Tips on painting metal

[mowersplus84]

Would someone please share some tips on painting metal with spray paint

Heres what i have

180 grit sandpaper
1 can of rustoleum primer
1 can of rustoleum spray paint
and tape

 

[Thumper68]

You need some kind of paint prep, I personally like laquer thinner or acetone.

 

[erty67]

Would someone please share some tips on painting metal with spray paint

Heres what i have

180 grit sandpaper
1 can of rustoleum primer
1 can of rustoleum spray paint
and tape

i'm no expert but 180 grit sounds very rough. what are you painting?

 

[er3456df]

Sand first, then paint.

But seriously, make with the deets.

 

[Zeke]

Clean first and clean after sanding. You don't want to sand oils into the surface.

 

[Hammer1963]

Depending on what you are actually painting will dictate how fine of grit sand paper you will use. If the surface will be seen and has to have good color holdout, then step you paper up to the 320-360 range.

Step one: thoroughly clean the surface with a prep-solve type of cleaner. Do not use lacquer thinner as it will leave a film on the surface. A synthetic not acrylic enamel reducer will work. For reference Dupont 3812.

Sand and re-clean with prep-solve

If possible, I use a wet on wet method.

Spray two light coats of etching primer

After ample flash time, apply your topcoat. This wet on wet application will have far superior adhesion properties vs sanding between primer and paint and better color holdout

 

[sberry]

Depends on what you are painting, what the intent is and what kind of service it may see. I have spray painted a lot of stuff with simple scotch brite scuff and shoot color on.

Simple scuff and shoot stuff.

 

[Boyd]

What are you painting and how nice do you want the finish to be?

 

[mowersplus84]

What are you painting and how nice do you want the finish to be?

a tool chest and a nice finish

 

[Boyd]

a tool chest and a nice finish

Actually, 180 grit is fine for the primer coat but it will be too coarse for the top coat. After letting the primer dry, go over it with 400grit, minimum. Tack it, then spray your top coat.

Do 2 medium coats, then one heavy coat.

 

[HMCFab9]

Clean it before anything else is done.
clean / Prep, sand, prime, sand again, prep / clean again & paint.
Final sand should be 320 or finer. 400 would be better or a red scotchbrite pad.

 

[Jack Olsen]

Wipe it with acetone before you prime it.