considering painting my LS400 on my own...

hey guys, im thinking about painting my LS on my own. not even a year ago, i paid big money to have my RSX painted rosso corsa (ferrari red), and i ended up totaling the car like 2-3 months later, so im not really looking forward to paying money to paint the LS this time.
 
anyway, heres my contemplation issue. im pretty good with paint usually. i have been painting other things for a long long time, but never cars. im pretty sure i can manage to paint my car on my own, i just need some help figuring out whats the right tools/supplies to buy, like the spray gun, compressor, paint and how to mix it, and all that good stuff. i have done some research on this stuff, but would like to hear it from someone with experience if possible? ive been looking at a Devilbiss gun, but know nothing of it. any tips/help? thanks!

oh crap! this was meant to be my thread (kidoekid), but JDMsole06 was signed on my comp and didnt realize. accidentally posted this thread while he was signed in. regardless, since im such a fresh name on VSC, i cant reply to my own thread (this thread). i will as soon as mods turn my functions and abilities on. ill just have him reply on my behalf in the mean time.

try sending a pm to SikNLow or elpres they should be able to help you out. I am sure some body guys will help you out with this one. Also, try searching a few of the other painting threads, I recall some members talking about the equipment they use. Good luck, and be sure to post pics.

[quote=Gao Jian;230048]try sending a pm to SikNLow or elpres they should be able to help you out. I am sure some body guys will help you out with this one. Also, try searching a few of the other painting threads, I recall some members talking about the equipment they use. Good luck, and be sure to post pics.[/quote]
 
cool, thanks bro! :biggthumpup:

What have you been painting if you don't have any equipment? I'm a bit confused.
I don't know much about equipment, but if you're gonna buy a compressor, I believe at least 12cfm at 90psi is what you want.

When it comes to mixing, each product has its own product data sheets, explaining the flash times, dry times, mixing ratios, and other properties.

you're gonna spend as much getting the proper equipment as you would paying a professional. difference is they'll do a better job. unless you are serious about learning how to paint cars (school and/or work your way up through body shops) just pay to have it done.

well i plan to parctice on some parts i have left in my garage from my old RSX. im going to call up some paint supplie shops and ask for some recommendations also.
 
(PS. remember, im the TS. accidentally started this thread while my homie, JDMsole06, was signed in on my computer yesterday.)

painting on a professional level takes more than a few practice panels and without being taught what to do, how to do it, and how to fix it if that doesn't work you'll be in a dark stadium with a match.

You are going to end up painting the car atleast two-three times before you get it right. At that rate, your not saving anything.
 
Also if the reason you want to do it your self is because your last car got totaled and your trying to save some money, your in the wrong hobby. VIP is very expensive (atleast if its done properly).
 
If you are doing it to learn, get a $200 hooptie and paint it a few times with the cheapest paint you can find. After that, take on your project. Dont expect to be good until your 5th paint job :shrug:

devilviss is generally a good gun for beginners...you can get a good devilbiss for around $200-$250...they are usually sold with 2 tips...a 1.3 for basecoats and a 1.4 for clear...i would just stick to a 1.4 for base and clear...and if you do get a devilbiss, make sure you get it with the quart cup since you'll be painting a complete...that quart cup makes a big difference...
 
devilbiss isn't considered a 'dream' setup or anything but it will do the job just fine if you know how to work the gun and material...
 
each paint system is a science...too many chemicals and calculations are involved so whatever paint you choose, make sure you get a copy of the data sheets...
 
instead of buying a compressor and doing it at your house, just rent a booth...they're faily cheap...you can probably get one for $75-$100 for the entire day...more depending on the cleanliness of the booth...i rented one for $50 and they gave me 4 hrs....plenty of time to shoot a complete...my guess is that you'll be there at it for 3 hours...
 
and you also have to ask yourself, what kind of end product do you want?  something that's oem?  something good enough?  just make it look glossy? 
 
i definitely encourage you to try yourself...most people will only see about 10% of the flaws...you will see 90% of them...

is there a site, that shows you wnat you need to prep it??? not painting just prepping..

sorry to bump in your thread, I just thought it is the same topic.

there's dozens of ways to prep a car...
 
the biggest factor is knowing what color you intend to paint the car...are you prepping for waterborne or solvent...and do you have an air compressor...

