Spray painting: when do you stop?

TiggerToo

TiggerToo

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I have never had great success with spray painting using cans. How do you knwo when to stop spraying before it starts running? How do you get that nice even coating without the little splutters?

Any hints here?
 
It is difficult with cans, you never get the result as with a spray gun.
Try this:
First, spray a thin layer and let it dry untill it gets stickey / thick.
Now spray a second layer untill you get a wet / shiny surface.
The trick is that the first half dry layer absorbs the thinner of the second layer and this prevents the wole lot from running.
 
Lots of thin coats, rather than a couple of thick ones, don't try to cover the area fully with the first coat. With the first coat aim to make it more paint colour that primer colour, but no more, leave until touch dry (no, don't touch what you've just painted, touch a sample area you practised your technique on) if some of the primer is still showing it's not the end of the world, try to keep it even, and keep applying thin coats until you get the thickness you want (or run out of paint)

Good luck
 
Also, a spray can nozzle is very inclined to collect paint, which is often what causes the 'splutters'....

Don't try to do protracted spraying runs.... stop regularly, and clean the nozzle with a lint free rag.... its a PITA, but the only way.....
 
Pretty much all been said on this thread - patience is really important and you can get a very good finish. One thing though, if it is a repair rather than complete item; don't try to blend in. Mask off and then rub down when it's had plenty of time to harden, (couple of days or so).

A friend who is a very good paint sprayer and body repair guy, once told me that they get more car paint jobs ruined by people hoping to just spray over some damage but not knowing where to stop.
 
You can make the edge easier to blend in later if you put masking tape on with paper around the repair and bend back the edge of the masking tape to about 90° from the panel. Tease it up gently rather than forming a folded edge. This allows a softer edge when you spray up to it than the straight edge of the tape.
spray.jpg
 
[ QUOTE ]
..nice even coating without the little splutters?

Any hints here?

[/ QUOTE ]

Spray in slightly overlapping passes: Left-right-left on one coat, Top-bottom-top on the next. release the 'tit' between each pass.

Spray past the edge of the job before releasing the 'tit', and press the 'tit' whilst the can is off the edge of the job before starting another pass.

Get a can filled from a car paint shop - they've got a fan shaped spray pattern, rather than the circular one from the cans in Halfords, etc. which is much easier to use, and doesn't need cleaning as often.

Or:

Put it on thick.

Give it a week to harden.

Wet sand 600 grit wet 'n' dry on a sanding block to take the runs out.

Wet sand 1200 grit wet 'n' dry on a sanding block to smooth / cut into existing

Compound with polishing sponge or by hand to polish.

Marginally more work, but guaranteed results. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Andy
 
Well, many thanks indeed for all these top tips...

but now a little competition to guess what I am trying to spray paint?

A virtual pint for the first correct answer! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
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