Anyone in Waco, TX area paint and want to teach?
 

I would really love to learn to paint. I have read many books, done lots of research, ordered the paintucation DVDs and watched all of them... But, still I feel a little nervous about spraying my own paint and messing it all up. (Not exactly a cheap thing to mess up)...

So, is there anyone near Waco or anywhere in TX that is willing to teach me how to paint. I will do all of the work just need the experience and the help along the way...

Re: Anyone in Waco, TX area paint and want to teach?
 

im going to leave this here but might I suggest that you wait a day or so and if no response post in body and fender section and lastly in the texas section that is right for your area

Re: Anyone in Waco, TX area paint and want to teach?
 

Will do, I was trying to decide where the best place to post this was. If you want to move it, please be my guest! I appreciate the help!

Re: Anyone in Waco, TX area paint and want to teach?
 

I live in Texas but too bad I'm so far from you. Here's my Suburban that I painted myself several years ago.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=520550

Do you have good equipment? What kind of spray gun you got? You need good air source and even more so if you're using a cheaper gun. You need a compressor that can easily keep up with your gun going full tilt. 3 hp is minimum. Another tip, buy a digital air regulator so you can precisely dial in the correct pressure at the gun.

Before painting your truck, I would suggest that you spray an old refrigerator or something like this to get your technique down. Spraying the clear is going to be the most challenging.

Re: Anyone in Waco, TX area paint and want to teach?
 

Very good advice. I learned @ my local community college.
Well.... I learned enough to know how difficult it can be to get it right (which taught me what shops to avoid ;) ).

Re: Anyone in Waco, TX area paint and want to teach?
 

If you just want to get the hang of spraying something, get a cheap HF gun and some tractor/implement paint. Find some old metal to paint, and go to town. A setup of paint from Tractor Supply (or similar) should be under $100, and you really don't need the hardener. I know it is about $50 for a gallon of paint. Likewise, you can paint your frame to get your technique down a bit and kill 2 birds with one stone, so to speak.

For practice, get a trigger handle for a spray gun and practice the stroke. If you can keep the gun level over different surfaces (not lifting at the front and back of your stroke) and work on your overlap, you are half way there. Setting the gun up takes a little finesse, but it isn't terribly hard. You want a nice fan pattern, and try to do a 40-50% overlap. Once you have the gun in your hand, a lot of what you have read/seen will make more sense in an instant.

Also, like Scoti mentioned, taking a body class at a CC will let you learn a ton. The one I attended was run by a body shop manager that would let us shoot cars at his shop (within reason). I had started prepping cars long before taking the class, and have been in the industry my whole working life. I took the class as an easy A, but did get to work on my own projects at the school shop (I rebuilt a theft totaled Mustang GT to use as a driver....).