hey guys just a quick question for the auto painters out there.. what grade should the primer be sanded to before the paint is laid? im using just a solid 2 pack ( no clear coat )

Im going to around 800grit wet and dry before painting, but ive been told you only have to go to 400

cheers Wardy

being 2k you just need a buzzer on a soft pad with 400 dry and that will be fine but make sure you buzz your 240 block scratches out properly or you will see block marks through your car, hence the reason it's better to go 800 to make sure and guide coat every rub/ block

You want it as smooth as possible before painting. The quality in the paint job honestly lies with the primer.

I'd start around 400 on any generally rough areas then work up to 800-2000.

by hand you only need 600 wet and dry or 400 on a buzzer for a solid 2pak colour.

800 wet and dry for COB, metalics and pearls.

cheers guys, i have been going with 800 hand wet and dry before paint.. but a couple of ppl i have spoken to have said just to buzz with 400.. would having it too smooth cause the paint to run easier on vertical surfaces. I painted my 2 front guards yesterday and one has a couple of fairly large runs in it. They wernt there when i left last night when i left! should have laid the panels flat i think... they will block out i think but its still a pain

nah not too smooth mate just too much paint lol

haha yeh that could be it, im no painter! the other guard turned out perfect and i painted it the same.. ah well you get that when your learning i spose

wind your thread on the gun at 3 turns 1st coat then 3 and a half nice and easy not too slow and not wet as paint will mealt into itsself, 5-10 min between coats and if its backyard jobs use fast hardner with heat lamps or it will not dry till the next day. and you dont need smooth surfaces its actually worser for the pai so smoother is not better. dont know wher that guy gets his info from haahaha

your paint needs adheasion to grip and stick to or your paint WILL 100% delaminate due to no adheasion

thread on the gun as in the one that determines how much paint comes out? yeh well i have been tryin to get it wet on the first few coats so thats my problem.. noob painter you see. Ill try giving it a buzz with the 400 grit and do as you suggested datto13b. Im also doing it outside, well in a shed but there is no heat lamps. Not being dry till the next day is not a worry. Im also using fast hardener.. what sort of air pressure is best to use? the guns that i bought say the opperating pressu9re should be around the 30psi mark, which equates to approx 8psi outlet pressure..

thanks heaps for the info boys
Wardy

3 turns of the material that comes out of the gun (paint) good painters usually finish with just the 2 coats of paint. 1st coat dose not need to fully cover the pannel ( try to but ) with it being medium coat 2nd coat it the finishing look coat so thats the wet coat, just make sure you never apply paint on the same spot twice but with very even over lapping coats and watch the paint go on the pannel so you know your not smashing the paint on wet for runs... your air pressure is at around 2 bar can put it on lower or higher ( depends on your feel for paint )