Hope this is what you guys wanted. If you have some tips of your own or want to quote off mine do so. It took me and Hour and a half to do this.Perfect Spray Job
Step 1: Workspace
Your workspace that you are going to spray paint in must be free of Dust, Sand, hair and anything else that could destroy your spray job. One of the best ways is to clean the area down with water. Working in your garage is good. You don’t really want wind blowing onto your spray job which will carry all types of fragments of things that will destroy your work.
Make sure if there’s a car in the garage to take it out or cover it with canvas or newspaper. But rather just take it out the garage. You want to have free movement in there and no off spray of paint going onto the car. I have had off spray but its paint dust but still you don’t want to risk the car with paint on its surface. Another important thing to have is good light. Otherwise you wont see your coats when you doing them. So you might not have even finishes after each coat. Don’t let this happen.
Step 2 Sanding
The first thing you want to do when spray your case or an metal surface it to first clean it of any dust hair etc. I use water and sunlight liquid.
After you have cleaned it, you want to get some water paper (very very fine sand paper). If you want to have a good spray job this sand paper you have to have during coats.
Now you start sanding the surface evenly. This best way for a smooth even finish is to cross hatch when sanding. How you do this, is sand lightly and evenly with a flat hand horizontal until the whole surface is completed. Then you sand the opposite way vertical. Do this until you finish is smooth just about. (Using a sanding block will give you an even sanded area. This all depends if your surface is completely flat) Make sure not to focus on one area to much. Only if there is a scratch in the surface then sand that out. But making sure the area around it follows through evenly.
Step 3 Primer
This step is an important step. During this stage you want to make sure your paint sticks to the surface better. Primer will do this. The best primer to use is Duco. It’s a grey finish but doesn’t have that smooth finish.
So first thing is you need to shake the can well so the marble or lend piece runs smoothly from one side to another in the can. Normally a 1minute shake or so does the trick.
Step 3.1: Primer Coating
Ok you have a good sanded surface. Now this primer will stick on like wonders.
Normally when I spray paint, I will spray in short bursts about 30 centimeters away, maybe closer. But remembering how much pressure you put to the nozzle when letting the paint out. With practice comes perfection.
So we know this is an important stage laying down that primer, so you want to spray a full horizontal coat first over the whole surface. Not too thick otherwise the paint will run depending if your metal is lying flat or if you have it lying 80 degree angle. But rather have the metal flat.
Light coats are key here. You have to be patient when spray painting. So depending on how you want your base coat depends on the layers and your patience. If buying spray paint isn’t an issue then put a whole can to ¾ of one on the surface.
So during coats of spraying primer you must go lightly horizontal and what 2mintues and then go lightly vertical. Once you have done say 4 coats both ways, look to see how your finish is. You don’t want to see patches. Think of mesh with holes in between. You don’t want that. This cross hatch must be tight and even. Now what I do is take the water paper again and sand the primer lightly not taking it off but making it smooth. Then running it through water to get rid of any paint dust from sanding, drying it with a towel or in the sun. Make sure you also make sure there are no wet spots in coats to come.
So after a couple coats, light sanding and cleaning it down with water start going thicker on the coats but then waiting so the paint sets. You can speed up the drying time by using a hair dryer. Rather not, because it sucks things through that might mess up the paint job.
Ok your primer should be done now. Go once more with water paper just to give it that last smooth finish. Now you should have bought a good couple of cans of clear lacquer paint. Duco is very good no doubt but I would go with Spectra Spray paint it give you a better gloss mirror finish, which my case has. You want to spray 4 layers or so of clear over that primer just to protect it. After the 2nd coat you want to sand it again lightly and evenly with water paper. Then spray the last 2 coats of clear this is where the beauty of a good spray job. Doing my same technique your metal should have that gloss finish. This is where your colour coats will look like magic. Trust me.
Might be a good to let the paint dry for about a hour or 2 before you start applying colour.
Step 4: Colour Coating
Ok now that your primer is done and clear finish on top of that, time for colour. Duco spray paint it very good paint. No doubt but I think Spectra Spray has that better gloss mirror finish, once again. So whatever colour you want you must get Gloss or if Metallic, I think you get Metallic gloss. Just check on that one.
Ok so this is pretty much the same steps as the above. All you going have here are more coats of paint. I would recommend at least 10 coats of colour. And say between every 3rd coats after it has dried completely give it a even light sanding with water paper, to get rid of any runs or maybe some hair or dust that had got on the paint surface.
Note: If dust or something does fall on your painted surface LEAVE IT ALONE.
I have tried getting it off when something that has attached itself to my paint work and ended up taking all the paint off and starting again. So after you have finished the coat wait for it to dry and then lightly sand the area with the dust or whatever is on your paint job. Then carry on with the coating.
The coats must be applied lightly and working your way up to thicker coats remembering to have efficient dry time for each coat.
Another thing to do is after your 3rd coat of colour and you have sanded it lightly with water paper, what I did is spray 1 or 2 coats of Clear Lacquer over that. Then applying another 3 coats of colour then sanding again.
Ok you have finished the sequence of coating colour (10coats at least), sanding (between every 3rd coat) and clear lacquer (after sanding 1 or 2 coats).Step 5: Lastly Clear Coats
Ok you should have left your panel or whatever you have sprayed over night to dry. And if it is a sunny day a hour in the sun.
Ok now you are mainly done. All you need to do is apply about 6 coats of Clear Lacquer to you painted surface. REMEMBER to sand between every 3rd coat and then sanding it lightly horizontal and vertical to get it smooth. Spraying with clear it is a good thing to have good light now. You need to be able to see those coats and the cross pattern. Also remember doing vertical and horizontal coats.
First coat Horizontal and the 2nd vertical. Your 3rd will be horizontal again. Then you sand lightly vertical. Try creating a rhythm.
Otherwise that’s it. If you take your time and do it patiently and do every coat with evenly with paint and make sure the paint isn’t too thick during coats, you are on your way to an awesome paint job.
REMEMBER Practice makes Perfect. And Patience is KEY
So I don't want remarks just tweaks or how to do it better. My case looks sweet from doing it mainly to this sequence.
ENJOY and Have Fun
DoOb's