Okay so im cheap and like doing things myself. I was wondering if it is actually possible to do a good job shooting paint in a home environment. I would have tried this along time ago if i owned the garage. Im sure the folks would love the purple overspray everywhere LOL. I am mainly considering shooting my bumpers and engine compartment if i get a wild hair up my rear.

Anyway, here are my major concerns. First, the health hazards of shooting paint in a home environment. Dont wanna go gettin cancer from this stuff etc.. Are thier any type of paints that are mild enough not to kill me? lol I have a good spraygun that i borrowed from a freind and still have. One other concern, what should the weather conditions be during this whole extravaganza? I plan on buying some books but if a key element is something I cant deal with ill just nix the idea and let my body shop screw me again LOL. (dont like those guys anymore).

Anyways, any information on the subject of the use of body filler. Shooting paint etc... is of great interest to me.

Thanks guys- Evan

Well while i have it apart i might as well........

 

Evan, for sure invest in a good air filter/respirator no matter what type of paint you use. Any industrial safety supply store can set you up. I have one and its been so useful whenever working with harsh chemicals.

Really interested in hearing more, since I am hoping to spray my car this spring.

 

i dont see any problem painting at home in your garage...as long as you take the proper saftey measures....in the immortal words of Fire Marshal Bill...."saftey first kiddys".... no pilot lights for water heaters, no open flames heat sources, etc... keeping the area well ventalated, is key to also, even wearing a resporater, solvents in paint chemicals will enter your body through the skin, eyes, etc... so a full body suit and goggles also recomended.

ok now that i have said that...on to your question, i have seen many high quality paintjobs come out of "garages", the main problem you will have to contend with is dirt, but if you are only doing an engine compartment, a lil dirt aint gonna hurt anything, same with the bumpers, besides, thats why they have buffing compounds.... aside from the clean issue..... tempature is the next major concern, proper temp is important for drying, "flash" time between coats etc.... they make a variety of different temp reducers for temp variations.

so make sure your area is preped right, your makeshift paint booth is clean and well lit, and go for it.

late

 

Hi Evan----------Painting a car in your home garage----------Great question with multiple answers. I always love to hear everyones' input especially bowtieZ-----he cuts my answers in half---------Saves me typing a mile long response.......

Ok onto the good stuff----------Evan have you seen my car-----I am one of the Cars of the month----Just look for 81 TURBO-----That's me and that car was done in my garage at my house-------Before I opened up my business-------It was 58 degrees in the garage and pouring rain when I shot it---and it turned out great.......

The things you will have to do inside the garage to make it paint friendly. Eliminate all dust--------clean---clean----clean------I would suggest covering the walls and ceilings with large plastic sheets-----I usually get my plastic at someplace like Home Depot or the like---This will help minimize the possibilities of things falling from the ceiling and landing in your paint job. Secondly make sure you have nothing that will have a flame burning while you paint------You definitely do not want a convertible garage or a toasted car----let alone fun time in the hospital--------also do not use halogen type bulbs while spraying.........Make sure you do have plenty of lighting on the area you plan to paint or if it is the entire car make sure it is completely lit.......The reason you want to have great lighting is to minimize shadowing---------Shadowing can cause overspraying(running the paint) or underspraying(which can leave lighter blotches or lines in the finish)........Great ventilation is also a key to a great paint job------Most paint booths use a filtration system that costs a fortune, but a cheap, simplistic and effective system can be built..........I usually set-up an entry point for air to enter the garage/booth-----Use can use a window or a door as the entry point-------Get yourself some good air conditioner filters---You know the ones you use in your home--------attach them to your entry point-------and any areas that you do not cover with the filter you will cover with cardboard-------The exit point usually is the garage door---------You can use one or two typical box fans-------insert them where the garage door comes down-------close the garage door and then use carboard again to cover up the open spaces-------Basically you should have a large vacuum cleaner in a nutshell with no air coming in or out except for those areas..........At the outside of the fans you can use some old towels(large ones) moistened than draped over the fan to minimize any paint dust getting on any other cars...........Another key point in eliminating dust is to wet the garage floor------This also helps to keep the paint dust from sticking to the floor-----but you will have to keep it wet.......Another thing to consider when painting is your air supply(ie. your air compressor)-----you will need to have a decent regulator and filtration system that eliminates dirt and water in your air supply.......You will want to have air that is free of any contaminants especially oil, water and silicone based products........You will want an air line that has never had any of these contaminants(like an air tool oiler) running through it........Lastly we shall talk about the air you breathe---------You can pick up a good respirator almost anywhere---------do not be cheap and just buy the least expensive one-----------expect to pay around $50 for a good one--------a great one costs closer to $100 and a full helmet set-up even more........but you can not really get these expensive ones at a typical hardware------the adequate ones you can get at a Home Depot or the like..........

