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How to do a cheap budget paint job?

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Old 01-16-2013, 04:18 PM
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Default How to do a cheap budget paint job?

LATEST UPDATE 1/17/13 - All rattle can paint jobs: https://honda-tech.com/forums/honda-acura-28/rattle-can-paint-jobs-post-em-here-2485978/

What do you guys think about dupli-color metalcast or metal specks spray cans?

This place is pretty awesome: http://www.autobody101.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=5

So I'm probably going to do this: http://www.instructables.com/id/Pain...m/step7/Paint/ instead of Maaco.

I think it's going to go down like this but please correct me and give me suggestions if I'm wrong. I know there are a lot of different ways and I don't need show car quality.

Step 1: Sand the car with 300 grit. [$5?] (Should this be wet sanding?)

Step 2: Apply Bondo to dents. [$10?] How much do I need, the small or big container? I've got quite a few little dents and one large one I tried to pull but can't.

Step 3: Wash the car? Or tack cloth, or both?

Step 4: Tape up!

Step 5: Four cans of primer spray paint [$25?]

Step 6: Lightly sand primer with 800 grit [$5?] (Wet or dry sanding?)

Step 7: Spray red Rustoleum with 25% acetone? (Is that an alright percentage? Should I use acetone or mineral spirits?) [$40?]

Step 8: Sand again? I believe this should be wet? What kind of grit?

Step 9: Buff and wax or 4 cans of clear coat, then buff and wax.

Maybe I'll start a new thread with some pictures if I end up doing this. Am I missing something? How long should it take to sand an entire car? I don't want to be thorough, lol, I kind of want a paint job that's relatively quick and easy, and not take over 100 hours. Sure, quality may suffer, but so long as the car doesn't look like it just got winch-dragged out of a lake.

================================================== ===========

(original post):

Now one normal method would be for example: 1.) Prep - 2.) Primer 3.) Coat 4.) Clear.

I have a budget of about $300-400, but I'd like to spend as little as possible, from $50-300. Don't need a nice paint job, just something better than what I've got right now. Also difficulty is a factor - something relatively easy. I do want to use a spray gun and not rollers.

So what would you recommend specifically for a cheap, budget paint job for a newbie? Would it be possible to only spray one kind of paint, instead of the usual three of primer, paint, and clear?

-What specific brands of paint could someone recommend and where can you buy them and how much do they cost?

-How much paint would I need for a typical Civic sedan?

I really need to stay within budget, and I don't want to start only to find that I'm going to need more money than I had originally thought, so I want to make a detailed list of everything needed and all the prices to make sure I stay within budget. I was hoping I could just sand and prep it all, and just spray one kind of do it all paint on, to save money because it seems like paint is the most expensive thing. Cheapest gallon of primer for example I've been able to find is about $100. And when you're trying to do a cheap paint job under $2-300 that is really expensive. I hear some people say you only need 2 quarts and others a gallon, and that's a big price difference. I need to get a better picture and idea of what costs how much and how much you'd need and all of that.

Last edited by AMS_; 01-18-2013 at 01:04 PM.
Old 01-16-2013, 04:21 PM
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Default Re: How to do a cheap budget paint job?

Maaco.
Old 01-16-2013, 05:57 PM
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Default Re: How to do a cheap budget paint job?

Originally Posted by grumblemarc
Maaco.
LOL sounds about right considering the circumstances and requests of the OP.
Old 01-16-2013, 06:08 PM
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Default Re: How to do a cheap budget paint job?

Originally Posted by grumblemarc
Maaco.
This.
Old 01-16-2013, 07:24 PM
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Default Re: How to do a cheap budget paint job?

Thanks! That's actually a really good idea. If I were to go to Maaco, would you recommend doing some prep work yourself? I have got so many dents and dings. Rear bumper kind of falling off like so many Civic bumpers I notice now on the road while driving. Would it cost extra to fix dents and things like that?

But if I were to go the DIY route instead of Maaco, what would someone recommend? I'm probably going to do Maaco, but I'm curious and still kind of weighing my options. Because if it's going to be about the same price, I wouldn't mind having the experience and practice of painting a car. It would be fun and rewarding.

