How much paint to buy?

[jschiller]

Getting ready to try my hand at painting the Cobra. Anybody have a rough idea of how much paint I'll need to buy to cover it in color (already have the primer) with a little left over for touchup? Planning on a 2 stage factory color so no need to go overboard with a custom color to match later.

What do you think...1 gallon, 6 quarts...more...less?

John

[flwolfman]

One gallon for the base color and one quart for the stripes if you are going that route. I would think that would be fine. (Some like to spray the base, sand and spray more base, then clear. Some like to spray base, then clear, then sand and then more clear. The base coat should cover well, then the clear coat gives the shine.) Good luck with your paint.

[RedEsprit]

John,

Where are you located in Cape Coral? I'm in the Cape also and building ERA 742.

[nmayes]

John,
I have been painting cars for many years, these cars are like painting a Volkswagen bug, a hard car to paint because of the design.
What color are you painting your car? There are many colors that are transparent and it might take 4 or 5 coats of paint to cover the car. It would be wise to have 5 quarts of base coat mixed for your project, because their is nothing worse than running out of paint. I would also have plenty of clear, at least 6 quarts spray-able. That would be 1 gal of clear 1 qt of activator and the recommended amount of thinner. I would also buy an extra quart of clear and 1/2 pint of activator to have on hand just in case you run out of clear. You can always take back what you don't use as long as the product hasn't been opened. One quart of base should be more than enough for your stripes.
Good luck with your paint job, this is always the fun part of the project and the most frustrating. Most independent body shops and the place where you choose to have your paint mixed are more than willing to give good advice.

[cobrakidz]

John,
You will use less paint with an HVLP gun vs. a conventional type. Take your time with the base and try not to run it. Put a good amount of clear on since this is what you will be colorsanding and buffing. Good luck. Bruce

[Sydney]

Hi John,

I bought 1 gallon of base color, 1 quart of stripe color, and 1 gallon of clear. Plus activaters and reducers. If I remember right, we applied 3 or 4 coats of each. Ended up using a little over half of each. If I was to do it over, I would have added 1 or 2 more coats of clear. even then 1 gallon would have been enough. Nmayes is right. Cobras are kind of challenging to paint, especially if there is any touchup to do.

Sydney

[jschiller]

Thanks for all the info guys.

Looks like a gallon or so of base will do it. I am thinking of a Lexus blue with a white stripe for the color.

RedEsprit, I'm in the central Cape, just off Veterans and Santa Barbara, where are you?

John

[RedEsprit]

I live on the Bimini Basin but the car and my office are on Metro. I am actually ordering my paint as we speak.