Paint prep

[Poodle]

Sorting out my bumper for spraying - filled and epoxied the worst of the cracks and dents, cleaned down with panel de-greaser, rubbed down thoroughly with 400 grit and rinsed. However, i've hit a bit of a speed bump - I'm not sure why, but don't seem to be able to get hold of a tack cloth anywhere... :|

I've cleaned it down with sugar soap, reckon it'll be alright or do i really need to try and find a tack cloth from somewhere? Feck knows why, but halfords, b&q and my local decorators don't seem to stock them any more... :roll:

[gareth7]

How quick do you need them mate, Halford's show them online, maybe order off their website?

Packs of 10 U-Pol ones for £4.99

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165614

[bongo]

They're not essential, a clean microfiber cloth should do similar but I much prefer using the tack cloths and considering how much they are I find them well worth it.

So long as it is in good light when you spray it you should be able to see any specs of dust etc so just have a good look and use a microfiber if you are really struggling to find a tack cloth.

[Poodle]

Just checked the halfords site and it says the local store has them in stock, but that's not what the clerk said when i asked earlier. One of them is lying to me lol... :roll:

Will go back after work tomorrow and try again.

Cheers for the input.

[bongo]

Yeah I wouldn't take that as Gospel as I've been in the store with my phone out saying they are in stock and still the assistant didn't have a clue what they were or where they might be!!

She was pretty hot though so wasn't that bad.

[samass]

i was gunna suggest b&q but then saw you said they didn't have them in stock. loads in my store, can grab you some tomorrow and post it down if you like?

[Oil-burner]

My halfords has them, nipped in earlier!
Just use a paper towel with some meths on it! Wouldn't worry too much!

I wouldnt use a microfiber as they can be a bit staticy! << new word and shit! Lol

[Poodle]

Lol gotcha, in the end i went back to halfords and embarrassed the bell-end that wasted my time before, cheers though Sam. Did about 6 coats yesterday, about to start again.

Yesterday i didn't flat at all as theyre thin coats and was only giving 15-20 minutes between each application, but i'm wondering if i should flat back with 800 before starting spraying again this morning?

[kingy]

i would flat it back with some 1200 AFTER you have sprayed it.

[Poodle]

Is that after paint, but before lacquer?

[kingy]

both. get your primer as good as you can get it. spray your top coat then wet and dry it with 1200. then srp, then lacquer, then 1200 wet and dry again till smooth then polish and wax. this is what i did for my wheels and im really pleased with the results. really smooth bright finnish. its not all about OH, IVE SPRAYED IT AND THATS IT sort of thing, plenty or guides on here mate. thats what i did. good luck.

[mark_airey]

i would flat it back with some 1200 AFTER you have sprayed it.

Should never sand the final coat of metallic paint though!

[Poodle]

Good job you said that Mark, thanks! Will continue as planned then and see how we do.

[mark_airey]

You end up wit strange patterns as the bits you sand off float around in the lacquer and settle in random places and you mess all the flakes up and loose the sparkle