What would you recommend in terms of DIY, and how much would it cost, where would I buy the materials (namely, where to buy the paint and what kind of paint), and how much paint would I need? I really need specific numbers and not just estimates to stay within budget. Are there one-stage paints, skipping the need for a primer and clear coat? Just want to save money on paint which is so expensive.
Old 01-16-2013, 08:51 PM
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What about plasti-dip? The dipyourcar.com kit is $300.


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Old 01-16-2013, 08:57 PM
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Oh and if you go with paint you'll need at least a gallon. Experienced painters can get away with less because they won't make mistakes.

I made a thread a few years back about a car I painted. Check it out if you want.

I need to paint my track car and I'm doing plasti-dip this time around. Real paint is way more expensive and takes WAY more time. Oh and it is also really good to get a good finish. Do you have access to a good compressor? Most guns will require a large compressor.

If you go with real paint do a single stage. SS allows you to sand and buff out imperfections.


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Old 01-17-2013, 08:10 AM
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Default Re: How to do a cheap budget paint job?

Hey thanks, I checked out your thread and I've heard from you and someone else that a single-stage paint job would cost around $600. Could you do a rough breakdown of that $600? What's the highest expense?

I was thinking that if paint is the highest expense, would it be possible to use home depot paint? I mean I know there are people that use Rustoleum that's lasted for years. Because just about the cheapest gallon of automotive paint I've been able to find is about $100.

If I were to use Rustoleum or another house paint, lol, ("Hey, why don't you color your car with crayons and markers already?") Could I get away with just 1.) Sand and prep 2.) Spray Rustoleum 3.)DONE, or polish and buff. That would qualify as single-stage right? Because there'll be no primer or base or clear coat. Would I still need to do a lot of sanding in between a lot of coats just like the roller way, or would spraying it make it maybe more uniform?

There are other home paints that have like primer+paint 2-in-1. What do you guys think?

I'm not looking to win any car shows. The current body of my car looks like it's been in a demolition derby so, anything better than that.
Old 01-17-2013, 12:39 PM
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Default Re: How to do a cheap budget paint job?

This is a pretty good write up on painting your car with Rustoleum, and it's got a supply list: http://www.instructables.com/id/Pain...ith-Rustoleum/

This is good too because it's got a supply list and prices: http://www.instructables.com/id/The-...-paint-your-c/

Is it just me, or does orange peel kind of look good? Lol.
Old 01-17-2013, 02:04 PM
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Default Re: How to do a cheap budget paint job?

So I'm probably going to do this: http://www.instructables.com/id/Pain...m/step7/Paint/ instead of Maaco.

I think it's going to go down like this but please correct me and give me suggestions if I'm wrong. I know there are a lot of different ways and I don't need show car quality.

Step 1: Wash the car.

Step 2: Sand the car with 300 grit. [$5?] (Should this be wet sanding?)

Step 3: Apply Bondo to dents. [$10?] How much do I need, the small or big container? I've got quite a few little dents and one large one I tried to pull but can't.

Step 4: Wash the car? Or tack cloth, or both?

Step 5: Tape up!

Step 6: Four cans of primer spray paint [$25?]

Step 7: Lightly sand primer with 800 grit [$5?] (Wet or dry sanding?)

Step 8: Spray red Rustoleum with 25% acetone? (Is that an alright percentage? Should I use acetone or mineral spirits?) [$40?]

Step 9: Sand again? I believe this should be wet? What kind of grit?

Step 10: Buff and wax or 4 cans of clear coat, then buff and wax.

Maybe I'll start a new thread with some pictures if I end up doing this. Am I missing something? How long should it take to sand an entire car? I don't want to be thorough, lol, I kind of want a paint job that's relatively quick and easy, and not take over 100 hours. Sure, quality may suffer, but so long as the car doesn't look like it just got winch-dragged out of a lake.
Old 01-17-2013, 03:45 PM
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Default Re: How to do a cheap budget paint job?

