As part of the hobby I have painted my own cars for the last 20 years. Most with the Basecoat-Clearcoat systems, but I have never done a Candy Apple Red paint job. And I think im about to try... If anyone has done a Candy Apple Red finish lately, I would like to hear about the product you used, and the different paint layering. Is it a more complicated paint to use? or is it just like everything else - all about the prep.
I did some candy paints years ago - check out the House of Kolor stuff. http://www.houseofkolor.com/hok/index.jsp Also S-W Planet Color series. Follow directions - Basically you are shooting silver or gold flake and a clear color coat over it. Follow up with clear and its done. Yup - its all about the prep! There was a recent post about someone here selling paint - you may want to check that out too. - Bill
I painted my 65 GS with a factory formula for the period correct Flame Red in single stage paint, 3 coats over sealer and 2 coats primer (top is white) and it looks like candy apple red, beautiful and deep, people ask how I got it so shiny. Don't have the formula here but any good car paint dealer can look it up. John Roberts
Make sure you overlap by 75% when spraying. I use House of colors when ever I do that kind of stuff. And also make sure you walk/spray the whole length of the car when painting so there is no paint build up on each panel. I have seen so many people try and spray it like conventional paint and wonder why there edges are darker. Big mistake made by many. Have fun and enjoy.
Thanks for the Tips, im still in research mode - but definitely going to do it. I think im going to test paint a fender and hood from a 69 I have to see how it turns out. Just to make sure equipment in funtioning perfectly and to see if my technique is ok..... again, thanks
You won't get it right the first time so keep doing those practice panels. It just take time and patients. You need to think and move like a machine when painting...... is my best advice. You can do it, I have faith in you.
Jarrod is right on with his advice. Candy colors are heavily flaked and need to be run out when spraying. A minimum of 2/3 overlap and spray end to end on all panels. Make believe you're the paint robot. Takes practice and you'll waste a good amount of $$$ but when you get it right the "warm and fuzzies" make up for the effort.
agree with all of the above....Candy Apple/ 3 stage paint finishes that use a tinted/clear need to be done as completes....panel painting is a no/no...you also have to be carefull of your edges such as the tops of fenders and quarter panels as the can also appear to have darker lines....I usually have hoods and trunk lids removed...this helps eliminate that possible outlining on those fenders and quarters.......another option is to start in center of hood and work your way to the fenders...then stop...got to center of trunk and work your way to qaurters...then work your way from the front of the car to the back finishing on the rocker panels.....another option although more time consuming is applying the candy color in a cross coat pattern...applying color in one direction and then applying second coat perpindicular to the first...this ia a way of maitaining even coverage......last but not least is to make sure you reduce/thin material the same way each time and to maintain the same air pressure at all times.....