Custom painting experiences

[zgorow]

Hi so I'm doing a project on custom painting cars and i want to know what some other peoples experiences are painting cars and learning to do it. Here are some questions to get you started but go ahead and say whatever you feel might be a good story or information.

How and when did you get started?
What was your favorite/least favorite project? What were the difficulties?
How has custom painting changed since you first began painting?
What is the best advice you could give to someone who is a beginner painter?


Thanks!

 

[hoss]

i got started a little over 5 years ago. i started spraying stuff in my car port and this website was my first experence in anything paint. i had never painted anything before this site and it helped me out soooo much.

my favorite project so far has to be what ever new one i'm working on. i like to different things and keep it interesting.
so i really don't have a least favorite experience b/c they all helped me learn and get where i am today.

paint everything you can get your hands on and if you mess it up, it's only paint strip it off and do it again. you'll learn soo much. paint your mower, go to a bowling ally and get their warn out pins and bondo them and learn body work and paint paint paint!!! get yourself an eclipse by iwata and go after it.

 

[TAZ]

Good questions!

I've been painting for about 22 years or so (since early 80's), but I've owned my own shop for the past 9, so I've had my painter do most of the painting for the last 6 years or so.

I got into it back then when I had a friend of mine take auto body school, and I thought it was neat to see him paint a car and basically make it look a lot better than before.

Favorite project had have been doing my frame-ff 63 BBC Short bed fleetside PU. Did this about 15 years ago.
Currently doing another one, but it's a 66 Chevy Short Bed Fleetside.

Advice to other painters.
With the internet and forums such as this one. Take in all you possibly can. There is nothing like hands on experience, but sharing tips with others is a great way to learn even more.
Iff you are noobie to painting and are serious about it, try to get into a dealership or even a 'production' shop and start at the bottom and work your way into a painters position.
Buy quality guns and DA's (I use all SATAs, Iwatas and Dynabrades. They DO make a difference in the long haul. If you're just doing a job as a hobbyist, a cheaper gun and DA will get you by.