Expert: William Forster - 11/30/2006

Question
I painted it in Sept. I used a reducer 4to1. The temp was 82 w/low humidity and 10 mi.wind. I created a booth outdoors usint a giant tarp which seemed to work great. I rigged up an exhaust fan and  really did not need a mask
-------------------------------------------
The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
I painted my sons 86 thunderbird the original color metallic blue with ful-base enamel. I did not use a clear coat. The paint is even but is lumpy and has a strange looking shine. I don't know what I did wrong, but hope there is a solution short of repainting. Could I buff it with something or sand or does it need a clear coat? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks, Joe
-----Answer-----
Did you use hardener in the paint? How long ago did you paint it? What was the temp in the garage? What sort of air flow did you  have in the paint area? Bill

Answer
Well, you're stuck. It's been to long to buff it, and metallic single stage paint doesn't sand well. It tends to give the paint a blotchy appearance. You need to scuff it smooth with a grey scotch brite, and nib it out with 1000. Be careful, so you don't go thru edges, and clear coat the car. Be sure to use overall paint job enamel hardener if you clear it with enamel. It's getting colder out, it can't be painted under 60 degreesF, and that temp must be maintained for several hours after clearing. Harnener MUST be used in acrycic enamel if you want it to have a good, glossy shine. Bill