[davelgee]

After a few distractions I have finally finished the body work and got the paint on my spider.
I used the BASF Limco 3 paint system and am quite happy with it, easy to shoot, inexpensive and though hard to see in the photo, it produces a nice gloss. As soon as it is well cured I will begin to install all the stuff I removed for the paint job/body work and install the new top/interior. I hope to have it on the road by October with luck.

Cheers!
Dave G.

 

[he3r0]

white? not too sahbby... i like it
i also like your wheels, (hubcups or reams?)
and the window tint... its just awesome

 

[lowmileage]

Volvo 544 (or something close to that #) in the background, aye?

 

[davelgee]

Heh! Yes the cool wheels and tint are slated to go on the background Volvo (58 444 B16b) at the first chance I get! I think that they will be more "at home" there.

Cheers!
Dave G.

 

[backfeeder]

Dave, is this the first car you've painted? The reason I'm asking is that I'd like to paint mine as well but I have no previous painting experience...'cept for my fence.
BTW...I think you've done a very nice job.

 

[davelgee]

Hi Arden, no I have painted quite a few but it was mostly way back in the 60's. The paints/guns that are available now make the job of spraying the car (and getting good results) far easier than I remember it being. Of course most of the work is in the preparation of the surface of the car. You just have to be willing to get it just right and above all, be patient.
If you google it, you can find quite a few sites that are very helpful for the "do it yourself" folks. There is even one site out there that seems to get good results by using a roller!

Cheers!
Dave G.

 

[davelgee]

Here is the flip side with the masking pulled off. Tomorrow reassembly, at last!
Though a light weight project compared to some I have seen here, it's still nice to see the thing come together without too many snags!

Cheers!
Dave G.

 

[backfeeder]

Dave, I've read the about the roller technique but I don't think it works for metallics and I'd like to paint the car silver.
I'll keep looking though. Posts like yours are a good source of inspiration.

 

[lowmileage]

Could you tell me a bit about the BASF Limco 3 paint system. Does it contain those Iso's something or another that you need an outside air source with tubing and suit to breath? or is it semi-friendly whereby you can use a regular face mask. I assume you finish with a clear?

 

[davelgee]

The Limco 3 system is a urethane type (using the paint, a hardner and a reducer mixed at the time of painting) and is not as nasty as some of the modern paints. That said is used a mask but I was painting outside under a carport. Hardly optimal for dust protection but safer with just a mask. In an enclosed space I would check with the paint vendor to see. The Limco system does not need a clear coat, it is a "single stage" type, though you can get and use a clear coat with it if you like. On the advice of an old body shop guy I have been using about 10-15% clear coat mixed in with the final gloss or wet coat that I put on the car and this has worked out well.
Google BASF and Limco and you can find a PDF that gives a lot more info as there are several "systems" sold under the Limco brand, I think the 3 is the best bang for the buck and I like the look of single stage paints on older cars.

Cheers!
Dave G.

 

[lowmileage]

Thanks - I will definately look into it. I have 2 cars I have to do. I agree that some cars (classics) just don't look right with that super wet-look clear coat. Mixing the clear with the paint is a good idea - gives the clear some pigment to hold on to.

 

[davelgee]

Yes, the gloss and shine without a lot of "depth" is the way to go on cars from the 60s - 70s (IMHO) anything beyond that and the cars just don't look "right", at least to me.
Metallic colors are another matter entirely, but I tend to stay away from metallics here in Tucson, if you don't cover/garage them 90% of the daylight hours they tend to fade pretty quickly.
The clear mixing trick is pretty good, the only time I have had to buff the cars I have painted using this technique is to remove runs that I caused by being in a hurry (including one on the RF of the Alfa right where the side marker was removed - dammit)! the "gloss" was fine everywhere else.

Cheers!
Dave G.