I am getting ready to paint my first car, I have done panels in the past, but not a whole car. I will be using a Met. base and clear coat system. The car is a 70 Chevelle. What I am wondering, is there a proper sequence to follow as you go around the car to get the best results, the painting will take place in a paint booth. Thanks for any pointers, Steve

Walk the entire length of the car.. Follow instuctions... Do a test panel. and if you have the time.. get a "How too Video".. I'm sure there will be many replies.. Good Luck.. Take pictures!

What I've found to work best on metallics is to fog on the last 2 coats from a distance to help even the metallics out.

If you spray it on too wet and thick it won't look symetrical.

Silvers and pearls are probably the most dfficult to spray. With practice it's no big deal.

Steve, remember a few things:
A quality paint job is 90% preparation.
Be sure you have all sand scrathes sanded down and out.
Your main enemy will be dirt. Wash the car thorougly before masking off. All of the cracks, crevices, gaps and wheelwells. Some painters even spray these masked areas down with color first to 'tack down' the dirt. Then re-tack the surface one last time before shooting the car.
The proper sequence for shooting a car is;
Roof; hood; trunk; sides
Always shoot the bottom edges first (sides)
Make sure you have some fish-eye remover on hand. Just in case they pop up.
Always watch your air hose and pay attention to where it is and where it's going!
Don't be in a hurry, as it's easy to be.
Spraying mettallics is tricky, no doubt. There's alot of tricks and procedures to use. As mentioned above, fogging from a distance is a good tip. But, don't let it go on too dry. It will look 'grainy' if it's dry and rough. Even with a slick mirror coat of clear on top. Try to keep the coats on the wet side, but not too wet. Distance with a slower hand works for me. Make damn sure your gun's spray pattern is even too. If the color coats come out smooth (Not dry & rough), then by all means, fog on a little more with a little more reducer in the mix as a final color coat. Be a 'machine' when applying the color coat. Same distance and speed. Before spraying the clear, make sure it's free of streaks and heavy spots with different angles using halogen lights. This will be your last chance before clearing.
Drink plenty of beer. AFTERWARDS!
Good luck and let us know how it comes out.

[This message has been edited by Jimmy P (edited 10-01-2001).]

Thanks for the help guys, all good points that I will keep in mind when spraying the car. I will take some before and after pics so you will be able to see the outcome, thanks again, Steve

Just to add a bit of clarity to what Jimmy P replied. Shoot ONLY the bottom edges(Sides) first, not the whole side, then the top, hood, and trunk, then finish with the side. this is so just in case you're a bit careless with the air hose, you don't ruin the paint. I also like to spray down the paint booth with a water hose before painting. This keeps the dust from flying around while walking around the car.