Has anyone painted a hard top with rattle cans?

[Jack Ratt]

I need to get my hard top colour matched before winter. My top is metallic black and my car is normal black. It doesn't look too bad from a distance but it has a number of scratches that I've tried to blend in myself, but it really needs doing properly.

I'm toying with the idea of getting some of Halfords colour matched cans and having a go at painting it myself.

I've done touch ups before with quite good results but never done a whole panel.

I suppose as long as I prep it properly there's no reason it shouldn't turn out well.

 

[Brian H]

New I need to get my hard top colour matched before winter. My top is metallic black and my car is normal black. It doesn't look too bad from a distance but it has a number of scratches that I've tried to blend in myself, but it really needs doing properly.

I'm toying with the idea of getting some of Halfords colour matched cans and having a go at painting it myself.

I've done touch ups before with quite good results but never done a whole panel.

I suppose as long as I prep it properly there's no reason it shouldn't turn out well.

One way to look at it is if you do try and if fails you could then get it professionally done, you would only lose the cost of the paint etc.

 

[Jack Ratt]

I've been told that black is the easiest colour to get good results with, so this is giving me a bit of confidence.

How easy will it be to get the two rubber strips off? Do I just put a sharp knife under one end and gently lift it off?

 

[Brian H]

The two rubber strips are held on by double sided tape, be careful removing them as if they get distorted when being removed they do not sit right when you put them back on, as you are going black on black I would be tempted to mask the strips and spray with then in place, they will lift enough to get masking tape in if you wish.

 

[t-tony]

A couple of tips Garry, make sure you get enough cans to paint the whole roof made up at the same time. Also have someone there with you to shake the cans up ready to pas to you so that you don't get a "dry" line forming between using two cans. Another idea if the weather is cool is to keep the cans standing in WARM not hot water to keep good pressure in the cans.

Tony.

ps. Have a go it's really quite easy. Prep is the key!!

 

[roadvoyager1]

Paint applied from spray cans will air dry. The clearcoat (or lacquer) will not cure in the same way as a heat cured or 2K material that a good refinisher will use so will not be as durable. One of the biggest challenges you will have is getting the surface thoroughly free from contamination and keeping it dust free as it dries. No easy answers for this one.
If you accept the limitations of the DIY spray cans then go for it; as @BrianH says you can always get a professional job done and the experience will not cost too much. If you take on the challenge let us know how you get on.

 

[oldcarman]

Looking forward to your experiment. Have you considered using a small touch up gun and compressor. You don't need a big compressor a 1/4 hp will work as you want fairly low pressure. Don't know what they cost there but a gun would be about £11-12 and compressor about £50. Just a thought and you'd have them for your next project. JIM

 

[M666BMG]

I have tried this in the past.
Not bad results but nowhere near the same finish as a compressor.

Trouble is can nozzles can block up easily.

This causes the paint to spit on the panel.

I'd get it done properly if it was mine.

Mark

 

[oldcarman]

I have tried this in the past.
Not bad results but nowhere near the same finish as a compressor.

Trouble is can nozzles can block up easily.

This causes the paint to spit on the panel.

I'd get it done properly if it was mine.

Mark

I totally agree Mark. For anything that will need more than two rattle cans I'd go compressor. The touch up gun will hold enough paint for your first pass and while you are waiting for it to flash gives you time to reload! If you do the prep what would it cost to get it painted?? JIM

 

[Jack Ratt]

I'm not going DIY route to save money, I want to see if I can make a decent job of it. As you say, if I mess up I can flat it down and get a pro to do it for me.

I have a little compressor that I bought with an airbrush kit a while ago, but doubt this will be powerful enough. I'll have to check this out

 

[oldcarman]

I'm not going DIY route to save money, I want to see if I can make a decent job of it. As you say, if I mess up I can flat it down and get a pro to do it for me.

I would think it may be powerful enough, that's what I have also for an airbrush and because the touch up gun is fairly small is sufficient. I wouldn't do a whole car but panels yes so your HT should turn out as you expect. I wasn't hinting you were trying to save $$ but rather offering another solution to your problem. Good luck! JIM

 

[Kit]

DIY Jack, that way you will have a good yarn to spin over how it was done, and how you nearly messed up but didn't, and if you do then you can recommend good local car painters to me for my little scratches.

 

[5harp3y]

a panel that big WILL be a pain to paint properly with rattle cans, even bumpers can be a nightmare.

Black is also very unforgiving if the surface isn't prepped properly.

 

[zedwheels]

Could you get it wrapped instead?