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Finished my $30 paint job

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Old 02-06-08, 12:37 PM
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Finished my $30 paint job

Just thought I'd share my success at cheapness with you guys.

The paint and supplies: Nearly 20 cans of "Economy Spray Paint" from Lowes, which is actually made by rustoleum. A ton of sandpaper and a couple palm sanders. If i were to do it again, I would never have gone as low as 80 grit. 150 at the least, those swirls are hard to get out and I still have some.

The prep: Removed bumpers (needed to be replaced anyways), all trim (excluding morrors), sanded off the spider webbed burgandy paint, then wet sanded with soapy water, washed, dried, masked, and sprayed. I tried to leave as much original primer as possible. All the bare spots were primed.

It sounds ALOT easier than it was. My hat is off to all the body guys out there.

The results: Everyone that sees it comments on how well it turned out for a rattle can job. One guy at the gas station even asked me where I had my car painted. To his credit, it was dark outside and my car is black. hehe



Old 02-06-08, 12:41 PM
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looks pretty good. what color is it, black or dark gray. kinda hard to tell
Old 02-06-08, 12:42 PM
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nice, should have done a clear coat though
Old 02-06-08, 12:43 PM
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wow. just wow....
Old 02-06-08, 12:43 PM
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we recently did this same job to a FC that is on its last legs. used rustoleum as well, so i know how much work is involved. nice work, cuz its a pain in the ***

you can actually get straight rustoleum glossier if you feel like doing the work. wetsand up to 2000 grit and then polish with a wheel and compound.





for the record, i would not bother doing this **** again. i'd rather mask it myself and get a budget spray job at maaco or something.
Old 02-06-08, 12:44 PM
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Originally Posted by manslayerx9
looks pretty good. what color is it, black or dark gray. kinda hard to tell
The paint I used only comes in black or white.
Old 02-06-08, 12:49 PM
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Originally Posted by aznpoopy
we recently did this same job to a FC that is on its last legs. used rustoleum as well, so i know how much work is involved. nice work, cuz its a pain in the ***

you can actually get straight rustoleum glossier if you feel like doing the work. wetsand up to 2000 grit and then polish with a wheel and compound.

for the record, i would not bother doing this **** again. i'd rather mask it myself and get a budget spray job at maaco or something.
Looks nice. Really, anything is better than 20 year old mazda paint... especially in the shape mine was in. Rust was imminent.

I agree with the maaco spray, you prep. I originally had bigger plans than what I ended up doing, but the motor in my FD was losing compression right after I took the car apart, so I had to finish it up quickly.
Old 02-06-08, 12:51 PM
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Originally Posted by Funkspectrum
wow. just wow....
Not up to your standards?
Old 02-06-08, 12:55 PM
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Is it me or the paint didn't come out glossy?
Still gotta do the final color sand and then polish?
The panels look really even, so job well done!



-Ted
Old 02-06-08, 12:56 PM
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nice
Old 02-06-08, 12:57 PM
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Originally Posted by reted
Is it me or the paint didn't come out glossy?
the paint never comes out glossy. that's how rustoleum sprays on. ask me how i know... lol.
Old 02-06-08, 12:58 PM
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Not even with color sanding and a good coat of wax?


-Ted
Old 02-06-08, 01:00 PM
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Originally Posted by RETed
Is it me or the paint didn't come out glossy?
Still gotta do the final color sand and then polish?
The panels look really even, so job well done!



-Ted
Well, it's like a semi-gloss. You can see a reflection in it, but it's not like a mirror.

I haven't touched it with high grit or polish yet, so I guess it's still unfinished. This is how it'll probably stay, though.

Thanks.
Old 02-06-08, 01:01 PM
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What was the last grit did you use?

I would think even with a semi-gloss, if you knock it down with some 2000-grit and then some nice wax, it'll pick up a lot more shine.

But it sounds like you're not shooting for the high gloss shine...


-Ted
Old 02-06-08, 01:03 PM
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a good wetsand and polish will indeed shine it up real nice
Old 02-06-08, 01:15 PM
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Props on the paintjob, man! It looks awesome!!!
Old 02-06-08, 01:25 PM
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Originally Posted by alexdimen
It sounds ALOT easier than it was. My hat is off to all the body guys out there.
WOW, thank you.

I'm used to hearing" eff that man, you want how much to spray the car? I can effing rustoleum it $30!!"

Turned out pretty straight body work wise. Nice job
Old 02-06-08, 02:15 PM
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Hey, it looks good for what it is! I had my car under $25 worth of spraypaint until I got an actual $1200 paint job this past summer. My car was half under primer before I did that, so it was a drastic improvement. I'm guessing your situation is similar.
Old 02-06-08, 02:32 PM
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it looks like a spray can job

i think roll on would have been better
Old 02-06-08, 02:46 PM
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nice, looks pretty good, you should try putting a clear coat on.
Old 02-06-08, 03:34 PM
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Thanks for the compliments and other reactions. I'm pretty pleased with it.

Originally Posted by RETed
What was the last grit did you use?

I would think even with a semi-gloss, if you knock it down with some 2000-grit and then some nice wax, it'll pick up a lot more shine.

But it sounds like you're not shooting for the high gloss shine...


-Ted
240 wet sand, since I was pressed for time.

You're absolutely right. My goal was literally to have the car look good from 15 ft away and to prevent rust. It does that.

I've never been into spending big money on this ride, though I wish i could. It's my rat-rod, hence the 626 lip and $40 set of wheels. hehe
Old 02-06-08, 04:16 PM
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Not to bad. I understand your reasoning behind not wanting to spend a lot on paint for a cheap car. FYI black is the hardest color to paint because it shows every little imperfection. White is the easiest followed by yellow because they hide any flaws in the paint. This statement does not include any of that specialty paint, just color.

There was a hot rod magazine about a month ago that the cover story was on there paint brushed paint job. They thought it looked pretty good.
Old 02-06-08, 04:23 PM
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nice... looks good...


for those that havent seen this

http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/...0&fpart=1&vc=1
painted with a roller

Old 02-06-08, 04:38 PM
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I think im gonna do something like that on mine. Nice and cheap, but alot of damn work though...
Old 02-06-08, 06:40 PM
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I recently attempted to paint a fiber glass bodykit red using Duplex autopaint through a spraygun/compressor. It turned out flat even after many layers of clearcoat. I never got them polished or waxed however, so that may have been why. Any suggestions, as I will be repainting almost my entire car soon.


for cheap.


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