Body & Paint Work - Tips Needed

Well, I have a 750 tank I'm putting on my 650 Maxim. I'm going to be starting on this real soon. I'm going to get all the rust out of the inside and get it all nice a pretty inside. Then I want make nice on the outside. I'm thinking of using body filler for the couple very small dents that are there. Then I want to paint it and the side covers satin black.

I guess what I'm looking for are some tips on both using a paint sprayer, a friend has one I can use, or a rattle can method.

Thanks for any and all help. Oh, if you have some great painting links, feel free to share those too. Thanks.

 

The only tip I have to save you from your troubles is for you to send me the 750 tank you have. Then I'd have the worry about painting it. Your problem's solved. Ha!

Would like to find a good 750 tank out there for myself.

I will be monitoring this post as I know nothing of selecting or using a paint sprayer but really need to know so I can paint my peeling Suburban.

Hopefully, some paint and body savvy dude on here can assist you in this.

Good luck.

 

Believe you me Max. I searched high and low for a long time to find this tank and ended up scoring one for $65 shipped. Don't give up hope. A little patience will get you your tank Max.

Here are some pics of what patience gets you.

 

Looks pretty nice to me. Patience done you good.

You gonna try to somehow use the fuel sensor or just plug the hole?

 

Haven't gotten that far yet. Was actually getting ready to put up a post asking if anyone set up a fuel guage on a set up like this. Anyone? Bueller. Bueller.

 

Sanding;
stay above 80 grit if poss. the primer will say it can cover it but they sometimes don't. 120-250 is usually sufficiant.
Primer;
After sanding use a tack- cloth to clean the suface of all dust.
use light ,fast passes at first. Dont worry about coverage on the first or even the second coats. Then on the final get close,slow down and try to get a "wet" coat without runs.Primer go's on easy so dont get over confident take your time and use the prime coats to get the feel of the gun.
10-15 min between coats.
Base;
After prime, sand with 400 grit wet/dry, then clean with a good wax/grease remover to decontaminate the part-THIS STEP IS CRITICAL!. then clean with very mild non greasy soapy water.
Shoot the base coat same as you did the prime. The last wet coat is the biggy so be smooth and consistant with the distance and speed-wet without a run. 10-15 min between coats.
Clear;
Shoot the clear same as above only you dont need any prep-wait 15 min after last base coat and hit the clear.
Mistakes;
If you should get "fish eyes," or tiny little runs or other very small blemishs at any point dont worry it's an easy fix.
Set the part aside to dry,say 30 min. lightly buff with scotchbrite pad, then hit with a "bridge coat". This is done by shooting a coat from a foot or more away, allowing the paint to go on somewaht dry in order to cover and provide a "bridge" between the blemish and the next coat. When done right you can hide a pretty damn big run as if it never was! Just dont forget that if you stop to make a repair you have to degrease and clean the part again before you try to paint it.
Hope this helps...post or pm if you have any other ???'s

 

Hey WesleyJN1975, here's a forum that was extremely helpful when I ventured into painting for the first time.
http://www.custompaintforum.com/forum/forum.php

Very helpful members there...no question is too dumb to ask...trust me, I know!!
Not to toot my own horn (da data taa) :roll: but here are the results I was able to obtain with their help..



I have never tired to do the satin look so I'm not sure how you would finish clearcoating that. I DO know that with a gloss clearcoat if your finial coat is less-than-perfect, you can cover a multitude of 'sins' by colorsanding and buffing. Not sure how you would do that with a satin finish.

Good luck and keep us posted with lots of pics

 

how many gallons does the 750 tank hold?

 

It's my understanding that the 750 maxim tank holds another 3 liters over the 650 maxim tank.

Not sure about the clear procedure for the satin finish. Anyone?

 

On a Tank with Dings to Fill, ...

Use 320 and Sand the Dimple and surrounding area right doen to bare metal.
Go 2-1/2 -to- 3 Inches around the dent.

On the Bare Metal of the Dent, ... Use MARGLAS Filler.
Don't fill a deep dent all at once ... build-up the material.
When you lay-on filler that brings the the dent out ... before the material is fully dried ... SHAPE the Material with a SureForm "Cheese grader type Tool"

Use more filler and sculpting until the SHAPE is correct.
Sand the MARGLAS out to a PERFECT Form with 220 or 320.
Leave the 229 - 320 Scratches in the Marglas.
Cover the Marglas with a coat of Bondo.
Make it BEAUTIFUL.
Sand the Bondo with 320 until you have the Dent repaired.

Switch to 400
Use a Sanding Block
Sand the Repair out until it FEELS Like new.
Moisten the area and L@@K at it from different angles and in different light.
Correct any High or Low spots with Bondo of Glasing Putty.

Wet Sand the area with 400
Wet sand the area with 600
Wet sand the area with 800

Wash - Dry - Blow off.
PRIME.
Shake the can for 2 Minutes or longer.
START spraying AWAY from the work.
Bring the spray across the work ... do not STOP the Spray.
Get off the work and Stop Spraying.
NO POINT and SHOOTS. Never.

Lay on two coats of Self Etching Primer.
Dry sand with 400.
Wet sand with 600.
Let dry.

Wash and dry.
Paint with color.
SHAKE the Coloor for 5-Minutes before Painting.
Absolutely NO Point and Shoots.
Shake ... Start Spray ... Bring across work ... Go beyond work.
Stop spraying ... Shake.
Repeat.

Let Paint dry for 48 Hours
Wet sand with 1000.
Wash - dry.
Clear Coat 1 & 2

 

Thanks Rick! This should so be the 4th link under your signature. You rock! All you guys rock!

 

Another question, is there an optimum temperature to paint in or does it not matter? Thanks all.

 

Tells you on the can & Rick, I was really impressed with your 'how to' until you said "shake the can".

 

Will the Seca 550 fuel level work in a 750 tank?