After teaching myself how to spray well using cans, I thought I'd best progress onto using a spray gun and spraying properly.

 

Now, I've not used 2k here, but acrylic, better than crappy cellulose, but not as good as 2k. Anyway, only really practicing.

 

I've had this old tailgate from a Cavalier lying around that I was going to put on my old one before I sold it. Anyway, since I'm friends with the new owner, I said I'd spray and fit the new one. Been meaning to get down into my little workshop/mess house for some time now.

 

Original colour was a rather faiding and scratched diamond black. I'm respraying it lagoon blue.

 

Unfortunately, I don't really have any good progress pics, but this is the spoiler from the tailgate which needs spraying, so you can get an idea of what it looked like before. Grubby, faided, old, just tatty looking.

 

 

 

This is the little compressor I'm using and spray gun. Pretty good really. The spray gun leaks a bit and needs a new seal really. So have to be careful when spraying.

 

 

After spending an age stripping it down and sanding down the inside of of it, I sprayed it in base coat metallic. Mixed with 1 part thinners and 1 part base coat.

 

As you can see a good even coating.

 

 

After leaving it for 48hrs I applied the clear coat. Which you put straight into the gun with no thinners.

 

Here's it is shortly after spraying. Not going to bother flatting this back and cutting it back. It's only an inside panel. But not bad for a first attempt.

 

 

I have to do the tailgate in 2 stages as I don't have a frame to mount it on. So thought I'd best do the inside first.

 

I'll do the spoiler when I spray the top of the lid. I'll only 'finish off' the new paint on the lid and the spoiler as the rest will either be inside or hidden by trim.

looks good bud, especially if thats ya 1st go ;)

that compressor got a moisture trap on it then?? if it aint.. you will need one..

 

also learn to strip your gun down and how to clean the needle, never put too much pressure on it when cleaning as if bent it wont work as well..

 

also keep spare seal sets.

 

im sure steve at bodywork can add a few suggestions here also

 

i keep mine stripped all the time , use it, strip it, clean it same as my airbrushes i keep them in perfect condition my basic single action to my fine work double action airbrushes.

 

i also got a moisture trap as one wasnt supplied

What is a moisture trap?

stops water droplets coming from the compressor through the air feed to the gun in turn when you spray it fkn ruins the paint work as water drops get sprayed onto it also.. class 101 on how to fk up a good paint job... i learned the hard way years ago.. they dont cost much.. goes inbetween your feed out on the tank and your gun, you can fit inline on the tank.

Oh right cool. I'll have a look for one. I'm only messing about at the moment. I'll not go near my zed. But a few friends I know want the odd panel painted on a cheap car, I'm happy with it as it is.

 

The above came out quite well considering I've not finished it yet. I'll finish the otherside though 1500grit or 2000grit before cutting back and finally polishing.