13 replies to this topic

[mk=john]

Hi
I am almost at the end of restoring the bodywork on my 1960 Morris Mini Minor. I already have spray equipment, compressor, spray guns, and the cellulose paints etc.
I wan to to use cellulose as I don't want to spend thousands for a paint shop to do it, and also dont want the `plasticy' effect that 2-pack gives.

Anyway, my garage is in the back garden, and is fully detatahced from the house. I plan to spray paint the entire shell in there. I am aware, that I will have to cover everything up, and move as much equipment as possible out of the garage. One problem is I do not have an extractor fan.

Has anyone on here done a successful painting job like this in their garage before? If so, can you please give me any tips and advice?

Thanks

[Paul Wiginton]

Get a very good mask and eye protection.
Clean the garage very well and wet the floor and walls to catch overspray and dust.
Keep the doors and windows of the house closed and try to do it on a day that your family are out.
Have you done spraying before?
Ill give you tips on that too if you want.

Paul

[Pooky]

Start saving all newspapers and maybe go down the charity shop and get some cheap sheets to cover everything up. You'll need loads of masking tape too, and get decent quality tape for use on the car.

[mk=john]

Hi
Well, I have never done car spraying before, but have done on other stuff. I am aware that 90% of the work is in the prep, so I will be spending most of August finislising and prepping surfaces.

As for the new bare metal surfaces, i have used U-POL self etch primer. I then plan to use cellulose primer, and then the colour coats. Also, the interior has never been painted, and retains most of its original paint and seam sealer, although some has gone during the restoration.

Any tips on spraing celly will be useful. On old paint, is it best to strip to bare metal, or can I just key the surface and spray colour on top of it?

[Paul Wiginton]

As long as the paint inside is not cracked or flakey it can be painted over.
The only real things to watch out on are...
When you degrease that U POL etch, let it dry for an hour before painting it as its porous and retains some of the degreaser then it will react with the top coat.
Dont get the celly primer wet unless you can dry it out thoroughly, its porous so retains water and after colour it will create microblisters

Paul

[SolarB]

Yep, it’s possible to get a very good finish at home but to make it as easy as possible you should spend a few pounds at a spray shop and elsewhere.

Good masking tape is very important along with masking paper. You can buy a big roll of brown masking paper for £10 or so and this is made for the job.
Paper measuring cups are disposable and cheap, much easier than cleaning and re-using a container.
Paint strainers (filters) are also cheap, well worth buying 10 fine ones.
Plastic sheets from Screwfix (3 x 12’ square in a pack) to mask the garage as paint gets everywhere. The sheets also charge up and tend to attract paint that hangs in the air.
I bought 10 goggles for £12 on ebay. Once they get paint on them it’s difficult to clean without destroying the surface, much easier to throw them.
If the garage is small put the shell on a trolley to allow you to move it around.
You need extra lights, doesn’t matter how much light you have you need more. In addition to my garage’s 5 fluorescent lights I used two extra strip lights on leads and a couple of 150W flood lights. This was spraying one side at a time using all the lighting on the area I was spraying. Paint hangs in the air and if it’s a dark colour really cuts down the light.

[Mr Joshua]

Two things which I found out to be a must
1. Paint the walls white and the floor grey this will brighten your garage up no end and aid in reflecting light.
2. Line the walls and roof with proper liner which is a statically charged sheet which is marked “this side out”

As for the shell and paint, get a small calor heater. Once you have lined your garage you should find you have made yourself a plastic tent. This area heats up very quickly and hold he heat well. Get the car heat soaked this can take an hour or so this allows any effluent or moisture time to dry of I normally use two very large radiator fans stuck to the grills built into the walls for extraction but am upgrading to a proper extractor unit.

Cellulose is good but 2K is much better and last much longer I use to preach cellulose but now spray in 2K Clear over base.

Here is mine done in a garage and no one believes me!

[Pooky]

Just remember that everything in the room when you're spraying WILL get covered in paint. It really does go everywhere. So unless you enjoying cleaning cover or better yet remove anything that doesn't need to be there. Cover your whole body including your hair!

[Surfbluegarage]

this is my old mini that i sprayed in celly.. whole thing was celly bar the arches as 2k gives better protection. this was done in my parents garage which was just big enuff for the mini and 1 person at a time. we draped old dust sheets down the walls to cover up stuff and sealed and painted the floor.. keep the floor wet when you want to paint stops dust flying up into the air and landing on wet paint.

[Pauly]

With celly, do a few good coats at 50/50 mix then something like a 70/30 (pee thin) for last coat.

Paul.

[Frog]

I sprayed in my prefab garage for about 15years with cellulose & 2k paint (once I got a mask), never really had any major problems, just make sure all your prep is spot on then spray a couple of coats of 50/50 then finish with a thinned coat this will help bring up the shine. Take your time & don't try to put it on to thick (it doesn't work with celly). Have you got good lighting as you spray visibility will slowly get worse.

[mk=john]

I sprayed in my prefab garage for about 15years with cellulose & 2k paint (once I got a mask), never really had any major problems, just make sure all your prep is spot on then spray a couple of coats of 50/50 then finish with a thinned coat this will help bring up the shine. Take your time & don't try to put it on to thick (it doesn't work with celly). Have you got good lighting as you spray visibility will slowly get worse.

Hi
I am able to get more lighting etc, but don't have an extractor fan. It is a detatched prefab garage in my back garden, and has a side window which does open. Is it possible without an extractor fan? How else can i get rid of fumes without extracting them out the window all over the neighbours windows??!!

[Deathrow]

this is my old mini that i sprayed in celly.. whole thing was celly bar the arches as 2k gives better protection. this was done in my parents garage which was just big enuff for the mini and 1 person at a time. we draped old dust sheets down the walls to cover up stuff and sealed and painted the floor.. keep the floor wet when you want to paint stops dust flying up into the air and landing on wet paint.

PICTURE REMOVED FOR SAKE OF SPACE

By the sounds of it, you've been in the same boat as I am in now and I must say, looking at your car fills me with confidence!

I don't suppose you could PM me some bigger pictures of it could you? It's gorgeous!

[Surfbluegarage]

will do..pming away!!lol