Paint

[Ry24000]

Hello, I built a small paint booth area in my shop and was rattle can painting a compressor tank that I'm putting together. The paint job was average at best. One of the cans was used previously and didn't deliver the new can results I wanted. The spray fan was small and not adjustable which made it hard to get an even finish. The second can gave better results, but that made me think that I should be using a spray gun instead of using cans. I do have a few HVLP guns.
My question where do I get paint? I want some general purpose paint to use for my projects but don't want to spend an ton of money. Is there a rattle can style paint sold in pint or quart size? Thanks.

 

[housewolf]

I have no idea what’s local to you but not too far from me are two PPG stores, one automotive & the other construction with some crossover. They stock/mix paint, have all the tools & consumables, and have knowledgeable staff.

 

[Hal]

You are going to spend a ton of money unless you buy rock bottom stuff at Walmart or somewhere like that. I just got a quart of single stage auto paint custom mixed. Quart of paint, pint of hardener, quart of reducer, and sales tax: $196.58.

 

[Stelzer]

Plenty of industrial coatings available at the bigger paint stores, (Benjamin Moore, PPG, Sherwin, etc.) They might not be displayed on the shelves, but they do carry them. Ask for mis-tints in the desired product so you can learn to spray them with minimal expense. All paint stores have screw-ups labeled as "mis-tints", which are sold at a fraction of retail cost.

 

[lilredex]

This a partial assortment of paint I use for misc. projects. Some of that came from a dollar store nearby. When rattle cans stop spraying properly, take the nozzle off and apply paint remover, then blow out with an air hose.

Might help if we knew your location.

 

[KenC]

Tractor/implement paint from a farm supply or hardware store. Cheap and durable enough. Not a lot of colors but I find some I like, blues, reds, orange, green etc.

 

[The Cobbler]

I use direct to metal rust paint most often. thinned with lacquer thinner . old aerosol cans that no longer spray get a small hole punched in the bottom, propellant released and the can drained into a paint can. but it boils for quite a while so don't close the lid on your can for at least 12 hrs
I also have a large collection of old alkyd based paint that I keep , now that it's tougher to get .

 

[Hank11]

You can buy Rustoleum in cans at most hardware and big box stores.

 

[Joelgarner]

Hello, I built a small paint booth area in my shop and was rattle can painting a compressor tank that I'm putting together. The paint job was average at best. One of the cans was used previously and didn't deliver the new can results I wanted.Professional Roofing Company in Arlington VA

The spray fan was small and not adjustable which made it hard to get an even finish. The second can gave better results, but that made me think that I should be using a spray gun instead of using cans. I do have a few HVLP guns.

My question where do I get paint? I want some general purpose paint to use for my projects but don't want to spend an ton of money. Is there a rattle can style paint sold in pint or quart size? Thanks.

Near me, there are two PPG stores—one for automotive needs and the other for construction, with some product overlap. They offer a range of services including paint mixing and a variety of tools and consumables. The staff are well-informed and ready to help with any project questions you might have. If you’re looking for quality supplies and expert advice, it might be worth visiting your local PPG stores. They cater to both professionals and DIY enthusiasts, so you're likely to find what you need.

 

[hobie18]

Just got off the phone with rustoleum "customer service".
Finally gave up trying to get the cans to work. Primer and color. Perfect conditions. Perdect surface. Color would not stick, color, or... and removed the primer. All the work. All the effort. I am furious with rustoleum. Tried some months later. Paper, metal, cardboard, glasses, did not matter. My only guess is too much solvent.
They were not pleasant to deal with.
Any advice?

 

[gahrajmahal]

I am a painter from high school and the 1970’s. I have sprayed many major brand auto paints and have tried many lower cost paints. Currently I am spraying Orion brand paints and really like the application and relatively low cost.

Home

orionautomotivefinishes.com

 

[r00a005]

i have good luck with https://www.southernpolyurethanes.com/. not much choice of colors. really good clear

 

[dcg9381]

Any advice?

Get out of the rattle can business. Buy a quality catalytic paint (usually automotive) and a sprayer. Acrylic Urethane is a good start. The difference is night and day, especially if you're doing all the prep work. But yea, you're going to spend $100-$150 on paint. That's just how it is. You'll be surprised how much you can do with a quart and activator.

 

[nadogail]

Good paint is not Cheap, Cheap paint is seldom good.

 

[hobie18]

Thank you to all.
I will use all your advice.
No more "cheap" paint

 

[Ry24000]

Get out of the rattle can business. Buy a quality catalytic paint (usually automotive) and a sprayer. Acrylic Urethane is a good start. The difference is night and day, especially if you're doing all the prep work. But yea, you're going to spend $100-$150 on paint. That's just how it is. You'll be surprised how much you can do with a quart and activator.

Getting out of the rattle can is the point of this thread.
There have been some great suggestions The auto paints are a little higher price than I want to spend. The Farm implement paints look good. Basically a rattle can paint in a quart, pint, or gallon....yeah that's it!

 

[dcg9381]

The Farm implement paints look good. Basically a rattle can paint in a quart, pint, or gallon....yeah that's it!

I've never used the farm implement paint. I detect sarcasm, but if these are "better" let me know.