As for temperatures and such your paint house that you get your paint will be better able to help you with determining what type reducers and catalysts you will need to use depending on the temp............Good things to keep in mind-------Cold weather, Damp weather and rainy weather are not optimum painting conditions------Usually these condition can enhance the possibilities of the paint to run, fisheye or orange peel. Windy conditions if the booth is not completely sealed can lead to added dust in the air and on your paint's finish. I usually opt for anything 65 degrees or warmer to paint in with no rain and little humidity.

I hope this helped--------Keep the questions rolling-----And I will help you with what I can....
Later 81 TURBO

 

i have had problems with certain plastic sheetings, the overspray sticks to it due to its static charge, but then it falls onto your drying paint, really hard to cut out, paint store usually sell plastic sheeting that the solvent in the paint melt into, thus reducing the risk of fallin debris, i would also recomend masking the whole car with the same stuff if you are only doing the engine compartment, much easier to mask now.....than try to buff off later. besides the plastic is cheap...less than $20 for a "big" roll.

later

 

AWESOME INFO GUYS!! Thanks alot for all the help you guys have offered. thats really exactly what I needed to hear. I think I may go for it this summer, not sure but will definitly try my hand at some smaller parts!

Okay if i make my spraybooth, would it be adequate to just cover the front half of the car since the engine compartment is the only thing that i want to paint? I can whip up something small to do my smaller parts in. No problem.

I will look into getting a line dryer and resperator. Good ideas. I should have both anyway, honestly. I use some nasty chemicals. Im planning on experiementing with fiberglass soon so maybe NOW is the time to pick one up. I have an airlline that never had tool oil in it. I always oiled my tools at the source. Will i see problems with "old moisture" in the hose from previous uses without a line dryer????

I had also considered constructing my spraybooth of PVC piping and plastic. So its mobile and reuseable

One more question, will i be able to use a base/clear? or should i use a one step paint???

Thanks guys!! Evan

Well while i have it apart i might as well........

 

Hi Evan-----------Ok onto the Q's--------You would want to cover the entire car since you said you planned on using a commercial/professional style gun-------depending on the gun style and air pressure used overspray will happen---------It is sooo much easier just to cover the entire car and cut out the engine compartment area then tape the plastic to the determined edge of the sprayed material-------------As to what you should use as a paint---------I personally would go with a single stage paint in the engine bay---------Now I would only do this if I was going to go with a different color than the exterior----------If I was going to go with the same color as the exterior than I would have just sprayed the entire car at that time------------But as to why I would just go with a single stage Paint would be for future touch-up------We all know how things happen when you are working on the engine and you scrape/knick/scratch the paint------well with a single stage paint it becomes easier to do a color blend to fix the area-------It also becomes harder to detect the blend to the un-trained eye--------a Two-stage paint is harder to blend and get to flow basically due to the clear coat's thickness----No matter how good you are with painting------blending is always detectable------It is just a little easier with a single stage paint----------Also when you do get your paint make sure you get more than you need so you can do any future repairs to the engine compartment----------Onto the hose Q-----answer is get yourself a new hose and use that hose only for painting---------Water is definitely a bad thing when painting and getting even a trace of water through the hose or gun and cause fish-eye of the paint--------When you are not using the hose tape up the ends and set it aside-------

I hope I answered all the Q's you asked---------
Good luck

 

Thanks dude, im now totally informed!

Evan

Well while i have it apart i might as well........