Automotive Refinishing: RO150 and cracked clearcoat

[LaserGecko]

Hi everyone,

We have two cars with cracked and peeling clearcoat layers. The basecoat appears to be just fine, but the clear is in various stages of disrepair from the Nevada sun. My brother-in-law would like to surprise his Mom and reshoot it before he leaves in a week.

I have the RO150, but don't have any Platin paper beyond the sample kit. I don't have a paint sprayer at all, but he's been looking to get one, anyway. Any pointers to a decent gun at a decent price, preferably with Borg availability? (I know, oxymoron.)

If anyone has any thoughts or other advice, please let us know! The opinions on the forum he's checked vary pretty wildly.

Thanks in advance,

 

[Dave Ronyak]

Do you already have an air compressor?  Of what capacity?  Have you considered the offerings from Eastwood who specialize in items for those interested in automobile restoration?  They may be able to provide you with some useful technical information regarding your planned project.

I have never tried to address the problem you describe [just reshooting the clearcoat], but recently noticed similar cracking beginning to occur on the tops of the door handles of my son's 2000 VW [green with clearcoat], so I will definitely be interested in learning from your experience.  I would think you do not want to sand entirely through the old clearcoat before adding a new topcoat.  But I also wonder if not sanding all the way will result in a mottled appearance because the color coat paint directly under the cracks may be dulled by oxidization.

I have 2 conventional spray guns which require "high pressure" compressed air.  One is a Devilbiss unit which is normally sold with a quart sized siphon feed paint cup.  Because I planned to use it mostly for touchup, spot and panel repainting and for furniture, and my compressor was ~ 1.5 HP, I had the dealer reconfigure it for use with a smaller capacity air supply [change of paint needle and air cap] and substitute a pint-sized paint cup.  My other gun is branded Pratco, also of conventional type and 25 or so years old.  The Pratco gun is equipped with an 8 ounce paint cup and a top side trigger lever.  I have found even the inexpensive Pratco gun will deliver a good, fine pray pattern if properly adjusted, and tuning that adjustment is not hard to do.  I am plannig to purchase a complete HVLP turbine unit before undertaking some major furniture projects to be finished with water-based coatings.  I'll probably try that equipment the next time I have something automotive to paint.

Dave R.