How much paint to buy?

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PostPosted: Wed Aug 01, 2018 5:12 pm
So I'm getting ready to paint my 1968 Mustang next week and am ready to go buy some paint. I'm painting everything, all exterior, bottom of hood and deck lid, and inside the trunk. My spray out looks like 3 coats will give me coverage but I plan to buy enough for 4 just in case I need it. I crunched the numbers on how much I'll need and this is what I came up with:

15 panels X 8 ounces RTS X 4 coats = 480 RTS ounces

480 ounces divide by 128 ounces per gallon = 3.75 RTS Gallons

At this point, I plan to buy 2 gallons of base and 2 gallons reducer (mix ratio is 1:1).

Does that sound about right? Or will I wish I picked up an extra gallon "Just in Case".

How much would you buy for the job?

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PostPosted: Wed Aug 01, 2018 8:10 pm
Crikey mate, with that much paint I could respray the Queen Mary. :shocked:

Last week I did a full respray of a Ford Escort. Smaller car than yours so let's say that you'd need 25% more, 30% to allow for under bonnet and boot lid. I used less than 3 litres of reduced base in 2 wet coats, giving full coverage over a Value Shade primer. Colour was cream, so notoriously "see through" and I used 610 base which is the economy line, so less coverage per coat than the premium 6000 base. Prolite 1.3mm at 2 bar with TE10 air cap and around 150mm from panel.

If you're talking about double, even triple that quantity, then there's something wrong.
Chris

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PostPosted: Thu Aug 02, 2018 8:56 am
I would think a gallon would be enough.
I usually plan on 1 oz per square foot.
For an entire car I buy a gallon and have a qt left over for future repairs.
It doesn't make sense to but 3 quarts when most brands
a gallon costs about the same as 3 individual quarts.
JC.

(It's not custom painting-it's custom sanding)

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PostPosted: Thu Aug 02, 2018 9:58 am
Lenny B wrote:So I'm getting ready to paint my 1968 Mustang next week and am ready to go buy some paint. I'm painting everything, all exterior, bottom of hood and deck lid, and inside the trunk. My spray out looks like 3 coats will give me coverage but I plan to buy enough for 4 just in case I need it. I crunched the numbers on how much I'll need and this is what I came up with:

15 panels X 8 ounces RTS X 4 coats = 480 RTS ounces

480 ounces divide by 128 ounces per gallon = 3.75 RTS Gallons

At this point, I plan to buy 2 gallons of base and 2 gallons reducer (mix ratio is 1:1).

Does that sound about right? Or will I wish I picked up an extra gallon "Just in Case".

How much would you buy for the job?


2 gallons mixed 1:1 would more than do that since you will use less coats on the engine compartment, inside the trunk and other areas that will be covered or unseen.
Very rarely do I ever have to shoot more than 3 coats for coverage.
1968 Coronet R/T


ACTS 16:31

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