How much paint do I need

[JDMBart]

How much paint would I need in order to cover my 240sx convertible (so no roof).

Note: The car has BN sports aero, overfenders and a rocket bunny wing.

[adams 02rs]

alot lol. depends on what paint, and how the PREP is done. rattle can or spray gun?
and price budget?

[JDMBart]

I may have not been clear, im wondering how many quarts would be enough

[silviaks2nr]

There really are a shit ton of variables here..

It depends on paint type (single stage, 2 stage, metalic, solid) the brand and product line, color, and what primer/sealer color is used underneath. Also are you doing a color change- if so, are you doing the jams, shut lines, and insides of doors trunk and hood?

For a quality 2 stage paint job I'd say anywhere between 3 and 5 quarts of base (not reduced) and 4-6 quarts of high solids clear (activated)

[niscur29]

II used...

1 gallon epoxy - mixed
1.25 gallon high build - mixed
6 quarts single stage - mixed
2 quarts clear - mixed

This provided two coats of each primer, 2 coats of color, 2 coats of color/clear mixed together. I used southern polyurethane primers and clear, and prospray color. Hatch back with complete 180sx kit, no engine bay or roof, all jambs and underside of hatch etc. I had about 1/2 quart of color left over.

[eyelookgoode]

Hatch back with complete 180sx kit, no engine bay or roof, all jambs and underside of hatch etc. I had about 1/2 quart of color left over.

[Munki]

I used about 2 quarts of base and clear on my last hatch(Vertex ridge widebody kit). Went from light silver to dark gunmetal. Also used dark grey sealer before the base. That included the door jams as well. Engine bay was rattle canned.

You don't wanna put too much base or clear on the car cause it'll start cracking on you or look like shit. Just need enough base to get full coverage...

If you're painting your car white but using black sealer you're gonna have to spray LOTS of base coat. so you need to make sure you use the right colors...

[anti tyler]

Is this for real?

Grab yourself 6 quarts.
Get a receipt

Paint car, maybe second lair or third. Clear coat and return the paint you didn't use?


I've got away with using 2 quarts before. Might have been missing a panel or two but whatever.

[silviaks2nr]

If you have the paint mixed up by a paint store good luck returning it! LOL

[Munki]

Originally Posted by silviaks2nr

If you have the paint mixed up by a paint store good luck returning it! LOL

Yeah... every paint store I've been to always mix the paint in shop... haha

[Chaluska]

I got a Urethane gallon BC/CC kit from thecoatingstore.com for my vert... its going to be a TON more than necessary. when I painted my hatch I used about 5 quarts for a "exterior only" paint job. no door jams, or under hood.

[jsu1012]

this thread is full of lolz..

[Flyin_bryan]

OK so let's start by squashing the bull shit! if your going to spend the time and money to paint the car buy quality, first do your homework, Decide on the color your going to paint it, reason is there is whats called a value shade on the color your going to apply, that will be primer color used. Next the car will get 3 of 3 meaning 3 color coats and 3 clear coats BC/CC. 1 gallon of color unmixed and 3qts of clear to 1 galllon of clear depending on brand! and how heavy you are on the flat spots! this will do the jams also, If you don't want to mix up for the clear on the small stuff also order a can of cut in clear its real automotive clear ready to go in a spray can. By Transtar - Also the other reason that you want to use BC/CC is so that you can wet sand and wheel the car out after to give it a showroom shine. If you dont want to spend all that time and money then just rattlecan it. The reason i say that is because single stage fades quickly and and enamels are for tractors.

[Flyin_bryan]

Also to answer some strange things i read on here urethane has a flex agent in it so cracking does not happen, There are no returns for mixed paint, and red is the most expensive color due to pigments needed.

[silviaks2nr]

It can take more or less than 3 coats of base. 3 coats is a good average I agree, but I've painted cars that only needed 2 coats of base and some needing up to 5. The coverage depends on the sealer color used, the product line of the paint (cheaper lines generally don't cover as well), metallic or solid (metallics cover better) and the tints themselves.

