Frustrated with paint job!

[racer93]

Ok, so I can't get a good picture to represent what is going on with my paint. I'm building the '00 Arai version Subaru STi. I did all the "correct" steps--prime, sand, mist, light coat, wet coat with sandings in between. Then a gloss coat and more of a heavy sanding. Then more gloss coats. I made sure everything was smooth before the final gloss coats. However, after I did that, the surface still came out less than smooth. I don't get it.

Do most of you polish after the final gloss coat? How does one go about getting that "mirror" finish? I'm a bit frustrated...

Daniel

[wouter1981]

Originally Posted by racer93

Ok, so I can't get a good picture to represent what is going on with my paint. I'm building the '00 Arai version Subaru STi. I did all the "correct" steps--prime, sand, mist, light coat, wet coat with sandings in between. Then a gloss coat and more of a heavy sanding. Then more gloss coats. I made sure everything was smooth before the final gloss coats. However, after I did that, the surface still came out less than smooth. I don't get it.

Do most of you polish after the final gloss coat? How does one go about getting that "mirror" finish? I'm a bit frustrated...

Daniel

More info. Do you use an airbrush or cans. If you use an airbrush, what kind which pressure,...what type of primer, paint, gloscoat. What do you mean excatly with a surface that is less than smooth?

[freakray]

How about a picture of what you've ended up with?

'Less than smooth' could mean anything.

[racer93]

Originally Posted by wouter1981

More info. Do you use an airbrush or cans. If you use an airbrush, what kind which pressure,...what type of primer, paint, gloscoat. What do you mean excatly with a surface that is less than smooth?

Dooh! I'm painting with Tamiya rattle cans (TS-50 and TS-13). I'm using the Duplicolor white sandable primer.

Well, the paint is not quite orange peel. The "bumps" are more fine. After looking at it again, it seems that the decals may be wrinkling very slightly to ruin a "smooth" finish. (The Arai version as you probably know is decal-heavy.)

I guess that I may just have to sand and polish again?

Edit: Ray, none of the pics I took actually showed what I'm talking about. I'm a photo novice...

[freakray]

Are the decals under the clear?

TS-13 is notorious for eating up decals.

[racer93]

Originally Posted by freakray

Are the decals under the clear?

TS-13 is notorious for eating up decals.

Yes, they are. However, once they're cleared, shouldn't they be protected? I say that because I cleared one coat, sanded, cleared again, sanded again, cleared once more and it still happened.

When you do multiple layers of lacquer, will the top layers disolve the lower coats (thus affecting the decals)?

[freakray]

OK, now we're getting somewhere.

How long did you wait between applying a coat of paint, sanding and then applying the next coat of paint?

As to top layers dissolving the lower layers - only if the solvents in the lacquer are strong enough to do so.

[racer93]

I wait at least 24 hrs between paint and top coat. Between top coats is ~20 minutes for mist coats and ~24 hrs for wet coats.

What's the file hosting website for pics? Once I find that, I can post a pic or two for your enjoyment... =)

[freakray]

OK, since you're sanding between coats, you're actually cutting it pretty fine on your drying time. Unless you're using a dehydrator to dry your paints faster, you should wait around 4 days between wet coats on color coats and then on the TS-13 clear they recommend waiting up to a month although experience shows around 2 weeks sufficient.
Anyhow, the lack of drying time will likely result in cracks forming in the clear coat eventually.

As to why the surface was rough, that could be spraying distance but without seeing what you've got it's hard to diagnose root cause.

For image hosting, imageshack.com or photobucket.com both work well.

[racer93]

Here's a photo of the paint...

[freakray]

When you look at the photo on photobucket, it should give you the url below the photo of what to post to share the photo on a forum or website.

[racer93]

Here's another photo to show you...


I have no idea what that white stuff is next to the "Young" on the hood...it's not on the model!

[freakray]

Your paint looks fine, it just needs polishing.

[racer93]

I just did the hood and now I'm just trying to get rid of the swirl marks! (FYI--I use micro mesh cloths and novus 1+2.)

[freakray]

There is a great tutorial in the AF FAQ and How To section on polishing, also check out Alex Kustov's website for his excellent tutorial on painting, his website is italianhorses.net