painting fiberglass for beginners?
Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Fiberglass, Fabrication, and Interiors
Forum Discription: Fiberglass Kick Panels, Subwoofer Enclosures, Plexiglas, Fabrics, Materials, Finishes, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=53148
Printed Date: May 21, 2024 at 6:43 AM
Topic: painting fiberglass for beginners?
Posted By: lilbenny
Subject: painting fiberglass for beginners?
Date Posted: April 03, 2005 at 5:47 PM
hey i would like to learn how to paint the fiberglass to give it that coustom look... i have a few questions...
for the primer... what kind is it? is it like the spray paint kind?
Can you use spray paint instead of an air brush gun?
Can the airbrush guns at the art/ craft store be used as to paint or is there a difference between those and the ones use to paint the car.
what paint do you use for the airbrush gun?
is it really that hard?
Any sites or tips would be greatly appriciated.. already search and couldnt find anything useful...
thanks
-benjamin
Replies:
Posted By: oonikfraleyoo
Date Posted: April 03, 2005 at 7:02 PM
For best results use automotive paint. Spray paint looks like sh*t 99% of the time. Any high build primer will do. I wouldn't recomend an air brush for anything other than graphics. It would take you forever. Go to walmart and buy one of their cheapo guns. They work pretty good for a while. I use a digital Sata but only because I used to paint cars. You won't need anything like that. No it isn't hard at all, it just takes time and practice. ------------- Nik
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Posted By: lilbenny
Date Posted: April 03, 2005 at 9:02 PM
thanks a lot, the automotive paint you're refering to a spray kind of type or paint for a gun...?
Posted By: oonikfraleyoo
Date Posted: April 03, 2005 at 10:50 PM
For a gun ------------- Nik
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Posted By: profuse007
Date Posted: April 05, 2005 at 12:35 AM
if its a one time thing and go w/ something cheap, get spray can from the automotive dept at walmart.
lilbenny wrote:
thanks a lot, the automotive paint you're refering to a spray kind of type or paint for a gun...?
------------- Houston,TX
"The two most common elements in the universe are H+ and stupidity" (Ellison).
Posted By: Master Asylum
Date Posted: April 05, 2005 at 9:50 AM
My personal advice, but be noted, I haven't completed a paint project yet. This is working on car body work theory through the g/f's father and well, it makes sense. High build primer with a gun (so much more affective than the spray can.) Either paint for a gun or a can will work just as well, it'll just be a bit different in application. For starting out the can could be easier/cheaper. I'll tell ya though, stay the hell AWAY from spray can primer, you'll be working on that for a long while. ------------- 1998 Monte Carlo w/
Eclipse CD8454
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Posted By: stuntjester1
Date Posted: April 05, 2005 at 1:58 PM
if you prep. it well, and take you time. and get good spray can. and do it good. Ive seen some rattle can that look good, just takes a lot more time, and prep.
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Posted By: lilbenny
Date Posted: April 05, 2005 at 7:54 PM
i still dont understand what kind of primer im suppose to be using lol..
Posted By: auex
Date Posted: April 05, 2005 at 8:08 PM
If you want it to turn out nice then pay for the paint. Painting is an acquired skill and if you don't practice it your all the time you put into your project will be for nothing because it looks like sh*t.
-------------
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Posted By: lilbenny
Date Posted: April 05, 2005 at 10:08 PM
about how much does it cost to get painted?
Posted By: oonikfraleyoo
Date Posted: April 05, 2005 at 11:00 PM
Depends on how big it is, your location and who you know. Since your asking this question here I'm gonna go out on a limb and amssume you don't know a pianter. For a normal sized, two sub box, I would charge you $100 - $150. Prep paint and all. What you acctually end up paying depends on what shop you go to and if the painter is in a giving mood that day. I normally wouldn't recommend them, but if you have a Macco near you, go and look at some of their work. They will most likely do it real cheap. ------------- Nik
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Posted By: lilbenny
Date Posted: April 06, 2005 at 9:57 PM
okay... so i decided to go forward in painting my sub box... so now im looking for an air brush gun, compressor and i need a primer...
i STILL dont understand what kind of primer i need << my biggest concern lol.. can some please explain what specific kind i need?
also for air brush gun... what are some key points i should look for? what are the main criteria/qualities i should look for in a gun?
also very lost on this one too.. air compressor... what kind should i get? what is needed (spec wise)? i wanna spend around 100 on this... not too much...
