Show car paint finish – different to normal?
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Is there a difference in how a car for show is painted to a normal car’s paint job?
I’m looking to get my car resprayed soon and I’ve been told to get the painter to layer on the clear a bit thicker to make the paint work look nicer, however when I mentioned this to a few painters they had nothing to say about it. They just paint as normal is what they said.
This is sort of a one of project for me and I would like a paint job that stands out a little that isn’t just like any other car, what do I ask of the painter or what should I be expecting him to do?
Yes there is a difference .Most of it having to do with what you do after the paint job. It may be that people are telling you to put extra clear on because a show job takes what they call a “CUT and BUFF” . A cut and buff is when you sand the clear after it kicks out {hardens} with a very fine sand paper such as 1000 grit to start and ending with 2000-3000 grit. this will level any texture and smooth the surface. Following the sanding you will buff with a rubbing compond and then use polishes or glazes after the compond…….It is SUPER labor intensive and you can screw up your paint job if you are not very careful , you can catch a edge with the buffer or burn through the clear which will require a repaint. The extra clear will be sanded and buffed off in the cut and buff process. If you are going to do it yourself I would practice “ALOT” on a old car you do not care about. Hope that helps. Ken . ASE master certified Auto Body
Every shop that does a “show” car will do it a little different depending on the materials and technique etc.
Some people may just spray as normal and get pretty darn good results. SOme may spray a few coats of clear, let it dry, wetsand it all, then spray a flow coat of clear.
In the best cases the paint jobs are wet sanded and polished in the end, very meticulously. All this added work is also very expensive.
Unless you are doing a real high end $100,000 show car, I wouldn’t worry about that. I would find a really good shop and check out their work. Many painters can get a fabulous job in a collision shop that will be pretty great and as as good or better than most of the paint jobs you see at your local car shows.
Yup, I’m with Ben.
Clear as normal, cut it down with 500 grit and re clear. Near flawless results off the gun. Then some minor 2000 grit sanding, finish with 3000 and polish. You’ll end up with a finish you never have to worry about.
Sanding with 1000, as so on takes too much material off and is really just a waste. In the end, months later, the flow coated job ALWAYS looks better.
LOL. just goes to show ya that just about every bodyman/painter has their own style and technique . At my shop we Cut and Buff all our high end jobs with one time in the spray booth , 3 coats of clear, 4 if we are REALLY going to lean on it. (Sand and buff alot) Our regular passenger car/truck jobs get 2 coats. All suggestions are truely acceptable. good luck. ken
Thanks for the responses lads, much appreciated.
I kind of thought maybe the extra clear was to get a good cut after painting. I could probably do the polishing myself with the DA, although I’ve never really used it properly except to bring some shine back on dull paint and on some test panels I painted after wetsanding them flat (cause I got such a good finish :lol1 ).
Is it worth asking the bodyshop to spray more clear or to do a flow coat after? Or leave it up to him but made sure he knows I want a really good finish?! She’s not a 100k car but I do want it to looks perfect.
Any pointers what to look for when looking at someones work?
dust in paint, runs, uneven coverage, orange peel, low gloss, if they removed the trim or taped it up( door handles, belt mouldings, weather strips, headlights and tail lights etc.)Which can lead to peeling. If their bodywork was done straight and no scratches and no visible tape lines to name a few. Take your time and give it a look over. Beig an experienced bodyman these things seem to jump out at me when i look at a car.
All the above is good advice, but the first step to a show car finish is with the body and prep work. if that isnt done properly, then the smoothest of paint wont mean a thing
[quote=”Jozi” post=25698]Thanks for the responses lads, much appreciated.
I kind of thought maybe the extra clear was to get a good cut after painting. I could probably do the polishing myself with the DA, although I’ve never really used it properly except to bring some shine back on dull paint and on some test panels I painted after wetsanding them flat (cause I got such a good finish :lol1 ).
Is it worth asking the bodyshop to spray more clear or to do a flow coat after? Or leave it up to him but made sure he knows I want a really good finish?! She’s not a 100k car but I do want it to looks perfect.
