Results of first attempt with a spraygun!!!

[Astra]

New Bonnet



Rear Bumper



Front Bumper (a)



Front Bumper (b)\



Skirts



What you guys reckon?

I made the bonnet myself (cut and fitted the vent, made the eyebrows etc.)
Mounted GTE grill onto front bumper purchased from Autofashion (www.autofashion.co.uk)
Autofashion rear bumper as standard (no mods)
BMW M3 Skirts from CCM (look in Max Poo)

Costs:
Bonnet vent - 25
Skirts -75
Bumpers - 140 for the pair
Paint, lacquer & primer - 60 (inc G3)
Filler/Fibreglass/Sandpaper - 100
Total - 400 quid

(plus achey back, sore fingers and a miserable girlfriend)

Still need to get a good shiny finish on the bits, any suggestions for good equipment/products to achieve this.

I used a 50ltr comp which came with a gun for 50 quid so had to keep waiting for it to pressure up but not bad really for the price, only complaint is the finish was very rough. Had to use loads of G3 and rubbing compound to smooth out after sanding back. could this be the pressure that the gun is outputting the paint at or is it just down to technique??

Also can I touch up a few areas of paint (sanded too much lacquer off) and blend back in with compound or will I need to respray whole item. Bonnet is the worst item with regard to this.

Thanks in advance for any help, comments, suggestions,

Andy

BTW, these are going on my Astra (mk2)

[eddyrick]

lookin nice matey

[Astra]

UPDATE!!!!!!!

Strange white areas have appeared on my newly painted parts. Bits have just been sitting in garden waiting to be fitted. Paint looks patchy. Any ideas?????

Finish was really rough after spraying so used alot of G3 and a buffer to achieve smooth finish even after sanding back with 1200 W&D paper. Have Iover G3'd? Sanded too much off?What has gone wrong???

Any gen on gun pressure, spray technique would appreciated as well as any suggestionson how to rectify whats happened. Are there any products that may help or is a respray the only option.

[dicky]

The surface shouldnt be rough if you sprayed on the laquer.

When laquering you need to be in a warm atmosphere.

I would rub down and re-laquer it in a warm room in side your house and dont leave them in a cold and wet envoirment like you have done.

[T.F.S.©]

you can use anti reaction drops, sounds like thats whats happened

make sure the surface is totally clean, dont spray silicone cleaners around

[Astra]

Cheers, I'll post up some pics of whats happened to the parts, maybe this will make things clearer. Thanks for the replies guys.

Andy

[Smuggler]

Sounds like they've got water on them somewhere and has reacted with the paint/lacquer, should have covered them at the very least. Nice work though mate, looks good.

[Benn]

any pics of the "white bits"

[Astra]

Will post up pics tomoorow,needs batteries for camera!!!!!!!!!!!

Andy

[nova2l16v]

the white patches are just a reaction in the paint with silicone or anythin like tht u need to pre wipe with meths or white spirit b4 spraying this will also help in the paint gripping. id rub it all dwn an start agen mate. good job for first go tho. oh an the ruff bits are over spray u need the spray to be longulated oval abut 6 inches spray diameter. just keep a steady hand and dnt swing ure wrist about keep it still! keep the coats small until the last coat when u pile it on u get a better gloss an no ruff bits. good look mate.

[Benn]

said people are saying,
they might be fish eyes in the paint,where its moved away from silcon or oil on the surface,
but it also might not be..

[306corsa]

always wanted to spray parts myself but dont have time, and worry bout if going wrong..

[Astra]

White bits:









What u reckon guys???

Might just take it to bodyshop, after spending £60 on paints and **** (none left now) it'd mean more outlay and probably another crap finish so it's just be easier to get someone who has the time and proper facilities to do it.

P.S. Did front wing with rattle cans and finish was much better, although I did keep it inside to dry!!!!

Andy

[Benn]

looks more like bits in the paint from the pics,
can you get a closer pic?

[jamied]

looks like reaction bubbles in the paint, i think this is caused by gas being trapped under the paint as the skin hardends and then the gas is released by eatting out of the paint.

[nova2l16v]

looks like silicone to me. by the looks of it its a double reaction looks like reacted with primer too. did u pre-wipe it? it wud be cheaper to try agen just do it properly. like its bin sed u get the prep rite an the rest is easy. just rub it dwn wipe it with meths leva to dry then spray. few dust coats then go for the gloss. just dnt let it dry completely just until tacky other wise ule get rough parts. btu u will get a few so just give it a t-cut after bout 7 days.

[Benn]

in the pic of the rear bumper,
in the cut out..what is the white ish like dust stuff?

[Astra]

Thats the paint patches/reaction.

Andy

[danny9880]

if u can afford it m8 ad keep on going and practise some more , it will be worth it in the end once u got the hang of it, try this website really good

http://www.lrcars.fsnet.co.uk

looks like u have got the hang of using the spraygun just need to know abit more on preping the surfaces

if u enjoy it! keep on going i would u'll get there

Thats the paint patches/reaction.

Andy

[Astra]

So what's the next step then guys,do i need to sand it right back and take off all the paint and lacquer and start again or is there an easier way to flat it? Saw something in Halfords called Leveller, which you spray on to 'level' new paint. Worth a try or not?

Andy

[Benn]

you need to sand it back and re paint and lacquar it,
making sure it cleanned clean before you paint,
and make sure its dry before you move it..

[chilinski]

I agree, matt it all back, re apply base coat then laquer, let each coat flash off properly.
keep the paint fresh in the gun, you are better to mix lots of small amounts rather than one big mix which will start to go off in your gun after time.
don't apply heat too soon.
If the laquar starts to become orange peel as you build up the coats, just waft over a thin spray of part laquar with 50% thinners in it, keep this to a mist or you'll get runs, this will help flat the paint down a bit,
for a first try, don't worry if you don't get a perfect finish, just get enough paint on it.
once dry you can always mat it back with 2000 grit then buff it using a compound (not polishing) head and G3, then finish with the polishing head but be suer to keep the surface wet with water so it doesn't burn the paint.

[Astra]

Hey guys, thanx for all the info, had another go (used ratlle cans this time tho for cost reasons) and here's the results:



Only just lacquered in the pic, will post more pics once fitted & polished in a couple of weeks. I decided to leave bonnet as it was and polish it more, here what it looks like on the motor:



Still needs a bit more shining up I think but it'll do for now.

Thankx again guys,

Andy

P.S. Have bonnet and front & rear bumpers and grille for sale from MK2 Astra SXi in diamond black (in pic) if anyone wants them - £40 for all. Will also have tailgate soon. PM me if interested.

[Astra]

At last after respraying with rattle cans and spending ages compounding, I finally fitted the front bumper. what are your first impressions guys?

Andy

P.S. Apologise for dodgy pic, camera was shaking!!!

[Benn]

looks good,not my taste in bumper,but paint looks ok,