I found that there is an experssion that a local professional who coached me with my painting this week was dead on about. His quote is "there are 2 kinds of painters. . .those who can spray and those who learn how to sand and buff" I learned that I fell into the second category this past Wednesday when I attempted to lay down clear coat. I knew from the first coat that I would be the one who had to color sand and buff. Was I disappointed NO. I painted my own car (I also sanded and buffed my own car for the next couple of days). My point in sharing all of this is that if you have a decent compressor and a garage and have sprayed even primer out of a gun, if you are patient and know that you will take the time to make your potential errors correct. Buy the materials and try to paint your own car. What a sense of satisfaction when I go out into the garage and see the final product. I never held a spray gun in my hand until 11 months ago. I was too scared, I thought that it was like black magic. Don't get me wrong, it is a job that for frustration sake is best left to professionals but if you are adventurous or want to be able to say that you did it. . .go for it. I will be happy to share all that I have learnd by trial and error with those with the cajones to try it. After some sanding and buffing my paint is still just a little peeled (a lot less than any modern production vehicle and certainly much less than my JEEP company car) The gloss is outstanding, with one coat of hand applied wax. Is it perfect, Hell no. There is some dust and 1 dog hair trapped int the layers of clear. Was it challengeing ah. . .yes. Was it worth it? by far. Just some encouragement. Average price savings for painting the car (compared to 3 professional quotes(I used lesser expensive paint products mostly Transtar stuff)). . .2700-3500 bucks. This will buy you and all new hi po motor built professionally (for example) The paint is a good place to sink money, but ask yourself where else could you put the money to use, or is the paint job one of the only things that keeps my car from being a 9 or a 10? There are many on the board who helped me and would help you if you asked. If you have the time and patience. . .try spraying it yourself!

"Black Magic"????

Anyone goin' to the Maaco in Schaumburg...just ask for my friend, the shooter: "Black Magic". I'm goin' back to tell him about his new monikor...

Congrats on you efforts and the end result.
I remember back in the early fifties, with the help of a friend...I completely repainted the exterior of my MG-TD....but....
my friend did all the spraying...I knew better...or, maybe I was just smart for my age. It has to be a great feeling to do the whole thing yourself!! Great!

[This message has been edited by DOUBLETROUBLE (edited October 12, 2003).]

I have done both, in my garage I have to sand and buff, also to get the best finish even with a booth you need to sand and buff just because of little speks that get into every paint job no matter how carefull you are

------------------
Yahoo messenger ID archemedes74 feel free to add me
Give blood play hockey!

Archemedes, you make me feel better about specks getting into the paint, no matter what you do. I have tried everything that I could possibly think of including setting up a sprinkler in front of the window that the air was coming in and still got some imperfections sprayed in.
It makes you realize just how good the factory paint facilities must be.

I wholeheartedly second Archemedes statement.
no matter how good of a painter you are theres always something....temperature,humidity,DUST,air pressure,water in the lines blah blah blah.
then you have the gun:too much/too little volume,too much/too little air pressure,spray pattern etc.
the paint itself: the right reducer for the temperature? ie too fast/too slow?
did you clean the spray booth well enough?wet it down?
the painter:is he absolutely clean and dust free?most of the dust you get in paint comes from the car itself and/or the painter.
one thing I've learned over the years is that we are our own worst critics,a small blemish that looks awful to us is usually unnoticed by the average customer.my current customers on the other hand,demand perfection....of course nitrocellulose lacquer must be sanded and polished,and is therefore very forgiveing and also easily repaired,it is however very labor intensive,and may take several days to paint a car.then you have to sand and buff.
BTW nothing else compares to nitrocellulose lacquer in depth and shine.