Expert: William Forster - 2/25/2007

Question
I know that a good painter comes with time.  I have taken classes and tried to paint some cars, at home and in a booth.  My problem is 'orange peel'.  How do I get the paint to lay down, without running?  Am I using too much air?  

Thanks for your advice, Chris

Answer
If you never get any runs, you are moving too quickly, or too far away. If you have the huge orange peel, and tend to get runs and sags also, you are going too slow. I assume you are talking about dry spray. Your hardener selection may be wrong for the temperature of the shop, are you using an overall type clear? some clears are spot clears, only designed to paint a max of 2 panels. Overall clear, properly mixed, will actually stick to your skin while spraying.  You will feel it on the hairs of your arms. . I've had some clears that the floor of the booth would actually become sticky if you were painting an overall. This is also true of some acrylic enamels. The hardener must be an overall hardener. Spot hardener for enamel is watery, just like thinner. Quality overall hardener will be thick, like maple suryp .Bill