<VV> do it yourself paint job.

[bernievogler at comcast.net]

Paul,

I did searches for the specific topics I needed answers for. The biggest was how 
to adjust my spray gun (HVLP).  I had picked up a $100 unit from local auto 
paint store and the directions were not too good.  The internet and a tech guy 
at the auto paint store got me on the right track.

My paint booth was in the driveway beside my house.  The walls and top were 
tarps held in place by ladders and 2x 6 planks.  The planks were the uprights.  
I screwed them to scrap 6 x 6 lumber pieces to make "T's" then set them upside 
down and tied the ladders to the uprights.  A 2x6 cross plank at the front and 
the rear created the paint booth.  Tarps hung along the ladders - sides and top 
and across the front and rear controlled air flow across my car.  I didn't block 
the wind, but altered the flow around the car.  My tarps were not fastened 
tightly together, but did allow some air to get in and me to exit if the air 
became too "thick" to work in. You could set up an exit fan and filter to better 
control the atmosphere inside the booth.  Fortunately, the HVLP system produces 
very little airborne vapor.

My biggest problem was recognizing the wet edge on the second coat. Light under 
the tarps is not the greatest.  The top tarp kept the insects form a shading 
tree from dropping into the painted surfaces, and helped to shade the project.

I did get a couple of runs in the polymerized paint.  I used a high level 
scraper from woodworking to shave the run to paint level.  Once buffed out, the 
run position cannot be found.

Bernie