I've decided to paint my '92 Civic hatch. I've experimented with rattle can satin black on other cars in the past, and it actually didn't look that bad. But I've decided to do it the right way and use a compressor and spray gun.

The car is Milano Red and I'd like to find a shade of red that is as close as possible to that.

Where do you guys buy your paint. I've looked around where I live and Sherwin Williams is about the only place I've found that carries auto paints.

Also, I'm not sure if I should go with a single stage or try a base/clear. I want it to be as simple as possible, idiot-proof.

I'm going to start with just the roof. If I can do a satisfactory job on that, I'll move to the rest of the car.

I'll be doing this in my garage. How bad is overspray? Should I empty out my garage? Anthing I'm overlooking?

 

Empty your garage def. Overspray sucks. I would go with BC/CC. As far as a shade of red close to milano, why not just get milano red? Just give them your paint code bro.

 

Milano Red is pricy as far as original paint from Honda goes, you can get a cheaper verision maybe a shade or so off from sherwin williams for fraction of the cost... I guess thats why he is going with a different color dont know though LOL

 

just get some PPG Shopline in milano red. Then spray a quality clear and your in business

 

If you can't empty out your garage (and maybe even if you do), invest in a bunch of plastic sheeting and duct tape. Build a cheapo spray booth. Seal things off as best you can ... the paint dust can get everywhere and is bound to PO other folks in the house.

Don't forget to use some type of face mask. Paint will go up your nose faster then you think The cheap masks won't block everything. When you go to blow your nose, it will come out whatever color you're spraying.

Dust is your enemy. Make sure the car is dust-free before you start to spray. I used to use tack cloths back in the day, but I haven't painted a car in ages ... one of these days I'll get to pick up a spray gun again ...

 

You can buy paint off the net in a bunch of places. You can also ask you local body shop where they get their paint, they're might be a paint supply store in the area.

if I was you, I would use a basecoat clear coat. Reason being, it's more forgiving in terms of if you spray too much and get drips, you can stop after the base, sand it out respray, and then do the clear later.

the single stage solid color from what I hear isn't too hard to spray. Only used it once, didn't like it myself.

As for the garage, do as stated above, take everything out. If you don't you'll finish painting your car then find things in your garage that's been painted on six months later.

If you can't, go to the home improvement supply store, get painters tarps, staple it to the ceiling and duct tape it to the floor. If you live close to people and they will smell the fumes, then seriously, open the garage door a bit put the box fans blowing air out, with the furnace filters taped to them. then in the empty area around the fans, tape up more plastic sheeting.

One thing you might want to look into, which Ive used before and loved, is a "rent-a-booth" paint booth. You might get lucky and find one in your area. It only cost like 60-70 bucks for 3 hours to get in there and spray your stuff. I wish I had one around here.

 

if you want your paint job to last you DO NOT USE SINGLE STAGE. single stage after a while will start to fade and then will look pink. Go with PPG shopline paint its cheaper precisionc54 said. Base coat clear coat is the way to go. Get a good mask i myself do not like useing the cartrige mask i use a fresh air system through a helmet.


Just remember paint is stupid and it only does what you want it to do.
DO NOT SHOOT BASE TO SHINE. you dont want it to cover the sealer in one coat
edge the car go around all the openings i.e headlights,tail lights windows then re-tack the car after the spots you edged dry
keep the gun straight to the car and about 6-8 inches away from the car
have about a 50% overlap on coats when you start painting
if you stripe the car pull the gun back and spray it again
when you clear the car this is where you shoot to put a nice shine on the car. i usually put about 2 coats of clear depending on the car. mine that i painted has 4 lol

 

just use milano red again. sherwin williams are not that bad. but ppg paints are easier to spray IMO.