simple do-it-yourself auto paint job with professional results ... get a $3500 paint job and do it yourself for $50.
Troubleshooting
Do a Test Piece.
Better to try your hand out first, before doing the real thing!
Problems:
(1) Bubbles:
You're rolling bubbles, and they pop by themselves. Any left
can be done in lightly, with a foam brush. Avoid
painting in direct sunlight since you get bubbles dried
into the paint this way. Find a cool and
shady place to paint.
(2) Runs & Drips:
A paint mix too THICK
for a thick, droopy, sagging job, does not self-level.
It needs to be thinned more with 100% mineral spirits.
A mix too THIN, it will run, so load the roller with
less paint. When the car is still
quite gritty from the surface prepping, the paint won't run
as much. But when the car
gets slicker from your wet sanding and smoothing, load
the roller with less paint to prevent the thin paint from running.
Roll over runs and drips and fix them BEFORE
the paint gets tacky,
or you'll get ......... orange peel.
(3) Orange Peel:
Liquidy like water,
it all self-levels. Semi-solid like frosting, and you roll over it,
you'll get orange peel.
When the paint's starting to get tacky, resist the urge, and don't roll over it.
(4) Paint Going Everywhere, And
Under The Tape:
Tape edges must be firmly secure to the car surface
(especially where the tape curves, or where paint can pool
and seep). Tape everywhere where paint could possibly go,
and don't think you won't need to tape over there, or there,
because you'll be careful with the roller.
It's like pouring water,
and it goes everywhere, not where you think it'll go. But it will go especially
where you don't want it to go. So be prepared, and tape it, just in case.
(5) Too Short Drying Time
Wait at least 7 hours, before coating again.
(6) Accidents & Mars Happen Before The
Paint Hardens:
The paint is soft, until it fully hardens. Put the car out in the
hot sun after painting.
If you painted in the garage, and the car never saw
the sun, even after a month and a half, the paint would still
be soft. It can be marred by sharp or dull objects then.
Look here the bumper fell on the porch, and hit the
ground while the paint was still soft and marred the paint job!
After sanding the blemish away, it was
painted over again, just like any touch-up job, and was as good as new!
