Expert: William Forster - 11/1/2008

Question
I am painting my entire vehicle.  It's a 95 dodge ram, daily beater.  I want to change the colors from green to Go mango also known as tangerine pearl from mopar.  I have to strip the hood and top of the cab, the rest is acceptable to prep for an overcoat, pretty minor repairs really.  I am on a very lean budget so I want to ask: Although aerosol is not recommended as a whole vehicle paint job, what are the best aerosol techniques, materials, clearcoats?  How many coats?  should I use a polishing compound?  how long can I expect it to last?

Answer
Come on, Ross, you can't be serious here. There ARE  no good aerosol techniques for painting an entire car. The panels are just too large, the paint dries too fast. The only way to even get a marginal success is to paint 1 panel at a time. That means painting it over a period of several days. Expect it to last about 2 years, you will never get enough aerosol clear on a panel to rub it with a power buffer- which is unfortunate, because it will need it to have any kind of a shine. Rustoleum used to make a good aerosol clear, but I don't think they are still in business. You need an incredibly slow drying aerosol clear, which rules out anything by dupli-color. You will need to spray a white base down so that it doesn't take 6 coats of orange to bring the color up. Don't do it, Ross. You are going to be disappointed, and bear the brunt of peoples snickers and jokes. I would rather drive a hoopdie than drive a hoopdie with a horrible amateur paint job. Bill