There are two "in-betweens" that I've done that work out well.. Mind you, not as good as auto paint, but not bad:

• Hobby 2-party "epoxy" paint. I don't think you can get this thin enough to spray it though.
• I use 3M "rocker panel spray" as a base coat which is textured. This stuff is tough and has very good adhesion. Then I coat it in Rustoleum hammered black. It HAS to be the "hammered" version, there is something different about the mix that is substantially different from their regular version. It is non-catalytic, so I usually put whatever I've painted in the TX sun for about 3 days.. But it looks great and the combination gives a very industrial finish, but the texture hides imperfections.

 

[racecougar]

The Farm/Implement paint isn't bad, just go into it with reasonable expectations, and use the appropriate reducer and hardener.

 

[Stelzer]

To the OP, I think you'd gain the most useful info to ask for task-specific products as they arise vs. asking opinions on general purpose paints, since any general purpose paint will just be ok for most things but probably not great for any. Suggestions you'd receive would align much more with your current project as well as your needs.

 

[Norcal]

Good paint is not Cheap, Cheap paint is seldom good.

There is nothing more expensive then cheap paint.

 

[MovingAlong]

Is there a rattle can style paint sold in pint or quart size? Thanks.

You can thin and spray RustOleum through a $10 Harbor Freight HVLP gun.

Have used farm implement paint from Tractor Supply on tool boxes, sprayed through the same gun. Both worked fine for my purposes.

 

[MovingAlong]

The Farm/Implement paint isn't bad, just go into it with reasonable expectations, and use the appropriate reducer and hardener.

Wear the appropriate filter/mask if using hardener, that stuff is hard on you..

 

[racecougar]

Wear the appropriate filter/mask if using hardener, that stuff is hard on you..

Yes, you should wear appropriate PPE no matter what you're spraying.

 

[imagineer]

For non automotive or motorcycle paint projects, I've had a lot of success HVLP spraying Majic brand farm implement paints. https://www.majicpaints.com/farm/tti/

I use their reducer and hardener too, and pour it through a paint strainer. Whereas it takes a bit longer to dry than automotive paints, the end result is glossy and durable.

Also, FWIW, I sprayed my truck cap using Rust oleum using the Majic reducer and hardener.

 

[Ry24000]

To be clear I have many projects that don't need a high quality paint. I just painted my compressor tank, a welding cart is on the horizon, and some small metal project parts. I do plan on Cerekote for some engine bay parts and possible bang bangs. In the past I have used rattle can with good results for some of these projects. My thinking was how do I get rattle can paint for a paint gun, looks good, and prevents rust. I wanted the question to be rounded and not specific just to see what others might do. Not trying to be sarcastic either, I sometimes don't know how to type my feelings or thoughts. So far this thread is perfect IMO.

 

[Hal]

You are going to spend a ton of money unless you buy rock bottom stuff at Walmart or somewhere like that. I just got a quart of single stage auto paint custom mixed. Quart of paint, pint of hardener, quart of reducer, and sales tax: $196.58.

AAAND It was the wrong color!!!!

 

[Jazz1]

I shot this truck with Utech E350 Polyurethane. It’s an industrial paint. I can’t believe how friggin hard this paint is..miserable stuff to cut and buff. Acrylic urethane is old hat now.

 

[Hal]

AAAND It was the wrong color!!!!

Piece of sheet metal cut from the damaged door, small spot of paint from Duplicolor rattle can that was pretty close, end of stick was what they sent us.
My friend took the evidence back to the local store yesterday, and listened to one side of the phone conversation with the warehouse, which included phrases like “not within a row of aholes. So they are trying again, we’ll see it Monday and get to keep the wrong color to do whatever we like with it.
This started out as replace the door and match the paint as close as you can. The first problem we had was that the truck had been repainted once already, so the paint code was wrong. Custom mixed rattle can looked like ****. The next brighter Duplicolor was close enough, but didn’t lay down well, looked like it was incompatible with the custom mixed stuff we already tried.
Vehicle owner stopped today and decided to paint the whole truck with whatever color they send. The way he beats his trucks, we could have rolled on rustoleum and called it good.

I’m posting at this god awful hour while waiting for my pain meds to kick in so I can get back to sleep.

 

[62civa]

Have you considered using automotive paint?. I have bought paint from www.tcpglobal.com. I found them when a I was looking for House of Kolor brand auto paint. The sell many other brands too. You might also take a look at www.summitracing.com. I think you have their own line of lower cost automotive paints.

 

[metlmunchr]

Stay away from automotive paints for these types of projects. All contain isocyanates once activated, so you have no choice but to use a respirator designed for iso removal as well as other protective equipment. The activator is expensive and has a very limited shelf life once opened.

Any of the hardware store enamels can be thinned for spraying. Ignore anyone who tells you to use lacquer thinner to thin enamel as it kills the gloss. Tractor Supply or any similar farm store will have a pretty good selection of enamels as will Ace hardware stores. Real enamel reducer works better than mineral spirits for thinning because mineral spirits extends the drying time significantly. I also avoid Rustoleum enamels because they take forever and a day to dry, cost more than the others, and never have shown me anything to make me think they're superior in any way. Just heavy marketing compared to other brands.

Once you add hardener to enamel, the mix contains isocyanates and therefore requires the same cautions as when shooting automotive paints. Because it can pass thru the skin, eyes, and other membranes, you need to wear a paint suit and either a full face respirator or an air supplied hood. I have and use all that stuff for painting vehicles, but if I need to paint something for the garage or around the house I just forego the hardener in the enamel and spray the paint using a normal respirator.