New to spray painting - General advice and tips needed.

[stevelane]

Over the years I have managed to use rattle cans with varying success on minor repairs but as my van needs so many repairs it will need pretty much a full respray but panel by panel, only because I don't have the time to prepare everything and respray the whole van in one day.

At the moment the van has been attacked with an angle grinder to get back to bare metal and I have just primered over the top of this to try and protect it but I understand that primer is absorbent and there is signs of rust already coming through so I need to rub down, smooth, primer, flat and get a coat on within one day, if that's possible.

Because of the amount that needs doing I have bought a small compressor and spray gun and have a tin of 2k paint with hardener.

Now I need some advice. Bearing in mind I am spraying on my drive how do I get the best finish? Any tips on spraying techniques - Any problems I should foresee? If I am doing a whole panel do I need to prime the whole panel or is it enough to key the paintwork that is there?

[boatbuilder]

I was going to use 2k for mine, even bought the paint and everything but then changed my mind due to safety risks of using 2k paint without a proper spray booth and an air fed mask etc.
I sprayed Rustoleum instead which is much more diy friendly.

[stevelane]

Yeah I had heard this and was torn as I keep getting told its the best finish and I will be ventilated

[bluebus1987]

Are you going to treat that rust with anything? I know your planning to fix it properly in the near future but in my experience the corrosion will accelerate once sealed in if not neutralised.
Has anyone mentioned vactan to you yet? Its cheap and quite effective.

[stevelane]

Are you going to treat that rust with anything? I know your planning to fix it properly in the near future but in my experience the corrosion will accelerate once sealed in if not neutralised.
Has anyone mentioned vactan to you yet? Its cheap and quite effective.

I think it was kurust that I used. Had to paint it on and leave until it had changed colour. As I take the primer off each panel and redo I intend to treat it again before spraying

[jimrat]

Hi Steve

There is a lot of good DIY spray paint advice on http://www.mig-welding.co.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. I've read that spraying 2-pack without a booth/air-fed mask is a no-no.

Sounds like my van is in a similar condition to yours - seam rash here and there, and rattle can repairs. Last year I followed the advice on here, and bought a cheap ebay sandblaster and cleaned out all the crud in the seams on one side. I then painted the bare metal with 121 Epoxymastic (excellent rustbuster product), followed by cellulose primer and top coats from a spray gun. It looked great for about six months, but already the seam rash started to come back through

Anyway, my advice is to not put too much effort into painting your van - they are like the Forth Bridge - by the time you have finished it is time to start again

Cheers
Jim

[stevelane]

Hi Steve

There is a lot of good DIY spray paint advice on http://www.mig-welding.co.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. I've read that spraying 2-pack without a booth/air-fed mask is a no-no.

Sounds like my van is in a similar condition to yours - seam rash here and there, and rattle can repairs. Last year I followed the advice on here, and bought a cheap ebay sandblaster and cleaned out all the crud in the seams on one side. I then painted the bare metal with 121 Epoxymastic (excellent rustbuster product), followed by cellulose primer and top coats from a spray gun. It looked great for about six months, but already the seam rash started to come back through

Anyway, my advice is to not put too much effort into painting your van - they are like the Forth Bridge - by the time you have finished it is time to start again

Cheers
Jim

Thanks Jim. Really good advice in the link there so thanks for that.

Seems I have been given some bum advice about the paint then. I was told that as I was only doing a bit at a time that it would be OK but may have to rethink that.

Not looking for a fantastic finish, just better than it is now. I've still got some surface rust to remove in a couple of bits but I've been pleasantly surprised with how little there is for a van of this age

[boatbuilder]

There are plenty of people spraying 2k without proper equipment but I suppose it depends on how much of a risk taker you are. If you live in a built up area you've also got your neighbours to think about.

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

[multisi]

There are plenty of people spraying 2k without proper equipment but I suppose it depends on how much of a risk taker you are. If you live in a built up area you've also got your neighbours to think about.

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

Yeah no need for proper safe breathing equipment ! And make sure you take lots of fag breaks in between coats !