. The car is a 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse spyder(convertible). Im communicating with a shop in California and they will be custom mixing the paint for me...for a price of course. I asked him how much i would need and he just mixes it...he doenst apply it. So if anyone has any experience with painting cars that could give me a good estimate as to how much i would need i would be very grateful. Its going to be a bright orange color...and im changing the interior from black to orange which i know will take at least 3-4 coats. The exterior will be sanded down and primed. Thanks ahead for all advice given!!"Age has absolutely nothing to do with knowledge, learning, respect, attitude, or personality." -yardhippie "Fight the air, and the air will kick your ass!!! "-Specialkaye Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 15 #2 December 9, 2007 If you've never painted a car before and want this to be for a show car... just pay someone to paint it. Its a lot harder then it looks. I've helped paint a few and unless you already have a full paint booth and the resperators, the guns, the nossles, etc.. its way cheaper and a better job to have a pro paint it.Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
akarunway 1 #3 December 9, 2007 QuoteIf you've never painted a car before and want this to be for a show car... just pay someone to paint it. Its a lot harder then it looks. I've helped paint a few and unless you already have a full paint booth and the resperators, the guns, the nossles, etc.. its way cheaper and a better job to have a pro paint it.Here's an article. I've done a lot of painting in my life. You can have it. Have fun>http://www.moparmusclemagazine.com/techarticles/mopp_0612_how_to_paint_a_car/index.htmlI hold it true, whate'er befall; I feel it, when I sorrow most; 'Tis better to have loved and lost Than never to have loved at all. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #4 December 9, 2007 Get a good brush or maybe two (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Morrison79 0 #5 December 9, 2007 Like someone else stated if you want it to look perfect you will be better off paying a pro to do it. But if you do insist on doing it your self you may want to look into renting a paint booth. There is a place near me where you can rent everything you need, minus the paint. As far as the amount needed call a body shop or maybe the guy mixing the paint. Don't forget to post some pics either! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jee 0 #6 December 10, 2007 Painting a car is like skydiving. As a beginner you can own the best gear have the latest and fastest canopy and read all of the books and then you could jump but............... get my drift? I however was like you. I just did it anyway (paint the car that is). After about 20 paint jobs I could let somebody else look at it without having to explain this run and that run and how I was going to buff out the other imperfections. I worked for a Lexus dealer at the time and had full access to state of the art equipment. Good luck! It can be alot of fun. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 6 #7 December 10, 2007 Quote Get a good brush or maybe two Brush for the pin-stripes maybe...for the car itself ya gotta use a roller! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #8 December 10, 2007 Aye, better coverage that way f'sure. (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
floridadiver81 0 #9 December 10, 2007 guys...i already have access to the tools witht he exception of the paint booth. The original question was how much paint will i actually need....lol. But thanks for the posts though!"Age has absolutely nothing to do with knowledge, learning, respect, attitude, or personality." -yardhippie "Fight the air, and the air will kick your ass!!! "-Specialkaye Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DougH 270 #10 December 10, 2007 3 coats on a 98 eclipse is 8 gallons, don't all skydivers know that. "The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 6 #11 December 10, 2007 DAMN! I got 3 coats on a mustang with 5 quarts! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TonyJ 0 #12 December 10, 2007 assuming: base clear,probally less than a gallon...depends on the mix ratio and coverage of the paint, but if you are doing this yourself, having someone out of state custom color it...i would double the amount. since there will be mistakes and parts that need to be repainted again....Why dont you use a local paint store? ...tony oh yea, gun type will play a big factor in the amount also..hvlp..lvlp...conventional, old binks7 suction...etc.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 6 #13 December 10, 2007 Quote assuming: base clear,probally less than a gallon...depends on the mix ratio and coverage of the paint, but if you are doing this yourself, having someone out of state custom color it...i would double the amount. since there will be mistakes and parts that need to be repainted again....Why dont you use a local paint store? ...tony True DAT! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #14 December 10, 2007 Besides the cost involved with the right equipment (not Harbor Freight crap), spraying a good paint job that will look decent on a street ride is hard enough. Applying paint that will win shows takes a pro. An experienced pro. The best way to save money is to do all the prep yourself. Go through and set all the gaps right, get all the sheet metal work out of the way. Let the shop do the mud and sanding, if that's not done just right the paint will look like crap. Crappy paint will make a cool car into a shitty looking car. Unless you're putting together a '31 5-window, then you need the done in your garage look in flat black with some really killer pin striping.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ltdiver 3 #15 December 10, 2007 Quote Get a good brush or maybe two Don't laugh. My brother-in-law hand painted (with a brush) his boyhood dream car when he bought it. He was already in his 40's when he did this! From primer grey to brushed on brown! It really looked bad! When it came down to his son inheriting the car when he went off to school, his son would not accept it! ltdiver Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DavidB 0 #16 December 10, 2007 Quote Quote Get a good brush or maybe two Brush for the pin-stripes maybe...for the car itself ya gotta use a roller! Been done. http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=2331682&an=0&page=4#Post2331682 http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=2655425&an=0&page=0#Post2655425When the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 6 #17 December 10, 2007 Quote Quote Quote Get a good brush or maybe two Brush for the pin-stripes maybe...for the car itself ya gotta use a roller! Been done. http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=2331682&an=0&page=4#Post2331682 http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=2655425&an=0&page=0#Post2655425 W O W! Very impressive! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
