Home Workshop/Garage Respray

rockits

Member
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9,167
Anyone done any more major spray works in home garage/workshop? I've been doing lots of research & it doesn't seem brain surgery difficult. Just lots of man hours & clean dust free environment needed. A decent compressor & spray gun with a half decent brain with some half decent ability.

My friend has a fibre based sports car that he would like to fix so I have offered to help & provide the necessary workshop. Being a fibre glass body it can't be baked so just needs to be air dried for longer in warm non humid environment to cure/harden.

The costs for a specialist to do the work were getting silly & makes it not viable. The only viable way to complete the job is by doing it yourself it seems.

Seems feasible to me. What do you guys reckon?
 

allandwf

Member
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10,958
I did, around 20years ago. Prep prep prep, do not underestimate the time involved, and a clean environment. Mine turned out OK, albeit with one fly that landed near the headlight, took almost as long to sort that. I'd be tempted to get more quotes and let the professionals do it.
 

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,594
Thought about it a lot Dean too.

I think the first one you do will cost you as much as paying for it but after that your quids in.

You also need to consider that you won’t be able to spray 2 pack at home so your limited to Celly or acrylic neither giving the finish of 2Pack.

You need a compressor with 50L tank minimum (mines 25l :( ) and a quality spray gun with 1.6 and 1.2 nozzles which will set you back £500 on its own.

Then, as I am sure you know a paint job results are preparation and environment.

Prep, just takes time. Environment, I would get the car ready to spray then build a lightweight wooden booth with poly infill.

If you think it’s wirth it, go for it I say.

As for finish, don’t be too precious about the gun finish. You need to get the paint on there, let it dry then knock it back with 1200 W&D and work up to 3000 then you’ll need a mop and personally-3M fast cut (green), Cut (yellow) & Ultrafina (blue) and don’t mix the heads...use one per compound.

If you do do it give me a shout, I’ll come up and assist and maybe Enzo can come over and oversea the polishing.
 

rockits

Member
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9,167
Thanks guys. Looks like I'll give it a go. Just needed either a nudge or a voice or reason to say your mental & don't be an idiot.

I'm a fairly capable person & can turn my hand to most things. I'm sure if I took some time to learn & practice I could be just as good or better than many guys who do this as a day job.

I would get a 100l belt drive compressor I think as would use it for lots of other uses as well so worth the investment. I can also see me doing more car stuff over the coming years & maybe some form of car related activity as a 2nd career if you like. I've been doing tech stuff for 25 years now. I'm very good at it & have an obvious natural ability to diagnose, troubleshoot & resolve many complex tech issues. However a majority of my day to day work is pretty boring & easy. Don't get many tough jobs that stretch me so need some new challenges to keep me motivated & pushed.

I have considered getting a job & working for silly money for other IT companies fixing issues their guys can't fix. However I don't think I would enjoy working in that environment so money isn't everything. I always wanted to work with cars from a young age but it never fell into place for me.

If the next couple of years work out as planned with things I won't need to work for money primarily anymore. It changes everything then & I could do something I enjoy everyday.

The problem is the phone keeps on ringing as people always want me to do stuff. Which is great but I'm just constantly working silly hours & juggling too much. I'm not getting any younger!

Installing a copier Tuesday AM then a 65inch display in a boardroom PM. Was fixing Exchange Servers last night & installing/configuring a new firewall on a 1Gbps fibre line Weds. Then big new File Server & migration for large company for Inter IKEA group next week. Need to fix complex 3CX phone system issue for company in Mitcham and and and it goes on and on and on.

No shortage of work ever. Just can't get guys these days to do all this stuff for a decent wage so do much of it myself. Varied but when you have been doing the same stuff for so long. I'm bored. Cars seem much more fun.
 

rockits

Member
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9,167
Forgot about the other job on a construction site for Inter IKEA company to run underground fibre link & extend access control system to changing room block.

I'm not really an 'IT' guy anymore really just seem to have found lots of companies that want to use us for so many things mire about one call & it just gets done.

I can't remember how many times I have been asked over the years.....can you/do you do this? Well.... can't be hard can it....sure why not. That is why the spraying idea doesn't faze me so much. I'm sure I've done harder things.

You never know....maybe I can build a forum spray centre for forum members to use
 

2b1ask1

Special case
Messages
20,223
Dean, get a top quality moisture trap on the compressor too, no point in scrimping there as it stores up trouble for later! May want to consider a small hydrovane, the only problem there is they are flipping noisy so working evenings becomes an issue with the neighbours.
 

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,594
Yep, soz, I meant to put that and Newton has obviously picked up on it, a water trap is an essential for a quality paint job.

