Thought i'd pick everyone's brain I rattled can my van and would like to know what grit u all recommend to smooth out the surface? I put about 3 layers of flat white. Should I use 1500 grit then 2000? or should I start with 1000 grit? I'm afraid if i use a lower grit i can strip of the paint. Thought I'd ask the experts.
Rattle can will give you a really thin coat compared to what a gun will. I would think anything coarser than 1500 will remove the majority of your paint immediately. I do a LOT of model cars and start polishing with 6000 and up to 20,000. Rustoleum 2x puts more product down than other rattle cans does. If you used that you at least have a little material to work with. If you used something else, you it will be a lot tougher to do. It's all about film thickness, or lack thereof. PLus, with a rattle can the spray pattern is so narrow you will have areas that didn't get 3 good coats and you will sand thru those first. Below is Rustoleum 2x (dragster, not polished), Rustoleum 2x ('37 Ford, polished), Testors ('34 Ford, cleared but not polished) and Krylon ('32 Ford, polished) and the orange is Rustoleum (polished). It's hard to get the thickness you need with a rattle can and have enough material to work with. The last one ('49 Ford) is Krylon that I buffed thru so I just went with it. SPark
Flat paint shouldn't be sanded unless you plan on another coat. A flat finish will be achieved as it comes out of the can or spray gun and is actually harder to do for that very reason.
You read my mind i actually did use 2K flat white. hehe Woah those model cars look amazing give ya props on those paint jobs. Alright so I'll maybe use a 6000 grit then what else do ya think i shud use? hmm.... where can i find a higher grit as u recommend?
I'm sure you've heard the term "that'll buff out" but it doesn't apply to flat finishes! What you see is what you get, no room for error.
Rattle cans are for model cars and bicycles, NOT for cars. When you get real, buy a compressor and a real spray gun and paint your car.
If you want to sand your paint job, you should use a paint roller or brush and put on a thick enough film to allow sanding!
You should probably just set your van on fire so some of these elderly, easily triggered H.A.M.B. people won’t have to deal with someone giving a project vehicle on a budget a solid color with rattle cans. That being said, Rustoleum is an enamel paint so the same rules apply as “real paint”. I’ve wet sanded it to match fresh rattle can to older rattle can. Rustoleum seems to be very consistent so when I’ve done years apart spray jobs the colors seem to match well. Gotta watch the edges so you don’t burn through, but at least touch ups are easy. Trial and error will help you find the right combo and approach.
yea i had to switch hands once in a while. lol never again just practicing so i can paint my cadi, but with a spray gun
i've already researched weeks ago into buying the harbor freight spray gun the HLVP or whatever the initials are lol my brother has a compressor, but he's 2 hours away i might just rent one from home depot. only $31. haha
i was going to get this one https://www.harborfreight.com/air-t...-feed-air-spray-gun-with-regulator-62381.html
That’s just a HVLP spray gun to use with a regular compressor air supply and it’s probably not a good one. An HVLP spray gun for use with a turbine air supply is different. I love the turbine units that supply clean dry air. Better than trying to get clean dry air from a compressor and easier too.
I bought a 80 gal from Lowe’s, 100.00 off for opening a charge account and 0% interest for 1 year. OH, Cali, never mind.
The Jalopy Journal
