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Oh no! Not enough activator...

Detroit Iron

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I'm painting my Polara, so I'm looking for input from the paint pros here on the forum. I've painted many engine compartments and wheels, but not a full car yet.

So I started with the trunk lip and underside of the lid. I had a hard time seeing the markings on my mixing cup because I was reusing it. In short, I didn't mix in enough activator. Needless to say the paint never really hardened. After a month, the paint is still tacky.

Here's my question.... can I just (properly) remix and shoot right over it? Or, do I have to wipe it all off with lacquer thinner and basically start over?

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I wouldn’t spray over it since it never hardened properly if you do the top coat that hardens will probably crack from being on top of the soft paint. Just do it right and start over,
 
I agree ,if you paint over it I think it will look like orange peel
 
I failed to state that this is single stage urethane. But yeah, I guess you're right.... I will wipe it tomorrow. I was just going to put lacquer thinner on a rag and wipe it. Do you agree with this process, or is there a better way?
 
Good Luck... It's gotta come off, painting over would be a disaster & I seriously doubt it's gonna just wipe off....
 
If all you shot was the inside of the trunklid, consider it a cheap lesson, and fix it right. It could have been MUCH worse, you could have shot the whole car.
 
I think I would try using some aerosol aircraft paint stripper. that stuff is awesome and it wipes easy. I bought a car once that someone had basically done the same thing only with Rust-Oleum enamel, it never cured. you talk about a mess.
 
Always, always, always use a fresh cup when you mix. They're 99 cents for crying out loud.
Being able to see the marks is one thing, contaminating paint is another.
They call them disposable cups for a reason. Start over.
Automotive paint is a fragile thing if you don't use your head.
 
Always, always, always use a fresh cup when you mix. They're 99 cents for crying out loud.
Being able to see the marks is one thing, contaminating paint is another.
They call them disposable cups for a reason.

Your getting ripped off I pay 46 cents... Assuming it's a quart sized cup..
But I agree, don't be cheap, it gets expensive....
 
Your getting ripped off I pay 46 cents... Assuming it's a quart sized cup..
But I agree, don't be cheap, it gets expensive....
Home Depot in a pinch :lol:

As much as paint costs, one has to be careful. A descent paint job requires thousands of dollars in materials if you do it yourself.
Never complain about what a shop charges for a good paint job. Tons of work and materials that most people can't comprehend.
 
Home Depot in a pinch :lol:

As much as paint costs, one has to be careful. A descent paint job requires thousands of dollars in materials if you do it yourself.
Never complain about what a shop charges for a good paint job. Tons of work and materials that most people can't comprehend.

I typically buy them 20+ at a time, at my normal paint store thats just over $10 out the door... One weekend I needed a few and since the auto paint store was closed & there's a Sherwin Williams a couple blocks from my shop I stopped it there... Grabbed twenty cups & went to the counter... They hit me up for $50.... $2.50 per cup!!!! Are you kidding me? Needless to say I left empty handed.... It's not that I'm cheap, but I'm not stupid either...
 
I typically buy them 20+ at a time, at my normal paint store thats just over $10 out the door... One weekend I needed a few and since the auto paint store was closed & there's a Sherwin Williams a couple blocks from my shop I stopped it there... Grabbed twenty cups & went to the counter... They hit me up for $50.... $2.50 per cup!!!! Are you kidding me? Needless to say I left empty handed.... It's not that I'm cheap, but I'm not stupid either...
Home Depot baby, Home Depot. 99 cents all day every day.
 
Always, always, always use a fresh cup when you mix. They're 99 cents for crying out loud.
Being able to see the marks is one thing, contaminating paint is another.
They call them disposable cups for a reason. Start over.
Automotive paint is a fragile thing if you don't use your head.

Agreed... I only had one at the time though. Like I said, I'm learning, so this was just another lesson.
 
Have seen many people that not wanted a shop to spray then get home and have this problem wash it off and respray you will be OK put in your learning curve
 
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Agreed... I only had one at the time though. Like I said, I'm learning, so this was just another lesson.


Problem with lessons related to paint can get expensive...I sure learned a lot doing mine a few months ago...if it were not for the cost I would probably do it over again...I can live with it !!!:BangHead::BangHead::BangHead::BangHead::BangHead:
 
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