What is waterbrone or solvent?? Sorry for being a noob in this.

I myself have a compressor..and I plan to paint mycar white...actually, I only plan to prep it and get it sent out for paint.

i see that you're in cananda so it may not apply to you over there...some states in the U.S. have converted from the traditional solvent based paints to waterborne...waterborne puts out far less VOC's than solvent, therefore, better for the environment...
 
well if your compressor can keep up with a D/A then i suggest sand the whole thing with 500...got over all the edges with either a yellow or gray scuff pad...it should only take you a half day to prep the whole car...
 
generally solid colors you can get away with a lot more than pearls/metallics...especially whites...

i see that you're in cananda so it may not apply to you over there...some states in the U.S. have converted from the traditional solvent based paints to waterborne...waterborne puts out far less VOC's than solvent, therefore, better for the environment...
 
well if your compressor can keep up with a D/A then i suggest sand the whole thing with 500...got over all the edges with either a yellow or gray scuff pad...it should only take you a half day to prep the whole car...

Thank you!!! What is d/a? Is that a sander?? Also do i need to tape stuff up or is that only for painting? Also what pad are you refering to? Is that the spongy black pad that they use for dry wall? I will need to do some repairs on my car, is that a whole different story??

Thank you for helping and letting me use this thread.

wow guy...if you don't know what a d/a is then you're gonna have a LOT of questions...
 
a d/a is a dual action or orbital sander...if you want a good cheap d/a buy an air advantage one...i think 3m bought them out so even a 3m sander will do...
 
get the 3/8" cut one...
 
you should be taking most everything off your car...at the very least, headlights, door moldings, door handles etc...the things that you should take up is all trim pieces...window trim, b-pillar, etc.
 
whenever i mention anything about paint, you must use paint products...not a damn black pad used of fawkin houses...
 
repairs on your car...yeah...mucho mas involved with that...you would never understand even if i explained it crystal clear...

[quote=widebody_Q;230150]You are going to end up painting the car atleast two-three times before you get it right. At that rate, your not saving anything.
 
Also if the reason you want to do it your self is because your last car got totaled and your trying to save some money, your in the wrong hobby. VIP is very expensive (atleast if its done properly).
 
If you are doing it to learn, get a $200 hooptie and paint it a few times with the cheapest paint you can find. After that, take on your project. Dont expect to be good until your 5th paint job :shrug:[/quote]
 
i know VIP is an expensive hobby. i expect to save myself money if i decided to change the color of my car in the future and possibly do jobs from home to make extra change. that would be nice. also, i would never spray my own car for practice, im using panles from my other RSX as i mentioned and i ll get my confidence from there. if i had another car to practice, id use that instead. but im pretty sure the panels will do.
 
[quote=VIP-UCF;230265]devilviss is generally a good gun for beginners...you can get a good devilbiss for around $200-$250...they are usually sold with 2 tips...a 1.3 for basecoats and a 1.4 for clear...i would just stick to a 1.4 for base and clear...and if you do get a devilbiss, make sure you get it with the quart cup since you'll be painting a complete...that quart cup makes a big difference...
 
devilbiss isn't considered a 'dream' setup or anything but it will do the job just fine if you know how to work the gun and material...
 
each paint system is a science...too many chemicals and calculations are involved so whatever paint you choose, make sure you get a copy of the data sheets...
 
instead of buying a compressor and doing it at your house, just rent a booth...they're faily cheap...you can probably get one for $75-$100 for the entire day...more depending on the cleanliness of the booth...i rented one for $50 and they gave me 4 hrs....plenty of time to shoot a complete...my guess is that you'll be there at it for 3 hours...
 
and you also have to ask yourself, what kind of end product do you want? something that's oem? something good enough? just make it look glossy? 
 
i definitely encourage you to try yourself...most people will only see about 10% of the flaws...you will see 90% of them...[/quote]
 
perfect info bro! thanks a whole lot. i agree, i know id see 90% of the damage that other wouldnt. it might not save me money the first time, but the next and the next and the next, heck yeah! haha. thanks on the rental advice for booths. :biggthumpup: