how much paint needed for '87 TC?

[rnch]

as ya'll have proboably read in my other thread; the clear coat is peeling off my TC. after i fix the parking lot dings and sand the clear down to the base coat or fatory primer, i will be time for the new paint job with 3 or 4 coats of acryllic enamel.

i plan on using 4 parts paint to 1 part reducer with some "wet look" hardener also.

how much acryllic enamel paint and reducer should i purchase for the paint job?

i've spotted fenders or a door before; this will be my first entire car paint job; not sure of how much materials to purchase.

thanks for ya'll's advice and opinions!! this website has been an enormous help.

[Jon90LSC]

Have you purchased your spray gun yet? If you are going to use an HVLP gun, you might be able to get away with 1 gallon. With a siphon feed gun, (non HVLP) you might want to get at least another quart. I haven't sprayed a complete in probably 8 years now, so I am a little fuzzy (too many fumes, I guess....).

Go ahead and get the full gallon of reducer, as it comes in handy for a lot of other things around the house. Make sure you get the right speed for the temp you will be painting in. This time of year, you will most likely be using slow reducer given your location. Too fast of a reducer, and it will dry before it hits the car. Too slow, and you may get a few runs, depending on how you spray. Also, you will want to make sure that you have more than enough of the hardener as well. That being said, add it after the paint is in the gun. If you harden all of your paint, then you will not have any left for touch up or spotting in later on. I never was real scientific on measuring out the hardener, you can tell by looking at the cup on the gun if you are close or not.

What paint did you decide to use? A nice polyurethane would look great, like Imron. It is a little spendier, though. The hardener will need to be measured here. To me, the depth of original Imron is one of my favorites, for ease of application. That was factory finish on Peterbilt trucks until '94 or so on all colors, and some later than that. It looks good, has a great shine, and is tough as nails.

[rnch]

thanks for your quick reply and advice, Jon!

because the "keeper of the checkbook" is raising heck over the mounting cost of "your stinkin' lincoln" and because i have used it in the past and because of it's low cost from ebay (35 a gallon), i am going with Rayflex acryllic enamel and hardener. i'll aquire the reducer here locally. i do admire the depth of Imron, but it cost quite a bit more locally and is not as easy to use (for me) than old acryllic enamel is.

i have not aquired a gun yet....have several promise of guns to use, but you know how that goes...... may wind up having to buy a gun. if i do, it will a HVLP gun.

luckily i have a fully insulated and air conditioned 24 X 24 garage to use for my project cars....i'll run the a/c unit the night before to get the opressive new orleans heat and humidity down before i paint it.

at the rate that i am going, it'll prolly be in august before i am ready to lay down some color on it. i have it just about ready interior and mechanically, that comes first.

[Jon90LSC]

The reducer should be pretty inexpensive, IIRC. The nice thing about working in a body
shop is the stuff that follows me home.... smile.gif

It sounds like you have it licked. Good luck!

[Steve Moran]

I find my self totally agreeing with Jon on all of it. An HVLP gun would be ideal for any situation, yours is even better.
Less over spray on every thing in the garage, cuts down on the paint cost, way less fumes from your garage. (don't know how close the neighbors live.) and a sutable HVLP gun often times can be had for less then a high pressure gun.

One word of advice is, get a stand for the gun, one that has a built in strainer holder. it will make filling the gun a whole lot easyer. They are inexpensive.

Looks like you have a good hold on your paint project.
My paint project is on hold, lack of funds due to Medical expendatures.

[ June 12, 2004: Message edited by: Steve Moran ]