[silnv]

Incoming threadjack... What is the shelf life of paint professionally mixed at auto paint store?

Reason for asking - I have some things that I would like to go ahead and get painted ie. engine bay. But it would be awhile before I had the rest of the car painted. My car is Ultra Red, and I know different mixes can have different shades and look terrible if not painted all together. So I am hesitant on getting multiple batches of paint.

[silviaks2nr]

Just get a quart of base mixed and do the engine bay now. To paint a bay red I recommend thoroughly degreasing it, scotch brite pad the whole thing, clean with a waterborne cleaner then epoxy primer it (WHITE since your color is red) and then topcoat directly bc/cc. Mixed paint will last several months but it will start to separate and you will need to put it on a shaker before you paint. It's fine to have paint mixed in separate batches as long as your paint mixer is competent. You wouldn't want to do one panel like a door on a car then go back and do another though. Red is hard to match and if you ever have to respray a panel you need to blend it in to the adjacent panel to get it perfect. Spray cards can only get you so close...

[blkvrtswp]

I am in the middle of painting my vert with body kit, extra trunk. The cheaper guns like Harbor Freight tend to use a lot more paint than better guns. It was all over my paint booth walls. Good finish from the $15 cheap gun though, no complaints other than increased paint use.

I went with the 1 gal BC / 1 gal CC kit, and after returning to a local paint shop twice for more primer, I asked about using more than anticipated and they said "Cheap gun." So I picked up an extra quart of BC. I also went with TheCoatingStore.com and am very happy with their products and service.

[Munki]

Originally Posted by blkvrtswp

I am in the middle of painting my vert with body kit, extra trunk. The cheaper guns like Harbor Freight tend to use a lot more paint than better guns. It was all over my paint booth walls. Good finish from the $15 cheap gun though, no complaints other than increased paint use.

I went with the 1 gal BC / 1 gal CC kit, and after returning to a local paint shop twice for more primer, I asked about using more than anticipated and they said "Cheap gun." So I picked up an extra quart of BC. I also went with TheCoatingStore.com and am very happy with their products and service.

Yeah those guns are actually pretty badass. I bought the same one! Got one for base and another for clear. I didn't have a problem with it consuming too make paint though...

[JDMBart]

Originally Posted by blkvrtswp

I am in the middle of painting my vert with body kit, extra trunk. The cheaper guns like Harbor Freight tend to use a lot more paint than better guns. It was all over my paint booth walls. Good finish from the $15 cheap gun though, no complaints other than increased paint use.

I went with the 1 gal BC / 1 gal CC kit, and after returning to a local paint shop twice for more primer, I asked about using more than anticipated and they said "Cheap gun." So I picked up an extra quart of BC. I also went with TheCoatingStore.com and am very happy with their products and service.

So how much base coat did you end up using for the vert?

[blkvrtswp]

Not done with the BC / CC yet, just starting back up from a winter break.

I did use 3.5 quarts of tinted sealer primer in total; covering 2 lips, 2 trunks & 2 spoilers, door jambs but not trunk or engine bay.

[JDMBart]

How many quarts of candy paint do you think would suffice? Would it make a difference in the amount needed

Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk

[Munki]

Originally Posted by JDMBart

How many quarts of candy paint do you think would suffice? Would it make a difference in the amount needed

Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk

I'm sorry but if you have to ask how much paint should cover your car I don't think it would be smart for you to attempt a candy paint job...

[Flyin_bryan]

Shelf life of b/c paint is one year.

[blkvrtswp]

Originally Posted by Flyin_bryan

Shelf life of b/c paint is one year.

^ where did you see this? I read in multiple places that base coat is good for years if the top of the can is sealed properly. The BC I'm using is well over 18 months old, and I am seeing zero issues.

[JDMBart]

thanks for your inputs, got my paint today