best way to learn how to paint a car?

[kylem4711]

is the best way to learn how to paint a car taking a class?  or just doing research on the internet and looking on forums?

i also tried to look on the internet to find a class near where i live, (whittier, CA,  socal)  but i cant find anything.


anyone have any suggestions?

can anyone put in there two cents on how they learned?

thanks

[Rolling_Thunder]

best way to learn is to do it..    that how i learned

[JimShine]

And do not skimp on breathing equipment. Automotive paint is toxic and even short term direct exposure can hurt you.

[MoParMetal]

is the best way to learn how to paint a car taking a class?  or just doing research on the internet and looking on forums?

i also tried to look on the internet to find a class near where i live, (whittier, CA,  socal)  but i cant find anything.


anyone have any suggestions?

can anyone put in there two cents on how they learned?

thanks

go to cerritos college. they have a pretty good automotive department overall.
i went there. realized just fixin cars isnt my thing. i gotta build and customize.

[Rolling_Thunder]

is the best way to learn how to paint a car taking a class?  or just doing research on the internet and looking on forums?

i also tried to look on the internet to find a class near where i live, (whittier, CA,  socal)  but i cant find anything.


anyone have any suggestions?

can anyone put in there two cents on how they learned?

thanks

go to cerritos college. they have a pretty good automotive department overall.
i went there. realized just fixin cars isnt my thing. i gotta build and customize.

dude - you go to cerritos ?  I had no idea you were that close to me...    Cerritos is like 20 minutes from me...    creepy.   

[Kevin68N71]

Generally, look around for colleges that offer night classes.  Body work and paint, including welding, are usually taught as "night school" so people with jobs can attend. 

[Charger-Bodie]

Id reccomend apprenticing at a good shop .

[MoParMetal]

is the best way to learn how to paint a car taking a class?  or just doing research on the internet and looking on forums?

i also tried to look on the internet to find a class near where i live, (whittier, CA,  socal)  but i cant find anything.


anyone have any suggestions?

can anyone put in there two cents on how they learned?

thanks

go to cerritos college. they have a pretty good automotive department overall.
i went there. realized just fixin cars isnt my thing. i gotta build and customize.

dude - you go to cerritos ?  I had no idea you were that close to me...    Cerritos is like 20 minutes from me...    creepy.   

i used to go to cerritos college. now im way down in san diego.

[BRS]

This site has great information on the subject. http://www.autobody101.com/

Also, like was said earlier, practice is the best way to learn. Get yourself an old door or fender and shoot away.

[bakerhillpins]

And do not skimp on breathing equipment. Automotive paint is toxic and even short term direct exposure can hurt you.

Folks always pay the big bucks to make it/them look good and then skimp on the gear so they don't end up sticking around to enjoy it. 

[BlueSS454]

After getting screwed on having bodywork and paint done to both my Chevelles, I figured that if I am going to keep building cars, I had better learn to do body and paint myself instead of paying thousands and thousands of $$$ for subpar work.  I took a night class at the local technical school.  There I learned how to properly weld sheetmetal, mix an appy filler, block, prime and block, and finally seal and top coat the car.  It really isn't as hard as you may think it is, it's just very time consuming.  You also need to acquire a "touch" so to speak for felling waves, low spots, and high crowns in sheetmetal.  I retook the course twice after the first year because I needed the facility to work on the Charger.
To put this in comparison, I paid $4000 to have the bodywork and paint done on my 70 SS 454 Chevelle and it;s not up to par as far as I am concerned.  If you take out what the class cost me and just use materials cost, it was less than half that for me to paint the Charger.  I think I have maybe $1600 total in paint and body materials (paint, clear, activators, primers, sealers, filler, sandpaper).  Doing a nice paint job yourself is very feasible if you have patience and time and know-how to prep the car properly.  Check out www.autobody101.com for more info, there is a wealth of it there.
Also, as mentioned, make sure you have good respirators.  Fumes, filler dust, paint dust, etc are NOT good for your lungs.

[jaak]

Here is another cool site with tons of information.   http://autobodystore.com/forum/index.php


Jason

[EMCustoms]

I used to work for a mining repair company and when the project I was working on was over, I returned home with the charger I had just purchased.  Since I wanted to do the work my self I learned by getting a job as a painter's helper at a local shop.  Now I don't have a place to work on my car.

[Silver R/T]

lots and lots of practice, buy some cheap paint, scrap metal and shoot every day, play with the gun. Get feel of the gun real good, all the adjustments, your spray technique, etc.