KieranM
Doin It!!
Just thought i would add a helpful thread about painting and preparing frames for painting. I am talking about using spray cans and spray guns as we do not all have the services of powder coating at hand .
anyway, if you have just finished your build and are stripping down to paint these few tips and hints might come in handy.
-Firstly, you will have welded up your frame at the start of your build and there is a high chance that dirt,metal shavings and oil have gotten around your welds, also rust may have started to set in if you have left it for a while. You should get a quality electric/battery hand drill with a wire brush and get into all the welds and clear out all the rust and shavings. For the more awkward welds a small steel brush may be handier. Next go over all your frame with nice 200-400 grade sandpaper to remove all the surface rust. Get your air compressor and blow down your frame to remove removed rust and the like,get your paintbrush and clear out the welds.
-Next you will need to get yourself a nice tin of rustproofing paint (this is the most important thing to do, without the rustproofing your at nothing. Buy a quality brand for the obvious reasons). Put a base coat on and get into all the welds, put a generous amount on. After your first coat of rust proofing, leave your frame to dry for 24hrs or 48hrs if you can (leave your frame in place where dust will not be risen for the best finish). Then give it a second coat, same as first.
-After shes fully dried its time to move onto main paint. I highly recommend using a air compressor paint gun for accurate spray, but if you dont have one the spray cans do grand. When spraying stand back and avoid spraying the one spot, wave the sprayer /can around giving each part of the frame equal amounts of paint. To avoid dripping make sure you have a paint brush in hand and be constanly watching for drips. After first coat leave her dry for abot 24hrs-48hrs. Then give her a second coat. In most cases a second coat is sufficent enough but if its not feel free to give it a third.(between each coat get yourself a high grade sandpaper and go over it to get out any blemishes)
- After you are satisfied with your paint job its time to move to the finish. Get yourself a fine lot of lacquer. This is harder to spray as it in transparent so be careful. Give a spray all around your frame. Leave it to Dry for about 24hrs. The Lacquer is optional as a shiny finish is not needed on an offroad vehicle.
There you have your guide to preparing a frame for spraying and spraying it.
TIPS.
- Do not clean with wd40..ect as this can get into your welds and leak out during spraying and cause the paint to blotch.
- Use a quality paint as some cheaper brands react with the rust proofing.
-If using a heat gun to speed up drying ( not something i am a fan of) be careful to avoid heating the one spot as it will bubble and look bad.
- Always spray at room temp, never in anything lower than 10 Celsius.
- keep away from dust.
Hope this Helps a few people.
anyway, if you have just finished your build and are stripping down to paint these few tips and hints might come in handy.
-Firstly, you will have welded up your frame at the start of your build and there is a high chance that dirt,metal shavings and oil have gotten around your welds, also rust may have started to set in if you have left it for a while. You should get a quality electric/battery hand drill with a wire brush and get into all the welds and clear out all the rust and shavings. For the more awkward welds a small steel brush may be handier. Next go over all your frame with nice 200-400 grade sandpaper to remove all the surface rust. Get your air compressor and blow down your frame to remove removed rust and the like,get your paintbrush and clear out the welds.
-Next you will need to get yourself a nice tin of rustproofing paint (this is the most important thing to do, without the rustproofing your at nothing. Buy a quality brand for the obvious reasons). Put a base coat on and get into all the welds, put a generous amount on. After your first coat of rust proofing, leave your frame to dry for 24hrs or 48hrs if you can (leave your frame in place where dust will not be risen for the best finish). Then give it a second coat, same as first.
-After shes fully dried its time to move onto main paint. I highly recommend using a air compressor paint gun for accurate spray, but if you dont have one the spray cans do grand. When spraying stand back and avoid spraying the one spot, wave the sprayer /can around giving each part of the frame equal amounts of paint. To avoid dripping make sure you have a paint brush in hand and be constanly watching for drips. After first coat leave her dry for abot 24hrs-48hrs. Then give her a second coat. In most cases a second coat is sufficent enough but if its not feel free to give it a third.(between each coat get yourself a high grade sandpaper and go over it to get out any blemishes)
- After you are satisfied with your paint job its time to move to the finish. Get yourself a fine lot of lacquer. This is harder to spray as it in transparent so be careful. Give a spray all around your frame. Leave it to Dry for about 24hrs. The Lacquer is optional as a shiny finish is not needed on an offroad vehicle.
There you have your guide to preparing a frame for spraying and spraying it.
TIPS.
- Do not clean with wd40..ect as this can get into your welds and leak out during spraying and cause the paint to blotch.
- Use a quality paint as some cheaper brands react with the rust proofing.
-If using a heat gun to speed up drying ( not something i am a fan of) be careful to avoid heating the one spot as it will bubble and look bad.
- Always spray at room temp, never in anything lower than 10 Celsius.
- keep away from dust.
Hope this Helps a few people.
