Want to paint my AU 'ute grille'- help needed

[BAXTWAGS]

i have been given an AU 'ute grille' for free from another member of F.F ( thanks! ) and i want to paint it so its the same colour as the car. ( P4 Hot Chilli Red )
How does one go with doing it themselves, ( please be specific as I am new to all of this haha :/ )
Cheers!

[LTDHO]

Preparation is where most of the work it done. You will need to rub back every little bit that will see the new paint.
Cleaning is next with prepsol.
You can take your fuel flap to a local automotive paint supplier and they can match it for you. Also they can put it in pressure packs to make your job real easy. (also good to get advice why ya there)

[BAXTWAGS]

Alright, cheers for that mate !
Although pressure packs- is that spray paint you're reffering to? because I heard it gets all flakey ?

[my67xr]

flaking paint is from bad prep work.
aerosol will be fine, a clear coat or 2 afterwards will help to gloss it up too.

[BPXR6T]

I used spray cans mixed to the paint code of my car when painting the canopy on my Navara. It came up great. Autobarn mixed it up for about $30 a can. I used flexi-primer rather than normal primer too.

[BAXTWAGS]

Oh that makes everything a lot easier.
So first i clean the grille, use degreaser and wash it off, then give it a light sand with 600 grit Wet/Dry sandpaper, wipe clean.
Then i would go onto using primer, let that stand for a while, then apply _____ coats of the colour, followed by ____ coats of clear coat?
How do I apply all of these things? Do I apply lightly? From how far back? Etc.

Thanks guys

[xisled]

Originally Posted by bursoAU

Oh that makes everything a lot easier.
So first i clean the grille, use degreaser and wash it off, then give it a light sand with 600 grit Wet/Dry sandpaper, wipe clean.
Then i would go onto using primer, let that stand for a while, then apply _____ coats of the colour, followed by ____ coats of clear coat?
How do I apply all of these things? Do I apply lightly? From how far back? Etc.

Thanks guys

When you Sand you need to make sure all the other product is off. EG paint and undercoat. your need to back to the original plastic. It is hard and takes a long time. Make sure your even get into the corners.

[BAXTWAGS]

Originally Posted by xisled

When you Sand you need to make sure all the other product is off. EG paint and undercoat. your need to back to the original plastic. It is hard and takes a long time. Make sure your even get into the corners.

How can you tell what the original plastic looks like?
Someone said it wasnt painted when i showed them, I cant be sure. It's some shade of grey atm.

[xisled]

Try scratching the grill with your nail. If it scracthes and paint flakes off it has been painted. You can also look around the edges to see if it is chipped. If chipped it has been paint.

1 other option is when you go to the paint shop. Take the grill with you. They will be able to tell you.

[BAXTWAGS]

Okay
Thanks loads guys !
One other annoying thing, there is a shocking difference in the tones of red in my car. It's believed it was rear ended in a former life. How much would it cost to get the car back to a consistent colour?

[my67xr]

Originally Posted by xisled

When you Sand you need to make sure all the other product is off. EG paint and undercoat. your need to back to the original plastic. It is hard and takes a long time. Make sure your even get into the corners.

no you dont, lol,
if the paint is flaking off then that loose layer would need to be rubbed back.

make sure you do it on a warm day too. 20+ degrees if possible.
just give it a scuff with some grey 3M scotchbrite pads to degloss it, or some 600 wet and dry (use lots of water to help the paper cut, and to not clog up with paint)make sure you get into the corners etc,
give it a wash off and dry.
if it is just plain plastic, then get some plastic adhesion primer from supercheap etc.
give it a couple of light coats, let that dry.
then a light coat of colour, then 2 or 3 slightly wetter coats of colour,
make sure the paint is not see through still
if you are happy then apply the clear, same again a light coat or 2, then a couple of slightly wetter ones.
try not to leave a dry overspray when doing the clear, make sure the finish is nice and glossy.
it will dry nice and smooth over the next day or so.

most cans have the instructions/directions on them

[BAXTWAGS]

Okay thanks loads, thats the detail I was wanting ahah
Nice and clear
Thanks a lot buddy

[Gavin Thomas]

Originally Posted by bursoAU

Okay
Thanks loads guys !
One other annoying thing, there is a shocking difference in the tones of red in my car. It's believed it was rear ended in a former life. How much would it cost to get the car back to a consistent colour?

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Maybe you shouldn't be too worried about a "close as possible paint match" with a red touch up auto spray paint - when the rest of the vehicle paint work is as you have mentioned. I'm sure a simple small bolt off item such as a grille won't be a major stand out item from more than 10 paces. You may even find that most auto stores will have the colour code spray paint for your AU in stock. As i advised in your other thread regarding your ute grille, the prep work in getting it clean & grease free is the most important part - even to the point that if the existing paint is reasonable & not flaking off, then i wouldn't be too worried about excessive sanding - just a light wet & dry, then prepsol, let dry, maybe under coat, then paint.

Also on the other hand if your asking about prices for major spray painting on the other body sections, then all i can say is, relatively speaking, it won't cost very much more to just get the pro's to prep & paint the grille at the same time.

Anyway, just get into the grille yourself first and see how you go....don't be afraid mate.

Cheers.

[ebxr8240]

I find a light coat of etching primer paint helps bonding etc with plastics and alloys..

[BAXTWAGS]

Originally Posted by Gavin Thomas

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Maybe you shouldn't be too worried about a "close as possible paint match" with a red touch up auto spray paint - when the rest of the vehicle paint work is as you have mentioned. I'm sure a simple small bolt off item such as a grille won't be a major stand out item from more than 10 paces. You may even find that most auto stores will have the colour code spray paint for your AU in stock. As i advised in your other thread regarding your ute grille, the prep work in getting it clean & grease free is the most important part - even to the point that if the existing paint is reasonable & not flaking off, then i wouldn't be too worried about excessive sanding - just a light wet & dry, then prepsol, let dry, maybe under coat, then paint.

Also on the other hand if your asking about prices for major spray painting on the other body sections, then all i can say is, relatively speaking, it won't cost very much more to just get the pro's to prep & paint the grille at the same time.

Anyway, just get into the grille yourself first and see how you go....don't be afraid mate.

Cheers.

Well that's what I was thinking, I may as well do the grille myself as it's a learning curve for me, and it's good to learn while i'm still a youngen.
I'll give it a clean and take a photo of it so you can get an idea of what condition it is in?

[BAXTWAGS]

Originally Posted by ebxr8240

I find a light coat of etching primer paint helps bonding etc with plastics and alloys..

Okay, no worries, thanks buddy.
So the easiest place to find all these things, would be AutObarn?

[ebxr8240]

Yep or paint place the trades go to..
I've bought primers etc from local shop
and it's close to it's shelf life..
Test can before you leave shop...

Should be in paint & panel section...

[BAXTWAGS]

Originally Posted by ebxr8240

Yep or paint place the trades go to..
I've bought primers etc from local shop
and it's close to it's shelf life..
Test can before you leave shop...

Should be in paint & panel section...

Thanks mate, i appreciate it
fingers crossed for all to go well