I've been turning wrenches for years. Never professional mind you. Just my own vehicles. I take pride in knowing that whatever I accomplish performance, appearance wise, have been done with my own two hands.

Anyway, I have never painted anything to speak of. Just recently painted the handles and such on my truck. It's gotten me interested in trying my hand at that. Some paint bubbling on the hood and now I'm going to attempt to spray it myself. May take me a few tries but at least I'll be learning as I go. If I keep the truck a couple more years I may even wind up with the deep orange metallic truck I've dreamed of. Painted with my own 2 hands.

The compressor I had wasn't up to the task. Drove me nuts just working the air tools I have. New IR 60 gallon compressor put in today. I even ran the 230V to it myself. Thats another story.

Compressor going in.


Couple lesser expensive HVLP guns ready for service.

 

Awesome shop man. I'm sure with a little practice and patience you'll be painting like a pro. I really need to move and get a place with a garage. I'd kill to have a little shop of my own where I could work on my bike and keep a few parts. Sweet setup.

 

A little advice if you painting in your garage, at the paint store ask for some "Fish Eye Remover", it will help if you get any fish-eyes (round spot where paint won't stick) in your paint. Oh and mop the floor before you paint and leave it wet... I have actually paint 3 cars in my parents garage like this....

OH and congrats!!! I interned in a body shop for a year in High School, it was alot of fun, that is where I learned to paint, body work, minor sheet metal, etc...

 

dive in there. im the same way. i bought my truck knowing nothing about motors, trans, power, and tools. i got online and seen everyone doing stuff to their trucks. i figured im not going to pay someone to do something when i can do it myself. keep on truckin

 

Well I wouldn't call it a shop. 2 car garage that a truck will barely fit in. Hopefully next year I'll be able to get the out building I've been planning and get the junk out. Mowers, yard tools, garden tools, reloading stuff, motorcycles, and stuff out. Of course then the wife will want to park her car in there

I'm thinking about building a temporary little spray booth. Rough framed with 2x4's and plastic sheeting. Small fan and filters keeping air moving in it. Doing a lot of reading about painting on some painting forums and will paint some of the remaining plastic with the guns before trying the hood. There are some amazing paint jobs rolling out of garages on these forums.

Dive in is my moto. Has worked fairly well so far. I couldn't afford paying to have all the work I've done.

 

That's just plain awesome. Good luck (practice) and I trust you'll keep us updated on your lessons learned!

 

That is exactly how I set mine up! I used 2X4's for the frame and the heavy paint drop cloths for Home Dept as the sides and top. Also I bought like 8 flourescent bulb fixtures and mounted them on the sides and top of the temp booth... Either way keep the floor wet so the dust does not kick up as the air moves threw it. Most paint booths are down draft...

 

Excellent man, more power to ya You did a great job with the other parts you painted, so I'm sure you'll pick up the bigger paint work with a little practice. I'm in a similar boat...I've been a wrench for a long time (both professional and at home), but body stuff has never been something I gravitated to. Lately I've become more and more interested...just need some time and dough to start experimenting