Re: Painting

[Steve Smith <stevesmith@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi,

    A few things to note about painting cars.
   Strip all the the trim you can. Place cord under the window gasket 
rubber to raise it off the body to get paint under the gasket. You'll avoid 
the tape lines that you'd get if you just masked them off.
   Overspray will blow under the car, back OUT through the wheels onto the 
fronts. It will get onto underbody parts. Cardboard disks cut to size and 
bolted between the wheel and hub will help or "skirts", if you can get the 
paint shop to use them, will keep it from happening. Paint will find its 
way into the engine bay too. Cardboard, or paper masking will help there.
   It's a good Idea to have the hood and trunk lid opened and the gutters 
painted along with the door jambs. It doesn't look very well if they 
aren't. Small detail.
   Do as much prep as you can. Clean the car first with silicone remover, 
sand it smooth with 320 grit. The shop will probably do it too, but you'll 
be sure it's been done. Mask what you can. Don't expect the paint shop to 
mask things as well as you will.
   Most of this effort will mean you have to tow the car to the paint shop.
   Have a long, detailed conversation about what you expect in your paint 
job with the manager and, if possible, the guy who will actually shoot your 
car. Be sure the details are in writing on the work order. You'll have no 
recourse if they aren't and you're not happy with the job.
   When you are checking out the shops, look at the dust present in 
freshly painted cars. Unless your are planning to buff the paint afterward 
there's going to be some in your paint. Expect a little, very little, but 
if you see a lot of junk in the freshly painted cars there at the shop, run.
   After the car has been painted you will know every flaw. It will bug 
you every time you see them if there are too many. Get a small amount of 
touch-up paint AND catalyst.
   There are a lot of shops out there. If you have any reservations about 
the one you're dealing with, find another. When the employees come out to 
"check out the cool car" you might have found the right place.
   Hope you aren't hit a short time later. Nothing worse.

Steve Smith
Carlsbad, CA
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