Paint 
We are developing a couple of paint and finishing classes. The methods for painting new metal Two methods will be used. Base coat clear coat seen on this page and a one application process using catalyzed acrylic enamel. If you are refinishing a panel that has existing paint click here for the instructions.

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I have used the first method on some car restorations and it works quite well, but it is hard to keep dirt out and you need a very clean environment. With the base coat clear coat method I believe you can attain a better looking finish as you can even color sand and buff the paint which gives it a higher gloss and cleaner finish. I guess the downside is it's more work.
I am using PPG Deltron 2000 DBC Base coat color and PPG DT860 Reducer. Mixing instructions say One part DBC color to one part DT860 Reducer, 2-3 coats with a drying time of 10-15 Min.

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 Mix 4 parts of the PPG Concept Clear Urethane DC2021 to 1 part PPG DT860 reducer to 1 part PPG DCX61 hardener
To start the painting process first start with preparing the surface to be painted. Scuff of the Surface of the metal with some Scotch Brite and clean it. I use PPG wax and grease remover. 

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 Using the two part DP 50 primer mixed  one part primer and one part  DT 402LF catalyst. I talked to the paint store and they said you can shoot the color right over this primer using it as a sealer (Time limit a couple of days before you shoot the color) with out using an additional sealer.
Mix the color 1 part DBC Color and one part DT 860 reducer (No catalyst required at this point as the clear coat is the one that is catalyzed)

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 Three coats of white base color sprayed on.
After the clear was applied, it has a nice gloss but there is still a lot of dirt in the paint will try to color sand when completely dry.

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 If you are using different colrs for striping , the second and third color are sprayed over the white. Yellow color applied, The white was masked off. You need to use the blue special masking tape called fine line masking tape where your color lines are going to be, that seals better where you want a good line, regular masking tape lets the color bleed in. Then just put the regular masking tape about half way out on the blue tape and mask the rest of the surface. You can see where I started to peel it back at the top of the picture. The panel was then masked off and the Blue color shot.
Base colors applied, when try all dry, wet sand starting with 1200 and finished with 1500 grit paper

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 Buff out the paint. I used a 3M product Imperial Microfinishing Compound and 3M Finesse-it finishing material for the polish coat. The white pad is for the microfinishing compound and the yellow pad is for the polishing, so I have been told are the colors usually used.

The buffer is another old and good friend a heavy duty Rockwell that was given to me by a good friend my father-in-law Dal Lamb and still has his name etched on it. He gave me my first instruction in painting. He was a good friend and made friends with everyone no matter where you where camping or fishing you soon knew all your neighbors. He has been gone for quite awhile now, and I wish he were still here to help me.
It polishes out to a nice glass like finish. You need to be very careful on the edges as it can cut right through the paint. Suggestion was to tape the edges by the paint store.

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