I plan on doing more fiberglass stuff so i dont want complete crap but i want some decent/good equipment... not pro stuff.. for the compressor i would like one that i could use for other things too...
Any help would be GREATLY appriciated.
thanks again
-benjamin
Posted By: lilbenny
Date Posted: April 06, 2005 at 10:24 PM
https://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/dll?ViewItem&item=4540464653&ssPageName=MERC_VI_RSCC_Pr4_PcY_BIN_Stores
would this work? i really am clueless on air pressure systems... it its at a really high psi can you adjust it to really low psi? spray guns run on like 80psi correct?
Posted By: lilbenny
Date Posted: April 06, 2005 at 10:29 PM
okay last post... how about this one?
https://cgi.ebay.com/dll?ViewItem&category=22662&item=4370138134&rd=1
what air compressors (brand/model/price) do you use?
can anyone suggest a good craftsman air compressor (model)
as i will be going to sears to pick up a few more tools..
Posted By: M&mfabrications
Date Posted: April 06, 2005 at 10:44 PM
Those compressors will be way to small to paint with. You will need one that is at least 30 gallons, and a 60 would be even better. I just recently bought a 60 gallon and you can expect to spend around $500 for one that size. You also need to make sure that the gun you buy matches the compressor. You need to know how many cfm of air the gun requires at a given pressure. Then you need a compressor capable of delivering greater than that amount of air. A larger capacity compressor allows you to work longer without having to stop and wait for the pressure to build back up.
Posted By: lilbenny
Date Posted: April 07, 2005 at 12:31 AM
A larger capacity compressor allows you to work longer without having to stop and wait for the pressure to build back up.
is that what the gallons is for? if not what does the gallons mean? do i REALLY need atleast a 30 gallon? im only planning on painting a small sub box (single) i prally will use it more often but for 300-500 for an air compressor im starting to think its not worth it... can you rent them by anychance?
im planning on getting this one...
https://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/dll?ViewItem&rd=1,1&item=4540980325&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT
what would be the best compressor for that?
thanks
-benjamin
Posted By: lilbenny
Date Posted: April 07, 2005 at 12:49 AM
https://aircompressorsdirect.com/catalog/comparingcompressors.php
is this info correct?
it states for spray gun you need minimum of 20 gallons..
Posted By: the4biddendonut
Date Posted: April 10, 2005 at 8:35 PM
A product that I used as a painter (construction painter, not an auto painter) a few times was an epoxy base that comes in a spray can. It has an extremely glossy, nice finish that looked like it came from the factory. I used it to paint small things when it was too much of a hassle to pull out the cap sprayer, like if i needed to paint an electric hand dryer and nothing else for example. I don't know if a product like that would work well in this application or not. What do you guys think? You could also try looking into renting an electric HVLP sprayer. That way you wouldn't need an air compressor. ------------- I hope life isn't a big joke, because I don't get it. - Jack Handy
Posted By: Dyson
Date Posted: April 11, 2005 at 3:22 AM
You need a large compressor, because you are constantly pressing the trigger, this means that air is rapidly disappearing, so if you have a small tank, and it runs out half way through your job, then you are going to have to wait for it to build up again, taking more time, and giving you an uneven finish. Same applys for any trigger air tools like DA sanders and die grinders etc.
Posted By: lilbenny
Date Posted: April 11, 2005 at 2:26 PM
about how long will a 20 gallon last me? the surface is not more then 1.5 square feet... im thinking you prally need to apply a few layers.. so my though was get a decent size one do one layer. wait for pressure to build up then second layer and so on and so forth... would this be fine? im looking into a 25 gallon air compressor at pep boys...
Can you guys help again with matching the air gun to the compressor? like explain what needs to be matched with what? or a link that would provide detail for noobs like me... thanks.
Posted By: oonikfraleyoo
Date Posted: April 11, 2005 at 2:52 PM
A 20 gallon tank with the gun I use would allow me paint for maybe 30-45 seconds. Then wait 3 minutes for it to fill back up, then paint, then wait, then paint, then wait... ------------- Nik
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