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Basic Spray Can set up....

2K views 16 replies 9 participants last post by  colormecrazy 
#1 ·
You guys REALLY didnt think anyone would ask how to set up a SPRAY CAN do you???

Someone had to be silly today, and it was my turn!!
 
#4 ·
I use 1 of the can hand handles, there cheaper than the rustoleum version and they lock inside where the cap snaps on, rather than snapping on the top. holds much tighter. I have 3, every time I misplace 1, I go to Wallmart and buy another 1, there like $1.50 whail using 1, on a model Car, I needed something from my '51 Chevy. look on the rear floorboard, there's the other 2.
 
#5 ·
At my industrial painter job we had 1000's of little plastic pieces to spray bomb at a time. Think they were some sort of lights used on military vehicles. We had the little snap on can covers with the trigger. It saved on the arm a little, but I liked spraying better without them. Either way my wrist was killing me after spraying a few tables worth of those things. Must have been a slow day been away to ask this question. But I was dumb enough to look, Okay what is this all about? LOL.
 
#10 ·
I used the preval setup when I painted under the hood and the jambs of my 82 Firebird (including the hood, fenderwells, etc.). I had the car painted locally, and was doing a color change. To save cash I did the jambs, and underhood myself.

I used an enamel with a hardener if I remember correctly (it was 10+ years ago). I do remember thinking "Man this stuff stinks" ( I did end up using a respirator mask ), and "this stuff covers so much better than rattle can paint". Years later when I sold the car it still looked great underhood. The worst thing about the preval system was the nozzle pattern - a relatively small circle (although fine in the environment I used it for). Duplicolor cans seem to have that "special" nozzle with a wider cigar style pattern. You could probably pull one of those off, etc.

Later,

Chris
 
#13 ·
What's wrong with rattle cans????

So.....we're all having some fun here, but I've painted a ton of motorcycles with rattle can, and even as we speak, the right front fender, and half of the hood on my station wagon/tow car is rattle can black testing how well it will stand up to the Texas sun. Maybe I've had too many brownies too.......
 
#15 ·
Rattle can confusion

Seriously, before we go too far, I do know two things about rattle cans that can be a problem when it comes to expecting a decent paint job.
One, maybe the most important, is that there are no hardeners in rattle can paint, because you wouldn't be able to get it out of the can. This can make for some delicate painted surfaces.
Here in Texas, we've learned that rattle can doesn't hold up well to the sun, and fades quickly, not a problem if you're using flat, but your gloss will go away sooner than you'd like.
The other problem is the small fan size. Not a problem on small parts, and small areas like stripes or lace or other tricks, but on large areas like fenders and hoods, you're going to start having stripes like a Zebra.
I've painted cars with rattle cans, and Yes, it's cheap, and yes, you can do it on your driveway without ticking off the neighbors, but it's gonna look like rattle can........Try it, what do you have to loose? If it doesn't please you sand it off! Good luck.....Mike
 
#16 ·
I missed your point!

Sorry dude! I missed your point on setup!
It's basically the same. The difference is most rattle cans aren't too picky about what primer they go over. Test a fender. Make sure to see that the primer you use is sandable, and be prepared to wait longer than usually to sand the surface paint because, once again, you don't have any hardeners.
Good luck....Mike
P.S. I'm not trying ot come off as some kind of pontificating "expert" here, it's that when I was in High School, I worked for the paint company that became Valspar......It was a real learning experience.....
 
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