How to get started painting?

[ruttencutter]

I asked last week about how to get started pinstriping for my wife last week. The information gathered was great and really helped me get together a shopping and reading list for her.

Now she is also talking about learning to paint so she can prep objects for striping down the road.

Since I'm sure a lot of other people will benefit from the information this thread creates, how about letting me know some of the best ways to get started on the paint side of things? Materials, books, and techniques (prep and painting). I would greatly appreciate any pushes in the right direction.

Thanks,

-Scott

P.S. I searched through the past years archive and couldn't find anything on this topic--so I hope I'm not being redundant.

[ruttencutter]

bttt

[ruttencutter]

Nobody here has any opinions on where to start? Last bump and then I'll let it die, just figured I would ask.

Thanks,

-Scott

[Hellbilly_Buzzard]

I would be interested also.

[lownslow]

well.........i seriously just started doing it......i got a cheap gun and some books....also started talkin to local guys who painted..unfortunately most didn't want to answer my questions.....but some were cool.....and i just experimented.....also a good way to learn and get into it is a trade school...probably near you is a night class like that.....i don't know if that answers your question or not.........good luck.....i love what i do for a living and feel lucky that i get to do it.....but i never thought it would turn into my job........

[ruttencutter]

What kind of compressor are you using, gun, paint, etc? What might be good for a beginner to start with? I have an old hood in the garage I'm going to let her go crazy with, but I'm not sure what kind of paint, reducer, etc, I should be looking at http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

-S

[Unkl Ian]

Try here: http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/autobodyrestoration/

Automotive painting is a whole different field from pinstriping.

[Tubby]

Check out this website:

http://www.innate.com/VIDEOS.htm


I've heard good things about the Paintucation series.

[Bugman]

Go to the library and see if they have any autobody videos. If not I have some you can borrow. Start with a cheap import knock off gun. Don't spend more than $50 for it, tent sales are great placed to get'em. the cheap ones work almost as well as the expensive ones, and are great for beginners. Stop by some night, and we'll go over the basics and do some practice panels. I can even loan you a gun if you want to try it at home.

-Jeff

[slammed]

Menard's sold touch-up gun's which are good for small part's: Engine's, helment's, cycle tin's, small part's. Snag an old race helment, prep, prime, paint and then the wife can try her hand at the artwork. Clear it and dispay it where folk's can see your talent's. Got a bike, pedal car....you get the idea. Mastering spray-bomb's is a good start.

[Steel Phoenix]

Hey Scott,

Why don't you ask your wife to join the board and ask the questions herself... Not too many of us females on this board as it is. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I have an ancient copy of this book:
The Do-It-Yourself Guide To: Custom Painting (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1884089496/qid=1094598168/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/002-3832618-1092811?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) that may be helpful. There's even a small section on pinstriping in there.

Of course if others have experience with this book and the consensus is that it is trash, I guess you make your own decisions. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

[Unkl Ian]

Jon Kosmoski(sp) has a couple decent books out on custom painting,
that also go over the technical details of the new materials.

Some of the old techniques are still popular,but the products are slightly different.