72c5
07-29-2004, 07:06 AM
Gary thanks for your great and informative replies.......it is amazing just how long it takes to do things, especially if you are a hobbiest like me, and one's skills are not up to par with the pros.
I know I wil do a good job on my truck because I am in no rush, and enjoy doing it till it is right, but boy can the prep take time!
When you guys that do this stuff 40-80 hours a week are offering tips, keep in mind that some of us have different skill sets. For example, I doubt that I've spread more than 4-6 gallons of filler over the last 30 years, so when people talk about "the final skim coat on the entire panel", I sweat.......I mean that is a lot of spreading, say the whole door, and that to me is a real skill to spread it nicely.
The same goes for paint and painting. Like Gary says, for the $15k paint job it only takes a couple hours to spray it on. I definately believe that no one should use inferior paint after all those hours of prep. But here is the big but.........just because you spend more $$$ on a product does not necessarily mean it produces better results.
I guess we would all agree that Dupont Cromabase, PPG DCC, or RM Diamonte are top line finishes, but are they the best choice for the home hobbiest who wants the best possible final product, but is constrained by many compromises like imperfect blocking, painting in his home garage, using maybe one $100 gun and less than professional application techniques.
I guess what I am saying is that many of us are looking for forgiving products:
What Brand/Type paint runs the least? or dries the fastest? or lays out easiest?
Everyone is touting BC/CC, but the additional CC step may just muck things up if the BC came out nicely. or maybe the CC goes on easy like primer, and the hobbiest may be able to hide some scary stuff under the C?
Should we be using the new polyester finishing fillers that replaced the old 3m "red lead" puddy?
This is a great thread I've learned a ton in six months from you guys, especially MartinSr and Gary, thanks everyone!
I know I wil do a good job on my truck because I am in no rush, and enjoy doing it till it is right, but boy can the prep take time!
When you guys that do this stuff 40-80 hours a week are offering tips, keep in mind that some of us have different skill sets. For example, I doubt that I've spread more than 4-6 gallons of filler over the last 30 years, so when people talk about "the final skim coat on the entire panel", I sweat.......I mean that is a lot of spreading, say the whole door, and that to me is a real skill to spread it nicely.
The same goes for paint and painting. Like Gary says, for the $15k paint job it only takes a couple hours to spray it on. I definately believe that no one should use inferior paint after all those hours of prep. But here is the big but.........just because you spend more $$$ on a product does not necessarily mean it produces better results.
I guess we would all agree that Dupont Cromabase, PPG DCC, or RM Diamonte are top line finishes, but are they the best choice for the home hobbiest who wants the best possible final product, but is constrained by many compromises like imperfect blocking, painting in his home garage, using maybe one $100 gun and less than professional application techniques.
I guess what I am saying is that many of us are looking for forgiving products:
What Brand/Type paint runs the least? or dries the fastest? or lays out easiest?
Everyone is touting BC/CC, but the additional CC step may just muck things up if the BC came out nicely. or maybe the CC goes on easy like primer, and the hobbiest may be able to hide some scary stuff under the C?
Should we be using the new polyester finishing fillers that replaced the old 3m "red lead" puddy?
This is a great thread I've learned a ton in six months from you guys, especially MartinSr and Gary, thanks everyone!