Paint Your Wagon - with a roller!

[CovKid]

Not sure I agree with you here Eatcustard as a random orbital is different from just a rotating disc although it does need to be one with a good variation of speeds - start slow. The enly way is to give it a try. Myself, I'd prefer to have plenty of paint on and work with 1200 grade as much as possible. You should be able to match that with a fine cutting agent on a random orbital sander if you go very gently. Thing to watch is edges as it easy to catch those and they're more prone to go through in my experience. I should think there are plenty of examples on you tube to give you an idea and again its one of those things beyond the scope of the project as polishing/buffing out applies to many paint jobs.

If you want to get an idea, work by hand on an area with finest grade wet and dry (used wet and i MEAN fine) then finish with a liquid type brasso or T-cut which will buff it to a gloss but so much will be dependent on having sufficient paint on there to work with.

Pic below was the result of doing that. Working by hand may be the safest bet but go VERY carefully on any edges as I say - more so if using a machine.

[Llamapup]

Not sure I agree with you here Eatcustard as a random orbital is different from just a rotating disc although it does need to be one with a good variation of speeds - start slow. The enly way is to give it a try. Myself, I'd prefer to have plenty of paint on and work with 1200 grade as much as possible. You should be able to match that with a fine cutting agent on a random orbital sander if you go very gently. Thing to watch is edges as it easy to catch those and they're more prone to go through in my experience. I should think there are plenty of examples on you tube to give you an idea and again its one of those things beyond the scope of the project as polishing/buffing out applies to many paint jobs.

If you want to get an idea, work by hand on an area with finest grade wet and dry (used wet and i MEAN fine) then finish with a liquid type brasso or T-cut which will buff it to a gloss but so much will be dependent on having sufficient paint on there to work with.

Pic below was the result of doing that. Working by hand may be the safest bet but go VERY carefully on any edges as I say - more so if using a machine.

Thanks for that. I appreciate this sort of paint finishing applies to any paint application method, but I would never have attempted painting my van myself if it was not for this thread, so its useful to have some basic information in the thread so those of us who are less confident with this sort of thing can appreciate the full task at hand.

Summary of Paint Finishing
From what I have gleaned from various posts it looks as though the key points for paint finishing as it relates to this technique include the following:
1) Make sure you lay on enough paint. Two coats may visibly cover what's underneath, but 3 or 4 are reccomended so that you can polish without going through the paint.
2) Polish by hand with the fineist wet dry paper you can find. (1200 grit is the finest that my local motor factors seem to have)
3) Polishing with a machine may save time, but it risks cutting through the paint. You need to be really careful about corners and and edges as these are most likely to be where you polish through the paint. Use G1 with a buffing head to undertake this process
4) For a final polish use T-cut or Brasso to get an even shine all over the paint. Then apply wax as needed.

I hope this list helps others who simmilary suffer from a complete lack of experience in these matters.

Thanks

Llamapup

[eatcustard]

Useful link on polishing here (very anal)

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/index.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[dugcati]

Useful link on polishing here (very anal)

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/index.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

very anal I agree but my word that's one clunky forum to look at and navigate round

[bigdogbsc]

Can i throw a little bit of a curve ball here! Certainly don't wanna step on anyones toes because i think the rollering looks like it gets top results! Instead of rollering my van, its been vinyl wrapped in a Silver metallic flake vinyl by the bloke i bought the van off! The idea being the same as rollering in that when the rust starts showing you use a heat gun to remove the vinyl.... treat the rust and then apply another layer of vinyl on that panel. It also seems to protect against stone chips and light scratches as well because after a couple of years its still pretty much intact!!!!

[rattybird]

Useful link on polishing here (very anal)

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/index.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

do you mean as anal as this god im so happy with the results

[Cruz]

Started rubbing down for my 2nd coat yesterday (12 months after the 1st) and burnt my head it was that nice.

Still a bit apprehensive about applying the paint, most probably towards the last week in May, as it could rain at any point and make a complete mess. Flipping weather

[dugcati]

I'm having that very problem now Cruz - damn weather temp and humidity changes mean its a right gamble when I apply paint as to whether or not it's going to take properly - I already have a passenger door with great long cracks in the paint and on the front it's gone as though I just flatted it back!

[meridian911]

does anyone know how many coats of white 9010 its gonna take to cover the primer as i'm on the second and its still showing through.
Thanks

[CovKid]

White always seems to need more but three coats should cover it.

[Cruz]

Useful link on polishing here (very anal)

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/index.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

do you mean as anal as this god im so happy with the results

How many coats of paint is that?

[CovKid]

Darker colours usually cover after two coats. Depends how much thinners were added too.

[Cruz]

My green covered the original medium blue after 1 coat. I used 10% thinners

[rattybird]

Useful link on polishing here (very anal)

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/index.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

do you mean as anal as this god im so happy with the results

How many coats of paint is that?

that was 2 coats and 3 in places

[boatbuilder]

Hmm...I'm thinking of getting some Dove Blue L31 mixed up. I think it would look good as a two tone like the photo below. I think its RAL 5012.