Spring and autumn attempt with no moisture in the air would help too.
 

rockits

Member
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9,167
Dean, get a top quality moisture trap on the compressor too, no point in scrimping there as it stores up trouble for later! May want to consider a small hydrovane, the only problem there is they are flipping noisy so working evenings becomes an issue with the neighbours.
Thanks Newton, much appreciated. I will do much more research before I start to help my friend with this project together but just need to help him make a decision on which direction to go with it.

The good thing is the respray can be done to the bare bodyshell first. Much less time needed in prep to tape/mask up & stuff. Also the bodyshell & car can be side bybside making the swap as easy as it can be.

It can also be used to test I guess as can always be rubbed down again. Seems to make sense to practice on the actual fibre glass body she'll or maybe pick up some cheap fibre glass panels to play with first. I get the impression that working with & spraying fibreglass is a fair bit different to metal.
 

rockits

Member
Messages
9,167
Yep, soz, I meant to put that and Newton has obviously picked up on it, a water trap is an essential for a quality paint job.

Spring and autumn attempt with no moisture in the air would help too.
Agreed. Seen some info that recommend about 22 degrees temp & 50% humidity max. I would look to create a dedicated space to spray small enough & easier to control but big enough to spray around a car.
 

2b1ask1

Special case
Messages
20,223
I came to the decision I'm not good with bodywork 20-25 years ago and have done no serious spraying since, I just found it too frustrating so stick to oilly bits and detailling instead.

Fibreglass is the devil's own for so many reasons, it dries out over time (loosing resin content) and becomes porous, hold moisture, Damage that looks superficial on the surface often spreads out as it goes deeper, it can gas on you long after you have painted leaving you with micro-blisters, star cracks (spider webs) seem to appear from nowhere and if someone has used the wrong paint at some point you have to cut it all the way back anyway!

But don't let me put you off having a go....

The idea of building a hardboard or tent spray booth within your garage is a sound idea and make sure your compressor can simultaneously deliver you a forced air breathing helmet so you don't addle you noggin!
 

allandwf

Member
Messages
10,958
Another sometimes overlooked factor when DIY spraying, keep silicones well away, as if there is the slightest contamination you will get little craters in the paint.
 

rockits

Member
Messages
9,167
Sound like a nice challenge.....and I do love a challenge. Always revelled with the jobs when people say......oh you can't do that.....or that can't be done. Really I say......then prove them wrong Most of the time!

Not conducive to an easy life or short working days or weeks though that is for sure!!
 

Trev Latter

Member
Messages
1,213
I had a Hydravane with a 100 litre tank (probably 30) years ago. Fantastic bit of kit. I had mine in it's own little "shed" attached to the garage and fully plumbed in with outlets where I needed them. The shed was soundproofed quite well, which meant I could work evenings etc without upsetting the natives too much. I also had a charcoal filter and extractor fan fitted in place of one of the windows, which helped massively to be able to see what i was doing. I'm no paint sprayer, but managed to achieve pretty good results with a lot of care taken over prep.
 

rockits

Member
Messages
9,167
I had a Hydravane with a 100 litre tank (probably 30) years ago. Fantastic bit of kit. I had mine in it's own little "shed" attached to the garage and fully plumbed in with outlets where I needed them. The shed was soundproofed quite well, which meant I could work evenings etc without upsetting the natives too much. I also had a charcoal filter and extractor fan fitted in place of one of the windows, which helped massively to be able to see what i was doing. I'm no paint sprayer, but managed to achieve pretty good results with a lot of care taken over prep.
Thanks. Sounds like the same idea I have as was looking to replace the temp polytunnnel on the side of the garage with a wooden framed/cladded semi permanent structure. Got to have a measure up to see if it is wide enough ringer comfortably all the way round but would be ideal spray booth.

Would also be used as storage space for one car when not being used for spray work so win win.
 

zagatoes30

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20,764
The guy repainting my SZ is a glass fibre specialist super skilled but no business acumen but I am sure he will share his experience if you fancy coming up to Silverstone for a chat over a beer.
 

rockits

Member
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9,167
The guy repainting my SZ is a glass fibre specialist super skilled but no business acumen but I am sure he will share his experience if you fancy coming up to Silverstone for a chat over a beer.
Thanks Andy. It won't be a quick job or start soon but just needed to decide a path & stick to it. Might take you up on the offer when the garage is finished & the spray booth ready.
 

spyderbags

Junior Member
Messages
40
Good luck Rockits but to me this akin to plastering a wall. Seems easy if you're reasonably intelligent but....