Any pointers what to look for when looking at someones work?[/quote]
I think the best thing is to find that really good shop, be willing to pay $$$ and let the shop decide what they think is best.
Going in and telling them how to paint is only going to piss them off. If they are a good shop, they will know what technique works best for them.
As far as finding a good shop, ask around, when you get to the shop ask to see their work. If they do a lot of high end resto stuff, they may be able to show you past jobs.
If you don’t mind be asking, what are you looking to pay (for the paint portion)? Are you having the shop do it all (any body work, prep, paint, detail)?
Car is completely stripped, not a single thing left on it. I’m working on treating all the rust underneat and around the engine bay now, interior I’ve repainted myself.
What I want the paint shop to do it paint the engine bay, all body panels, and door shuts – everything that can be seen really. Possible get them to paint the back of the doors also, definitely want them to do the visible parts when the door is opened. Also for them to do all prep work, I figure they have their methods and preferred material they use so best left to them. I’m not to bothered about them re-fitting all the panels, I can see myself doing this and don’t really mind if I have to. By detailing what do you mean? I’ve a nice wax ready here so other than a wash and maybe go over it with a claybar I don’t really want to do any polishing (this won’t happen for at least a month, by then the paint should have hardened out I hope).
Here’s how she was a few weeks ago before I got the interior painted up
[img]http://i577.photobucket.com/albums/ss215/Jozi_E30/E30%20Touring%20Restoration/2012%20-%2002%20-%2026/IMG_6896.jpg[/img]And with it painted, not the colour for the exterior but a close-ish match
[IMG]http://i577.photobucket.com/albums/ss215/Jozi_E30/E30%20Touring%20Restoration/2012%20-%2003%20-%2001/IMG_6927.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i577.photobucket.com/albums/ss215/Jozi_E30/E30%20Touring%20Restoration/2012%20-%2003%20-%2001/IMG_6929.jpg[/IMG]Money-wise I have 1500-1600 (Euro, I’m in Ireland) set aside but I’m willing to stretch that to nearer 2k if it means getting a better finish.
I’ve been finding it hard to find a good painter recommend, none of my friends have any experience with respray or touch ups. Then you hear one or two good/bad things about the few that have been recommended by guys working in motor factors or paintshops. There’s not many that seem to have an over either, which I think is something I would like the car to be done in, and asside from that I don’t want a finish I won’t be happy about! I’ve had a chat with one or two guys about them coming out to have a look and price it up (can’t easily take the car to paintshops either). I’ve heard of other painters who are meant to be good based on jobs they did for guys I know via forums but their not near me and aren’t keen on driving to come and have a look, the car is in no state to be driven either and won’t be until after it’s painted. I haven’t yet looked at any work done by the few painters I have in mind, I was going to do this after I get an idea for a price of them. Hopefully have 2 guys this week come and have a look.
Hi mate. Where in Ireland are you? I might be able to help you out, Im in Waterford.Here is a vento I painted for a friend, he collected it monday.
It needed inner and outer sills on both sides, also fitted a mercedes E300 vent in the front wing. We have a Nova Verta oven/booth installed in the workshop.Sorry about the crap phone pics
And heres an escort RS Turbo I painted early last year, picture was taken yesterdayI’m in Cavan town, know anyone up this direction? There’s a guy on vag-driver who’s around Navan I think, sent him a pm but had no reply.
Nice colour that, nearly like calypso red for the E30.
Paddy cl on vagdrivers is in Dunboyne, from what I’ve seen he does good work, would be a bit closer to ya.
The colour is called Blackberry, its off the new shape caddy, in low light it just looks like a straight black.
[quote=”davyp1″ post=25708]Paddy cl on vagdrivers is in Dunboyne, from what I’ve seen he does good work, would be a bit closer to ya.[/quote]
Thats him. Do you know is he normally slow with PM’s? Must be a month now. He might not be keen on travelling up to price it for me which I can understand. If he could do it for the same price as I seen mentioned for a Golf I might be happy to drop it of to him.
If ya contact Mo Ryan on vagdrivers he would give ya his number, he is the fella who owns the blue mark2 golf.
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