I want to paint my own car

I last painted a car 14 years ago and now I am going to do it again and have noticed the we don't use spray putty, we use something called Polyester or something like it. What is it, how do we apply it, is it easily sanded. I wil be painting the car from bare metal and in acrylic....

There is a product thats a 2K spray polyester which is basically spray filler, its tough to sand but will fill any minor lows and help get your car straight.

Acrylic systems still have spray putty, you'll probably remember the process, Primer surfacer first, rub that then Spray Putty, rub that then Primer surfacer again, rub that then colour.

Most brands of acrylic now have a 2 in 1 primer surfacer/spray putty combined which takes a bit of work out of it but you will still most likely need to do the process twice to get a nice flat surface to paint on.

Good luck, any questions shoot!!

Thanks Pete, I will head to the paint supplies shop. With regards to the 2k stuff, is there a time frame between when applying the primer surfacer and painting the car. eg, can I put the primer surfacer on the car, sand it and then paint the car 6mths later.

2K isnt too much different in that regards, you really need to paint it pretty much straight away after its been rubbed down.

If you prime it and want to let it sit I wouldnt rub it down until your getting close to putting some colour on it.

I am stressing at the moment becuase I have had half my car in primer for 4 months, I should have spent up a little more and gone primers. I am going acryllic but using 2k etch and hs under it, I first baught all acryllic stuff as I planned to do a quicker cheaper job and its all I could afford that week, shortly after I baught 2k primers to use instead of the acryllic and 2k colours for the under side and all the parts so get the best you can to start with and buy what you need as you need it. Normal 2k and acryllic primers dont like being exposed, especailly if the car is out side in the open.

Edited by FCCOOL, 14 June 2006 - 08:03 PM.