1st time painter on strict budget

[darroncollins]

Hey all-
I'm working on my 1985 FJ60. She's a (now faded) red and is recovering from hitting a stalled vehicle at 60 mph. I've replaced my valence, front right fender, and front passenger door successfuly. That repair work - for me a very novice mechanic - was a feat unto itself. But now I'm driving a tri-color FJ60 (nicknamed 'the Freedon Wagon" as it's now red-white-and blue).

I want her back to all red. I want to do it myself. I don't have much money left. I'm having a hard time getting through the "paint101 thread." I don't need it to look showroom quality.

Stay thirsty my friends-
Help!
Darron

 

[copasspupil]

Budget amount would help. Ask away. If you are doing it on the cheap than you need to look at more home made sanding boards (< 16) and choose either a real car paint or Ace Hardware depending on your habits...offroad or street use.

I chose Omni paint from PPG BC with a Ipol CC. I was under 500 for the entire build and am very impressed with the CC after use. Can't say about the durability of it yet sincve it is only < 2 month old.

 

[RMC73FJ40]

Darron...where are you located in Atlanta? I'm in the Suwanee/Lawrenceville are and might be able to give you a hand. My son and I are in the stages of getting ready to paint our FJ40. I've got the compressor and HVLP guns you would need.

 

[dmaddox]

Paint and budget don't fit well together these days. Even a gallon of 2k primer has nearly doubled in price over the last five years. . .

good luck!

 

[darroncollins]

Hey-
Great to know you're nearby. I'm just down the road in Decatur, GA. My stepfather actually works in a body shop and is sending me a siphon-gun. That said, I could certainly use all the help I can get. I'm just going to shoot the valence, fender, and door and am thinking about a quart of single-stage paint -- having the shop nearby attempt a match using the gas door. Does that make sense? Darron

 

[RMC73FJ40]

Hey-
Great to know you're nearby. I'm just down the road in Decatur, GA. My stepfather actually works in a body shop and is sending me a siphon-gun. That said, I could certainly use all the help I can get. I'm just going to shoot the valence, fender, and door and am thinking about a quart of single-stage paint -- having the shop nearby attempt a match using the gas door. Does that make sense? Darron

Makes sense.....I've some parts matched and they did a great job. If you had the parts off they probably wouldn't charge much to shoot them for you.

 

[darroncollins]

OK--getting closer. Stepfather provided gun. I've swapped out all the guts of my old FJ60 door into a newer FJ62 door and am starting the prep work. Trying to figure out how I can minimize vehicle down time -- because she's my daily driver. Have an old beater door on; can remove the valence and prep that. But I've got to remove the fender I've got on. More to follow...
dc

 

[darroncollins]

OK-will shoot er this week -- suggestions?

OK, so I bit the bullet. Hat the valence, door, fender off and all prepped; got an old gun, a quart of matched single stage paint, hardener, reducer; borrowed compressor; outfitted garage as makeshift booth (wife loves that) ...

any hints on how to position the pieces before shooting them? Hang them from beam?; on saw horses and shoot one side at a time (insides first)?

Again, going for "functional" and "to resist future rust" rather than "showrook quality"! Should be an adventure...
Darron

 

[Toyo FJ40]

It's been my experience that it's better to have the parts hanging vertically than laying flat, less dirt will settle on the paint.

Kevin

 

[neufab]

try eastwood.com