Spray painting... why different results

agw_01 · 19 Jul 2006 at 12:15

Hi guys,

So, my quest to tidy up my car continues and last night, I bought some Car Plan paint from a local motorfactors. After being shocked at the price difference... under £10 for 3 500ml cans compared to the £15+ of 3 400(?)ml cans at Halfords I went home, masked the area of the bonnet I wanted to paint and set about it.

Sanded, primed, painted... sanding lightly between each coat.

After about 4 coats, I wasn't impressed. The colour was too light and didn't have any reflection at all.

I got bored, ripped the masking tape off and set about painting my grill.

I rushed the grille, doing short quick strokes rather than slow long ones. The finish is much better! The colour match is absolutely spot on and the paint is actually reflective!

Why did this happen? Did I not spray enough coats on the bonnet... is metal really difficult to paint... I used exactly the same primer on both... only the grill was rushed and done in half the time.

Also, if I ever manage to get a good finish, how do I get the paint to be a shiny finish like the rest of the car? Use a cutting compound like G3?

Cheers

Kappa · 19 Jul 2006 at 12:18

I always read that short quick strokes are what you're meant to do

Phil W · 19 Jul 2006 at 12:27

Good few coatas of lacquer, then cut it back

paradigm · 19 Jul 2006 at 12:31

The reason your bonnet is not sheening is that your coats are too thin.

Need a hand? I'm off this week

agw_01 · 19 Jul 2006 at 12:41

paradigm said:
The reason your bonnet is not sheening is that your coats are too thin.

Need a hand? I'm off this week

Please

paradigm · 19 Jul 2006 at 12:42

agw_01 said:
Please

Ring me 4tw then!

agw_01 · 19 Jul 2006 at 12:59

Left my phone at home today so will give you a ring tonight.

I'm off tomorrow, going to my sisters' uni graduation so I'll probably be back home mid afternoon.

Thanks to everyone who replied.

Simon · 19 Jul 2006 at 13:01

Halfords stuff is good, expect to pay a bit more for good paint

agw_01 · 19 Jul 2006 at 13:04

I can never get a good finish with Halfords paint.

Both the Rover Tahiti Blue and Nightfire Red colours were way off! I ended up using Renault Electric Blue for the mirrors on my blue 214.

The charcoal Car Plan stuff I bought last night was cheaper than the Halfords stuff and my grille is absolutely spot on!

William · 19 Jul 2006 at 13:06

I thought you are meant to do lots of short quick strokes in a grid pattern. At least thats what I did. Building up in layers with about 15 minutes dry time between each. When the colour match is decent, couple of coats of laquer and it usually looks alright.

I used some cheap stuff it was about £3 a can and the match is perfect to the original paint, old paint has faded slightly but you can only see it if you get right up to the bonnet.

Holts paint it was.