What should be painted last?

[S. Drennan]

There was a question similar to this a few months ago but I couldn't find it.

I'm painting a pickup. Should the roof of the cab and hood be painted first or last?
Does it really matter?
I do remember in the answer given a few months ago it it was stated to paint in the direction of air flow through the booth. However, there is going to be a dry mist on the hood and roof reguardless, I guess.
When finished, or nearly finished would it be better to over-reduce the last coat of basecoat and/or clear?
Or should I not worry about it and remove it 1500 grit wetordry paper, compound and polish after it dries?
A friend suggested to lightly mist the whole truck with pure reducer and this would "melt" the whole thing to a slick finish.

 

[Zeepaintr]

I dunno what other people are doing out there, but if I'm painting a complete, I start on one side, at the rocker panel, and work my way up to the top. Then I do roof, hood, and decklid (if its a car, or tailgate on a truck) then start at the top of the second side, and work my way down. That way you always maintain a wet edge and dont have to worry about getting back to an area and having it start to set up before you're finished clearing.
As far as the reducer goes, I have never heard of reducer over the whole job. A SLIGHT over reduction of the clear will make it flow a bit better, but run easier as well. Also I think if you over reduce too much, or spray a coat of straight reducer on the job, it will dye back on you.
Thats just one mans opinion, I have been in collision repair for about 9 years. Someone with more expereince may know something I dont??

Scott

 

[ezrider]

heres how i do it , if it a car and nose torwards the fan. deck lid down to rear bumper right side of roof down the right quater then door or doors then rocker over to the left side of roof down the left quater then left door or doors then left rocker left side fender starting at the bottom up over the hood then over to the other side of the hood where you left off down the right fender then header panel , grill then front bumper.
for a pick up i do it like this,nose pulled in torwards fan. tail gate, right bed side, left bed side, left side of roof down door, then over the right side roof down the door right side of hood then right fender then right side of hood down the right fender then filler panel and bumper
its a little more running around this way but i try to work into the over spray than against it, the air flow going back to front of vechical being painted. when it comes to hoods and roofs you have to make sure to get over to the other side while where you left off is still "wet" hope this helps it gets pretty good results for me. two weeks ago i painted a 68 vette jams and all, all at once wanna talk about moving. it was about 4 hours of non stop spraying, by time i got to the end of one coat it was time to start spraying the next, the customer was pretty happy nice clean jams with no tape edges just like they wanted

 

[Jim]

I haven't painted my car yet but,since the subject is posted,My buddy wants me to paint his 34ft motorhome this winter,what would the order be?It will be multi-color with some graphics thruout.Just wondered if I should intercoat clear the colors as I go (to keep within the clear window)then clear everything in sections?Whats PPG's time line before I have to clear?Even with a slow reducer,HOK will be too short I think.

 

[nooshie]

The process of painting to keep a wet edge makes good sense. Ezrider and Zeepaitr have spelled out their thought process before they paint. I'm always impressed by the willing of those who share their experience with the someone else that is trying to learn. I found a video titled, Paint your own car. It helped me understand the process and helped build a little confidence. I found it at the library.

My new motto is, I listen to my freinds idea's, but I research the product before I do the thing.

Nooshie

 

[Duleyman]

Jim, in reply to your question about using intercoat clear on the 34 ft motor home, dont do it. I have a paint shop in Elkhart In. and thats all I do is paint motor homes. There are lots of variables to painting something that big, such as removing all of the silicone first, are you painting over gel-coat etc. I would be willing to help you with the info.

cfp...sorry, no email addresses allowed (in the register agreement). Only because, if I let one person do it, all others will want to as well. Thank You

 

[Jim]

Thanks,I'll be needind lots of help along the way,just want to make sure I do it right!,there's fiberglass,alum,and plastic to paint.I want it to stick and not peel off.
Jim