General Painting questions

[fire120ball]

So this is a pretty basic question i'm more looking at seeing the rite direction to go but I'm 16 and with not a whole lot of money. And I would LOVE to learn how to paint I have a place where i can make it a booth and a compresser and a gun. Just no know how, as in body work. I have two about 2 inch holes rite after the door but before the bed and I bondoed <---? a lot of small holes anyone shove me in the rite direction? thanks in advance

[iehotrod]

you should not have done that. it needs to be cut out and weld in a new piece of metal and spot weld the holes. Have pro do it for you.

[flamingbig10]

bondo should only be used on small dents and waves, for filling holes use a welder or dyna glass it kinda like bodo but a lot stronger and durable but if it rust make sure it treated or it will end up getting worse

[fire120ball]

Ya the only big bondo spot i did was on my hood but i want to get a new one pretty soon. what is the dyna stuff?

[68 TT]

Do you have any community colleges around you that have body work or collision repair courses?

I would suggest buying the books they use to teach the basics and learning how to do it right.

Body work and paint are pretty much the most expensive things to have done to your truck for a reason. It takes a lot of time and materials to do it right not to mention a fair amount of tools and equipment.

There are a few basic things that you need to know first before you do anything. After you understand the processes then you need to actually do them to get better and better. Practice makes perfect.

[JMac11]

I didn't do this, but a friend did in high school.... ride around until you find the nastiest body shop (that does good work) and offer to clean up after school and weekends in trade for hands on learning time on your truck. Most shop owners have to yell and scream for the guys to keep the shop clean and might jump on your offer. Remember, it is always better to spend your efforts on doing things you can do well, and make time to improve those things you can't. I would rather build two engines than sand one car.

[shockermotorsports1]

youtube has a ton of instructional videos to give you the basic know how on all bodywork and paint. But for the abilaty to do it just takes practice. even going to a school will only give you the know how.

[shockermotorsports1]

youtube has a ton of instructional videos to give you the basic know how on all bodywork and paint. But for the abilaty to do it just takes practice. even going to a school will only give you the know how.

[Driveway Dreams]

I agree with what has been said. You may even find a body/paint guy in the area that will kinda take you under his wing and teach you some stuff. Make some calls, or better yet...stop in the shops and ask if they would help you learn. We all need the next generations to learn trades to keep them going. Just offer to do anything and everything they ask in trade for a little experience. Good luck to you on it.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by fire120ball

I have two about 2 inch holes rite after the door but before the bed and I bondoed <---?

Do you mean holes in the cab corners?

You could cut them out and adhesively bond the replacement panels back in:

















Notice that I made the cuts so that the moldings would cover them up.

As has been suggested, I would recommend you check into a class at a community college. You're going to find there's really only three things that make a good paint job (not to discount cleanliness and setting up the gun) :

1) Prep work
2) Prep work
3) Prep work

The actual spraying is not that hard (the technique can be learned with an aeresol can).

K

[old Rusty C10]

im going to move this to the body and fender threads