(S) Advice needed on painting my Bodykit

I've just got a full Abarth bodykit for my Punto Mk2 and it needs spraying in non-metalic black.

I don't have much money at all left for a professional spray and people are telling me that it's easy to do: just prime it, give it a few coats of black and a few coats of lacquer.

I'm willing to do this myself, but first I though i'd ask to see if anyone had sprayed a bodykit themselves and how it went.

I've been quoted between £300 and £350 to spray a front and rear bumper and two skirts. But the whole kit cost me less than that so I'm loathed to pay it.

Any help much appreciated.!!

Thanks

Firstly because it's non-metallic you have a chance to get it ok, however, if you seriously have done no spraying of anny sort I would severely warn you off from doing it, it's a skill you only can gain through practise!

depends how good you are with a spray can, you would need to use a plastic primer, no need for a lacquer on no metalic. useing a lacquer will make it harder to remove any markes or scratches later.

Thanks for your responses, very helpful. If I don't use a lacquer though, will there be a risk of the paint flaking at a later date?

I'm pretty confident that I can do the job, I used to have a Fiesta and resprayed the wheel arch when it got scratched.

Thanks again

no lacquer is more lickly to flake than paint.

Thanks, I'll let u know how I get on.....

Is that price for fitting aswell, or just spraying?

also, remember to only put thin coats on at a time or you will get drips and an uneven finish.

Right from the start remember to do the following in this order and it will turn out good

1) Remove all mold seam linees and inperfections first

2) use a plastic primer

3) use a filler primer to fill any minor inperfections youve missed

4) flat it all down with 800 grit paper until totally smooth

5) apply top coat doing one coat and leaving to dry for a few mins before applying the next and so on.

6) you can use a laquer and this will not do any harm and if applied properly will provide lasting shine but be warned aerosol laquer takes skill to get it to shine.


if you get the hang of it straight away its easy, the hard parts the preperation.


also where did you get your kit from as my sister wants a body kit for hers and yours sound pretty cheap?

I couldn't agree more. My first effort was a bit crap, now i have sprayed my side skirts (using a metallic paint & lacquer) and you would have thought they'd been done by a bodyshop. Practice makes perfect my friend.

Lacquer in a can is difficult to work with, your first time you will find it will run, but you get the hang of it. If you feel confident, have a go, what's the worst that can happen, It's only gonna look crap, then give it a bodyshop to correct. Once you've sprayed one thing and got the nack, you then get the bug and spray mirrors etc!

It's all in the preparation, get that right, and you're on a winner!

Prep, prep, prep...

if i ever spay anything myself i always look at it and think that aint right and it will bug me even though its not far off my advice give it to a bodyshop and shop round to get the best deal!

Ive painted little things myself before like my grille and even a set of alloys and they came out well, but when i tried doing bigger areas the result was shocking!

My advice would be to let the bodyshop do it. The price youve been quoted seems quite reasonable. You want it looking a quality finish, not a diy job so leave big jobs to the experts.