[ajsr]

if I were you id buy a suction gun with a 1.8 - 2.0 mm tip suction (pot on the bottom)
the starting point with acrylic for reduction rate is 50/50 paint thinner but that is only a rough guide you will need to spray a test spot.
if it sprays out stringy or lumpy or real dry looking more thinner is required add little bu little ie 100mm tops at a time for a full pot of paint.
if its really thin and runny add a little more paint but 50/50 is usually a good start.
with about 30-35 psi of air pressure start painting each panel using a 50%overlap onto the last stroke of paint the best way is to get an old panel and have a play first so you have some idea when you get to your car.
using metalic you will need to keep a good even strokes and even speed and distance from the panel so a bit of practice first is agood thing.

[want33s]

AJSR refers to a suction gun.... this is pot under the handle...
For acrylic you want 1.5:1 on first coats.. this is 1.5 parts of thinners to 1 part of paint.. The more thinners you use the less orange peel you will have so in the last 2-3 coats go 2:1 or even 2.5:1..
The drip test is mix paint and thinners at around 1.5:1 and then dip a steel rule into the pot, the paint should stop running off after 3 seconds.
If the paint is still running off after 3 seconds it is still too thick..add thinners
If it stops running off before 3 seconds it is too thin... add paint.

[ajsr]

personally jas I recon that 2.5 thinners to 1 paint is a little too thin by hey if it works for you so be it QLD is a little warmer than mexico

[want33s]

ajsr wrote:

personally jas I recon that 2.5 thinners to 1 paint is a little too thin by hey if it works for you so be it QLD is a little warmer than mexico

Andy: I've always done it like that...
1.5 to 1 for first 2 coats.
2 to 1 for coats 3 & 4
2.5 or sometimes even 3 to 1 for last coat or two.
The thinner topcoats make rubbing SOOO much easier but you have to increase gun movement speed to compensate.
Temperature isn't really a problem but I always make sure panel/car to be painted is in sun for a while so it isn't cold steel to touch. Warm paint helps too.

31Zook: get yourself a thermometer and a barometer... Never spray under 18C and never at more than 70% humidity.

[31zook]

Yep my mate painted his zook and couldn't figure out why the paint was bloting and it was humidity... a thermometer yes but i will have to get a barometer...

Why not just stick to the same mixture?

[want33s]

31zook wrote:

Yep my mate painted his zook and couldn't figure out why the paint was bloting and it was humidity... a thermometer yes but i will have to get a barometer...

Why not just stick to the same mixture?

You should stick with 1.5:1 and after you've painted a few things and are confident in your abilities you can start thinning topcoats..

The thinner topcoats make rubbing and buffing a lot quicker and easier...
I've done too many drive in at 9am drive out painted, rubbed and buffed at 3.30pm jobs to have not learnt a few tricks to save time.

[31zook]

THANKS EVERYONE who contrubuted to this info.

Ok well it will be a bit before i actually paint but i will get it primed up at home in the mean time. Will it be ok for my to use can primer? I have a heap of it at work and they don't need it as much as me so im slightly inclined...lol

[TheFrayne]

Good Read - Cheers boys