So I've got some 320 grit sandpaper and a sanding block with a handle. I'm just going to start sanding. I have no idea what I'm doing.
Old 01-17-2013, 05:03 PM
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Default Re: How to do a cheap budget paint job?

uhh, am I doing this right? Is this enough? I don't want to sand anymore ;(. It is tiring. It's 320 grit and I did it wet, dipping the sandpaper in water everytime. I kind of want rougher gritter paper, like 200, hopefully making it easier and less laborious, but the instructable said 300-400 grit.

Could I use a sanding machine of some sort, or does this have to be done by hand?

http://imgur.com/a/WULTk

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Should all the red paint come off? I'm afraid of hitting metal. Is this half-hearted sand enough? Lol. This is the best sanding I have ever seen.

Last edited by AMS_; 01-17-2013 at 08:55 PM.
Old 01-17-2013, 06:37 PM
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Default Re: How to do a cheap budget paint job?

Question: Could I rattle can this entire thing? Lol. It's not any crazier than paint rollers, right? right??
Old 01-18-2013, 11:35 AM
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Default Re: How to do a cheap budget paint job?

Ill be the troll to say it because everyone has to be thinking it...

Your paint will show how much effort and work ethic you have. If you don't want to prep it, sand it, commit the time it takes, use the right product...then why bother asking for advice.

It's like saying "I wanna get laid but I don't want to get off the couch, shower, get dressed, or pay for a date. I don't want to buy a hooker either. I just want it to feel good."

To sum things up for you, you wet sand so scratches don't appear. The paint will look marginally better of you use automotive paint instead of house paint because your not painting stucco or drywall you are painting metal. If you cut corners on your sanding and prep you will have low spots, high spots, scratches, swirls, and color shifting. If your not concerns about quality of paint then why even paint it. Unless you have exposed that is spreading like cancer then the pair you have is probably better then any result you'll get from of half hearted approach.
Old 01-18-2013, 12:58 PM
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Default Re: How to do a cheap budget paint job?

Yeah, it does take a lot of time and effort. Painting with rollers for instance takes an incredible amount of time and effort. I'm not looking to win car shows, just something better than the death the car currently looks like. I'm not looking for show-quality - I'm just looking for "hey, I can look at this car and not want to pour acid into my eyes!" And beggars can't be choosers, and I've got to be within budget, so I might not have a better, professional alternative than house paint and crayons and markers, lol, kidding.

I don't have all the time in the world, and sure, a good complete sand would take many hours and many days. But for my purposes, for this simple commuter car, if I don't need to sand anymore than I have to, why waste hours and hours and days of work? One guy who painted his car said that you don't have to go crazy on the sanding, that there's just no point and that it wouldn't be worth it, so that's why I asked how much I should sand and how to know how much was enough. Should all the old paint be off or most of it? Or on the other extreme, some just take off the clear coat and rough up the surface for better adhesion, but I'll sand more than that.

Found this awesome thread: https://honda-tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2485978

All rattle-can paint jobs. One really nice one was a satin black that cost $60. That's kind of what I'm looking for, some cheap and doesn't take weeks of sanding and painting like the Rustoleum $50 roller paint job.

How would someone do a rattle can paint job? Is it basically the same thing, except with spray guns instead of a spray gun?
Old 01-23-2013, 11:22 PM
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Default Re: How to do a cheap budget paint job?

Hey at least you are making the effort to paint it your self.
Old 01-24-2013, 01:27 PM
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Default Re: How to do a cheap budget paint job?

What would be the best spray paint to use on a 93 hatch? Any certain painting techniques?
Old 01-24-2013, 01:58 PM
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Default Re: How to do a cheap budget paint job?

I just finished painting my own car, and it's a lot of work. It still doesn't look professional, up close, but it only cost me $500 total. The clear coat was peeling, and Black looks terrible with big white spots of peeling clear. I sanded all the clear, and black paint off, so there was no chance it would peel again. I painted it in the shop where I work, and used their equipment (spray gun and compressor). I used Acrylic Enamel, one stage, no clear, no metalic, no pearl. Good luck

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