Think I'll just leave the painting to the professionals

[IronMonkeyL255]

I just tried painting my driver's fender with a spray gun and good paint/clearcoat.

Turned out with a whole school of fisheyes.

The color coat turned out good, but I don't think I let it dry long enough before hitting it with the clear.

At least the fender it now the same color as the rest of the car.


It won't really matter for long, because I was planning on getting the whole car re-sprayed later.

[Flip_x]

did u have some reducer with that?

did you primer it right? and with some good primer from ppg paints?

[Legacy777]

painting is definitely an art form. When I get mine repainted, I'll probably do as much, if any body work that is needed, but will let the pro's take care of painting.

[IronMonkeyL255]

I had reducer and everything.

I didn't have quite enough hardener for the clear, though. It ended up only being 3 parts hardener to 1 part clear instead of 4 parts.

I also did it in my garage.

It looks okay on parts, but the front area (top from the way I was hanging it) got the worst of it. I'll probably hit it with some rubbing compound to lessen it once it dries.

At least it's generally the same color as the rest of the car now.

I also picked up some bondo to do some light body work before I get the whole car re-sprayed.

[All_talk]

Fisheyes come from contamination, if you got them over fresh base that didn't show any then 10 to 1 you were getting oil/water out of the air line. Did you have a fresh fitler on the gun?

Gary

[IronMonkeyL255]

Nope.

Couldn't find one. I'm amazed I found the gun......

Probably got some water on there.

[IronMonkeyL255]

I'll probably try taking off most of the clear, and getting some duplicolor stuff and hitting it with that.

[Flip_x]

did u sand the primer from 800 or higher grit? best would be over 1000.. yeah u didnt do the right mix for the hardener.

[IronMonkeyL255]

It hardened fine, so I don't think that was the problem.

I hit it with 400 grit as recommended. The color coat stuck well, so I know that wasn't the problem.

Since I have another car to drive for the time being, I think I'll just re-clear it with either some clear from a rattle can or get a line filter and some more hardener.

[evolutionmovement]

I'm no expert, but have some experience. What I'd do is reshoot it with some canned stuff (unless you're anal about how it looks) and wet sand it when thoroughly dry with 1000 or 1500 and then polish it up.

Steve

[IronMonkeyL255]

Sounds like a plan.

[magicmike]

from what I have heard fish eyes are a result of dust in the air. I painted my door and fender in my garage and didn't get any pish eyes so either my garage was less dusty than yours or there is something else wrong.

[IronMonkeyL255]

There are several things that can cause fisheyes. I've heard that any kind of oil, grease or silicon left on the part does it, too.

I think mine was from contaminants in the line.

My garage is dusty, but I have painted plenty of other stuff in there without fisheyes.


I sanded down the clear last night and sprayed some new on there today. It looks MUCH better now.

[Flip_x]

u should give it another try.. it also takes alot of practice and use sandpaper over 800 grit the around 1000 is really good so the surface is really smooth.

my teacher said u shouldnt paint under 800 grit..

[IronMonkeyL255]

I just put the fender back on the car.

The color is almost spot on. My paint didn't change too much over the years. It changed a little, but not a whole lot.

Now I know what to do next time I attempt anything like this (my trunk).

[IronMonkeyL255]

Oh, yeah. I also picked up some bumper paint to de-chrome my baby at some point.

I plan on trying to paint the chrome door handles flat black.