(Paint) Final Touches for the Tank...

The "Rust-Littered Fuel Tank"...

Rusty interior aside, paint is almost done. I've never done an automotive paint job before, and I've learned a lot from doing this. I've used rubbing and polishing compound after the final color sand to smooth the paint out and remove any citrus-y goodness. The pictures are the current result.

It's a rattle can job using Rustoleum Satin Canyon Black. There was a lot of holes, dents, dings, and abuse that i had patched with bondo after i had stripped the old paint, and i guess in some spots (small enough where I don't even think you could see it in any of the pictures) came out a little less smooth than others. Learned for the next time i guess! I'm a bit stuck on the finishing of this guy here though. As i said, the very last thing done to it was some polishing compound. I have yet to apply the SprayMax 2k clear to it. I know that for adhesive of any kind such as in spray cans, you cannot have a super silky smooth surface. The surface of this tank currently is pretty shiny, but still see many small scuffs left by wet sanding.

Do i continue using polishing compound to smooth the tank even further, or is it adequate for the clear coat? Will the scuff marks show though a rubbed and polished clear coat?

Any kind of "grainy" texture in the pictures is merely the camera. My girlfriend could probably almost use this as a mirror for make up....

Is that a big dent?
Steve

swest wrote: Is that a big dent?
Steve

No, Just a weird angle i guess. Doesn't look like that...I actually had to examine it after taking the picture, just to be sure i wasn't trippin'.

I think that's my melon-head. I have black hair so it looks like a shadow...

Sanding marks and other imperfections will be magnified by the clear coat. Be ruthless with them.

TexasKZ wrote: Sanding marks and other imperfections will be magnified by the clear coat. Be ruthless with them.

Doesn't it need to be scuffed to a point for the clear to adhere properly?

paint, wetsand 1k grit, spray clear, wetsand 1500 then 2k(dont go through clear), polish with polish, not compound, wax.

Kidkawie wrote: paint, wetsand 1k grit, spray clear, wetsand 1500 then 2k(dont go through clear), polish with polish, not compound, wax.

So, even if the paint is super dull from wetsand in with 1000 grit, it'll still come out shiny after the clear?

yes. just make sure there are no sanding marks.

I actually just looked back at when I painted my tank, I guess I wet sanded 2k, then cleared it. I think 1k or 1500 would be fine as long as you dont see any marks. After you spray the clear you need to knock down any orange peel by wet sanding again. then finally polish, NOT compound, to a shine and wax. I used an electric polisher.