Auto Bodywork experts

If the paint is imperfect, you can use your 1000 grit paper to wet sand it and then buff it. otherwise, you'll need to start over. Did you get some tips on spraying metallic paint? There is a technique involved. The metal content will look splotchy if the paint isn't applied properly.

I wish I could be more help. Maybe Milque can offer some advice?

<whisper mode> "Sunroof"
Elk

I've got an idea, go to Home Depot, if you have one. Get that antiquing paint kit. The first coat is a gold base and the second one crackles after you paint it. It'll fit right in with that 62' plymouth you are painting!! :)
Oh, by the way, good morning up there!
Elk

Ahhhhh, the joys of your first paint job, I remember it well.

If the color is ok and the clear is just a little rough, you could try just sanding the clear lightly with the 400 and then clear it again. But if you can still tell by color where the primer was, then you have not put on enough paint yet (color coat), and need to get more color on there.

If the finished clearcoat surface is rough then your spraying technique needs some adjustment. I assume that you are either moving your hand too fast to get enough paint on the area or one stroke is not blending into the next because you are not overlapping the strokes enough.

Tell me what kind of paint it is, and what kind of clear. Spray can or ??? Brand, and what it says on the label.

Hope it's not now too late to help with the project. Sorry, but I forgot to look for this thread for a few days.

I think the lines you are seeing are just bad spraying technique, put more clear on there until it gets close to running. If it does run, just wipe it off with clean paper towel and keep going (sounds bad but it works fine). When you put enough paint/clear on, the next pass will blend in and you wont see the line anymore. (assuming the overlap between one pass and the next is right)


If you are unhappy with the color and want to put more color on, then you'll need to sand the clear off of that area before adding the color.

If you the current color of the finish is ok, then just add more clear and don't worry about sanding it unless there is junk in the finish (bugs, dirt, etc.)

When applying clear over a color surface, there is no need to sand the color coat before spraying the clear unless there is junk in the finish. If the paint is metallic, don't sand it because the metallic flecks will never look right.

I wouldn't try to polish the finished job for a month or so, it takes a long time for paint to fully cure. The gloss of the clear, when applied correctly, should be more than shiny enough so you may never want to bother to buff it out.

Good Luck!