Spraying tips

[TwistedAspect]

Hi peeps....just finished spraying the new bonnet for my MK2 and needed a bit of advice.

Primer is down, as is the colour....no runs or anything which I am quite proud of. I am now just applying the lacquer to protect the paint

What I would like to know is this. The finished result is not as shiny as I would like......what do I do from here?

Cheers

[Loki]

just a guess mate but id put some more lacqure on and get it fairly close then leave it to settle for a few days then t-cut and wax it a few times. worked on my xbox anyway lol

[keithyboy]

Try Brasso (liquid kind) instead of T-cut. It's cheaper, easier and works better.

Have you used a srapaygun rather than aerosols? If so, rubbing compund would be a good first step to get the surface smooth.

If you've used aerosols the coat of paint won't be as thick so go easy.

[TwistedAspect]

Cheers peeps....still got a couple of coats of Lacquer to do but I think I am right in thinking that a light going over with rubbing compound then some wax and she should shine like a dollar?


Oh and yes, unfortunatley it is cans....don't have the stuff to do it right just yet, save all of that for the full respray when she is ready 

Jay

[Pjbracer1]

If the paint colour is flat paint then I would suggest not using a laq I had a Flat blue Golf 16V 1990 and some idiot pulled out in front of me but the only damage was to the edge of the bonnet and head lamp I asked a couple of guys that do spray work and they said you only need laq if the car is metallic otherwise just use some high gloss thinners and do a 70/30 split on the paint mix and build up the layers and then hire an eletric polisher with a slow speed and cut the paint back to a smooth finish and then apply some polish and then you will have a nice deep gloss shine.

If its metallic then you really only need the one coat as this will be the shine, you will want to cut it with a cutting compound but not to coarse'a'one tcut is normally pretty good for new paint or has already been mentioned duraglit brass cleaner that stuff is pretty good.

If you are going for a full re-spray at a later date dont go for the cheapest go with someone you like (go and visit the shop see what stuff they have you often find the old guy who has been doing it for years is far better than the fancy workshop) and who looks like they love their job also do as much prep work as you can before taking it to them this way they can spend less time prepping and more attention to spraying.

Good luck chap!

[Uruk Hai]

Once you've sprayed the last coat of lacquer let it go off for about a week before you cut it back, my mate did work on my car for me. He's a panel beater and sprayer by trade so he knows his stuff and he said that leaving the paint to harden and settle before polishing makes all the difference to the finish although  the key to a good result is good preparation. I asked the about the need for lacquer on flat colours and was told that it makes for a better longer lasting and more durable finish, when he sprayed the lacquer because it was out of a aerosols he just applied lots of very lite coats and the finish was as good if not better than the rest of the car. Good luck I hope you get a finish your happy with