Auto paint experts here?

(quoted from post at 08:07:34 04/06/18) I did not ask this over at the antique-tractor paint section mainly because this is not a tractor.

I am skilled at many things, but score pretty low when it comes to "modern" paint and body work. I did all the tractor painting a two John Deere dealerships back in the 70s-90s. That was low tech and with lacquer primer and one-coat enamel. In fact, we only used paint from John Deere that was made by Valspar.

I have a 1978 Toyota-Chinook micro-mini-motorhome. Although it is a collector's item - to my family it is a user. Three adults and a dog do well in it and will be taking it on a 6000 mile trip this Fall. I have no intention of ever making this thing "show quality." That said - the guy I got it from used it in his shrimp-camp in Louisiana and painted it some awful orange with a roller.

I spent four years reworking and/or rebuilding all the mechanics and electronics on this. Drives like an old sports car and gets 22 MPG @ 70 MPH and I find that pretty impressive.

My problem is figuring out how to approach a paint-job now. I have been putting it off every year and figure it is time. It looks awful.

The original paint was lacquer. Four different colors and some decals. I have had new decals reproduced.

I am now trying to figure how to proceed with a one-coat acrylic enamel paint job.

I have no idea how the paint was done originally. I will guess and say the entire base color of white was done first? Then the large bands and/or stripes were painted over the white with a lot of masking? Then decals added?

I have no idea what order will work best. I tried to hire someone locally to do it but gave up. I am kind of amazed at how hard it is to hire anyone to do anything that is not deemed "normal." I could not even get the local auto-glass place to install my windshield because they only do "glue-in" windshields. They acted as though my 1978 with a rubber-molding was a 1900s Model T or something.

So the heck with it. I will reluctantly do myself. I'd just like to have a plan. I already matched the paint with an on-line seller. Local places looked at me like I was nuts when I asked about straight acrylic enamel.

I have urethane primer. Acrylic enamel paint. I also might later clear-coat with more enamel or urethane. Supposedly I can do either.

I would hate to get part-way through this and find out I made some major mistakes in my approach.

If anyone on this forum is really good at this - I'd love to hear some ideas or comments.


OK first thing is get it sanded with 320 grit, and all the dents fixed. Then blow it off with compressed air. next wipe it down with lacquer thinner, then right before you are ready to spray wipe down with a tack cloth (paint store).
Spray a self etching primer, then a primer sealer, followed by the color of choice. If you have your ducks in a row, you can do the self etch primer, then primer sealer, then color without the need to sand in between. If you are going to do stripes wait for the base paint to dry, then tape off what is to get the next color, and scratch that area up with a scotchbrite pad then shot the color. If the base is darker than the strip then you will have to do the primer sealer first.

Use hardener in the paint. Spray in a well ventilated area, and wear a tyvek suit with hood and a full face breather. Latex gloves on your hands as well.

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