Let See Some Do-It-Yourself Paint Jobs

[Raymo]

Been wanting to get my 68 C10 painted. I've checked w/our 3 local body shops and the prices are pretty expensive. My truck has got fairly good mental and I'm trying to do some of the body work( although I never have done body work before). I thought that maybe I should try to paint it myself. Can some of you show your "home grown paint work"?
Thanks,
Raymo

[67ChevyRedneck]

Read, read, and read some more about all the different paints, primers, prep cleaners, etc before you do it. You'd be surprised how expensive paint it. Part of the reason the body shop prices are so high. Take your time, BLOCK SAND a lot and prime again if you have too! Paint is 90% prep and 10% painting.

My truck isn't as nice in person as it is in the pics, but it's over 3 years old and holding up OK. I should have never used metallic with single stage, you can't cut and buff it. I didn't know that until AFTER I sprayed the truck!

[cstm68]

heres mine, i did all the body and paint myself about a year ago, it was my first paint job i did when i was 18

[Leo70]

Raymo, In my opinion paint is not one of those things you want to figure out as you go, to me is worth to pay and have it done right the first time. But if you are going to try ask a lot of questions and get all your supplies from one place, to make sure everything is compatible. I agree prep is 90%, and its the one thing that will get you at the end if its not done right.

Good luck, keep us posted on how it comes out.

Leo.

[Leo70]

cstm68, nice truck. Had you ever painted a car before your truck ?

Leo.

[cstm68]

Originally Posted by Leo70

cstm68, nice truck. Had you ever painted a car before your truck ?

Leo.

nope, this was my first project, buy i got good practice spraying the primer
there were a few runs in the last coat of paint but they cut and buffed out easy.

i did it in three steps i did the cab first (inside and out at the same time) then i put the bed on the lift the fenders are in the last pic in my other post, then the front clip, doors and tailgate. back sides first then the outsides the next day.

[BossHogg69]

cstm68 & 67chevyredneck - nice work!

I too have been toying with the idea of doing the paint/body on my '69, I'm just trying to work up the nuts to actually tear into it! I do applaud anyone who gives it a shot, and double that for someone that had it come out looking like the ones on this thread!

[hgs_notes]

I'm thinking about doing mine. I'm researching right now and getting tips from the pros. They all suggest practicing on things that are not your truck, such as extra body panels or whatever is available to you. Get a decent spray gun. Choice of paint color or metalics makes a difference on what you buy and how you spray it. Solid colors can be done in a single stage, just fine.

I plan on buying some "how to" DVD's. Eastwood has them, among others. They are on ebay too.

If you look in the "paint and body" section of the board, there are some home painted trucks there to see also.

[BADSAM]

I painted my sub. I did about everything wrong!

I used urethane enamel. Don't use that! I went in to buy acrylic and the paint person talked me into the urethane enamel.

I read everything I could get my hands on. I talked to a bunch of guys who had done it. I read the tech bulletin that came with the paint.

It said something like 15 lbs at the gun, I had a gage/regulator at the gun and had 15 lbs there. That's what the tech bulletin said ... right!!!!

Turns out that was wrong!!!! I needed to bump that pressure up to 25 lbs.

This is where practicing will pay off. You will know how to set everything up before hand.

I thought the actual spraying part was easy. However, the 80 to 120 hours of prep work (sanding, filling, wet sanding some more) kicked my butt.

Also, it was hard to paint all at one time, by the time I got back to where I needed to be, the paint was already prob past it's flash time. (prob start flaking off on me!)

The guys who break it up into smaller jobs got it right.

Like I said, I did about everything wrong. In the end it looks ok from 20 ft. I have orange peel real bad in the black. It all needs to be cut and buffed.

You can do it, just read, do your homework, and practice first.

Good luck!

[Ackattack]

I thought about doing this myself, but with all of the other stuff going on in my life I decided to pay to have it done. I just don't have the time it takes to do a good job. I would like to paint a vehicle some day, but not this time.

