Build Thread-85 Cutlass Brougham-New Pics Added!
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Thanks everyone. It still needs a lot of wet sanding and buffing because the orange peel and runs were quite bad.
Anyhow, here's what happened. I used a generic Transtar sealer because Diamont sealer was only sold in $300 gallons. Unfortunately, Diamont base is VERY reactive and did not like the sealer. What made things worse is that Diamont does not print the ratios on the can, and I had forgotten the instructions! So, I had no idea what went with what, and wound up having to go home, a 1 hour round trip, to get them. (I also called a friend who got the instructions online, but I was almost home by the time he found them. Plus, my helper had to go to school in the morning, so I had to go back anyways.) By the time I returned, the sealer had really set up, and the base reacted to it. So, I had to spray the paint coats in a fine mist, about 10-15 coats in all. What would have taken about an hour or two to shoot (3 colors: Mercedes Benz code 744 "Brilliant Silver Metallic" for the bumper trim, generic black for the rockers, and Corvette Navy Blue Metallic for the rest of it.), took from 11pm to 5am. By the time I shot the clear, it was 6am. Then things got worse. I did not have enough activator!!! So, I shot the shell in what I had, and thinned it a little to stretch it out. I went to the body supply place at 7:30am to buy more activator, and found out I could still add more clear! That was a life saver. Clear is a funny thing, and will react to itself if it is too dry when the next coat is sprayed. So, I at least have enough clear on it now to sand and buff the car. I had started this all at 9am the previous morning, and did not finish until 24 hours later. By the time I got the car home it was 3pm. I did manage to mess up the mirror housings though, but will redo them in my garage or front porch. One of them had a bad base reaction, and one had a bald spot where I missed with the base, so I will sand and spray them again in a week or two when the clear finally sets up.
Anyhow, here's what happened. I used a generic Transtar sealer because Diamont sealer was only sold in $300 gallons. Unfortunately, Diamont base is VERY reactive and did not like the sealer. What made things worse is that Diamont does not print the ratios on the can, and I had forgotten the instructions! So, I had no idea what went with what, and wound up having to go home, a 1 hour round trip, to get them. (I also called a friend who got the instructions online, but I was almost home by the time he found them. Plus, my helper had to go to school in the morning, so I had to go back anyways.) By the time I returned, the sealer had really set up, and the base reacted to it. So, I had to spray the paint coats in a fine mist, about 10-15 coats in all. What would have taken about an hour or two to shoot (3 colors: Mercedes Benz code 744 "Brilliant Silver Metallic" for the bumper trim, generic black for the rockers, and Corvette Navy Blue Metallic for the rest of it.), took from 11pm to 5am. By the time I shot the clear, it was 6am. Then things got worse. I did not have enough activator!!! So, I shot the shell in what I had, and thinned it a little to stretch it out. I went to the body supply place at 7:30am to buy more activator, and found out I could still add more clear! That was a life saver. Clear is a funny thing, and will react to itself if it is too dry when the next coat is sprayed. So, I at least have enough clear on it now to sand and buff the car. I had started this all at 9am the previous morning, and did not finish until 24 hours later. By the time I got the car home it was 3pm. I did manage to mess up the mirror housings though, but will redo them in my garage or front porch. One of them had a bad base reaction, and one had a bald spot where I missed with the base, so I will sand and spray them again in a week or two when the clear finally sets up.
Well, I am relieved, but I still have a lot of work left to go. At least now I can start to work on it again. I have enough parts to keep me busy for a while, and all I really need for assembly are new window sweeps, hopefully some that work with the Brougham upper door trims. I have the weatherstripping, trim clips, A/C parts, most of the stereo, new steering shaft and box, etc. I figure once I buff it and paint the mirror housings again, I can save up more money while I get all the electrical work sorted as that should take a while. Right now I am broke, so I guess I have a few weeks of Ramen Noodles to look forward to!
Well, all the hassles aside, I'm glad to see it was a success. Now you can at least begin the next steps toward getting it back on the road.
Things like paint jobs rarely go as smoothly as they should... I feel your pain on the scramble to try and get it all done in such a short amount of time!
Things like paint jobs rarely go as smoothly as they should... I feel your pain on the scramble to try and get it all done in such a short amount of time!
Arriving at the booth
Masking. I do all my masking using cheap, Wal Mart drop cloths that I cut to fit with razor blades that I get $5 for 100 at Harbor Freight.
Black paint for rockers, silver for bumper trim. Spray your minor colors first, then mask them off before spraying your main color.
Masking. I do all my masking using cheap, Wal Mart drop cloths that I cut to fit with razor blades that I get $5 for 100 at Harbor Freight.
Black paint for rockers, silver for bumper trim. Spray your minor colors first, then mask them off before spraying your main color.
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