One thing I'd suggest is talk to your paint supplier. That way you end up with primers/paints/clear that are all compatible with each other.

[kyull67]

Do it yourself! It's not hard, just do your research and practice on some junk panels before you shoot the truck.

[nuke1]

i painted mine when i was 17, no previous experience or any teachings. she has been done for 13 years now, although i am currently redoin her.

[bdydrp97s10]

check my build thread in my signature..

i painted my truck myself..check the last page and the second from last and the pics will be there

[jwn1975]

Here you, my diy garage paint job.

[Hertzdaddy]

Check out these links. The method will surprise you.

http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/...0&fpart=1&vc=1
scroll down to 69chargeryeehaa post

http://www.rickwrench.com/index79mas...llarpaint.html

http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/b...job/index.html

Eric

[Elephanthead]

Please please keep your health safety first. Use respirators or better yet a fresh air supply. I personally would like to old school one with very thinned down paint, lots of coats, and a lot of wet sanding in between. This works well if you don't have a giant compressor. It also has the added benefit of not spraying particles all over and into the air for your neighbors to complain about you running an unlicensed spray booth. Thin down the paint, roll it on, sand every 4 or so coats until you got what you want.

[zeeklu]

[zeeklu]

There's a lot of good info right here in the paint section.The biggest thing is to expect it to take a lot longer than you expect and cost a lot more too. Chris

[70stroker]

I did all mine by myself in a 1 car garage. I just hung some plastic and made a "booth" I used summit racings acrylic urethane. I was very nervous but like you said after gettin very high prices i decided to do it myself. I think it turned out great, plus when people ask you who did it you can proudly say yourself. Total i have about 220 in paint primer reducers and activators, and prolly another 100 in sandpaper to wet sand it all. It takes time, but if the foundation is good such as the prep work it will turn out great. Im only 21 and never held a paint gun in my life. But after the finish on this without clear im for sure gonna do it again someday

[19673ontree]

I do all my own work from building engines to front end alighnment , paint bodywork , welding , etc , etc ,etc ,

I would sum it up like this ,
#1 mechanic work is easy , you do it without even thinking and nothing ever go's wrong ,
#2 bodywork is hard , you think it out and try very hard but stuff still go's wrong
#3 painting and buffing is easy
#4 the hardest part of ANY job whether it be mechanical or bodywork and paint is getting the money for the material to do it NOW THAT IS HARD !

here is my 67 it was bodyworked and painted out here in my driveway and shed in 2006 , good daily driver paint ,

[snoopy]

I know it's not a c-10 but I did do the body work and paint in my garage. I installed the air ride kit from air ride technologies and the rear tires would not clear the fenders. I cut the rear fenders and added 2.5" to them so it would clear the tires. My plans are to find a 72 suburban or blazer and make that my next father and son project.

[oldblue1968chevy]

that trucks sweet lol

[cstm68]

spraying the paint is the easy part, just make shure the paint is mixed good, get the parts right mine was a single stage and i think it was
4 to 1 to 1, get your air psi right and stay steady and consistant. always run past the panel, never let go of the trigger over the panel. and air temp in your booth is important to and have fans blowing away from what your painting, this pulls the drying paint particals in the air away from the wet paint

[racin69z]

Here is my street/strip camaro and my Mom's mud truck, both done at home by me.

Just take your time on the body work and guide coat it and block it good before you paint it. Its real easy to miss dents if your just going off of feel and sight. One thing I notice on a lot of DIY jobs is poeple don't get their rough sanding scratches out before they paint.

Lynn

[1971 GMC SHORTY]

Originally Posted by snoopy

I know it's not a c-10 but I did do the body work and paint in my garage. I installed the air ride kit from air ride technologies and the rear tires would not clear the fenders. I cut the rear fenders and added 2.5" to them so it would clear the tires. My plans are to find a 72 suburban or blazer and make that my next father and son project.

Very nice Truck.. What size rims are those