Morning All,

I spent the weekend spraying up my front grill but have a question...

I have been following the Halfords guide to spraying Halfords Advice Centre - while using the dealer supplied paint kit for the grill and am very pleased with the results so far.

I've got as far as the Black Magic coating and have a very smooth and uniform result but is black magic classed as metallic paint? Do I need to wet and dry the top coat before applying the lacquer or can I spray this straight on top of the last spray coat I did?

I'm guessing applying the lacquer is the trickiest bit... are there any tips or just apply in the same way as the paint layer? Also, how many coats should I go for?

Also, how long should I leave the whole lot to dry before fitting it to the car?

Thanks for all your help in advance.

Mike

I'd have thought black magic would be classed as metallic.

One trick I've not tried but heard about is spraying the lacquer about 5 minutes after the last colour coat has gone on ie it is still tacky ... it supposedly lets the lacquer bond with the colour better. Treat the lacquer the same as the colour coats ... multiple light coats are the best. The Halfords guide says two coats. I think I did 3 or 4. Note the time between coats ... lacquer kinda "melts" (I'm sure there is a proper term for it but what the hell) into the previous coat so you don't want to let it dry completely.

I did my wing mirror and fitted it after a couple of days (possibly a week) but the lacquer now has dents in it from the flys etc. I'd leave it at least as long as suggested for the polishing.

HTH

Barney

When we sprayed up bits on our metallic silver Scooby, we just did the lacquer once the paint had dried. Think we did 4 or 5 coats and I was impressed at the finish. It certainly outlasted the part of the car a professional body shop had sprayed up

Chris

Cool. Thanks for your coomments. I sprayed straight on tope of the black magic with no rubbing down and it wet really well. Got a few tide marks to tidy up a bit but other than that I'm really happy with it

How much has this cost you to do on your own? I want to get my chrome grill sprayed black the cheapest way.

Halfords will mix up a spray can of colour matched paint for you (which was actually a perfect match on mine!). You can also get the primer, lacquer and wet 'n' dry there too. Reckon the total cost for bits will be around the

Hmm, Mike C- you going to have any left over- enough to do another grill?

We could work something out

Halfords will mix up a spray can of colour matched paint for you (which was actually a perfect match on mine!). You can also get the primer, lacquer and wet 'n' dry there too. Reckon the total cost for bits will be around the

Halfords will mix up a spray can of colour matched paint for you (which was actually a perfect match on mine!). You can also get the primer, lacquer and wet 'n' dry there too. Reckon the total cost for bits will be around the

What you need is:

• some wet and dry paper,
  
• a suitable primer for the material, eg metal or plastic,
  
• a can of your paint colour
  
• a can of clear lacquer

Oh and some patience.

Well, it's pay day...

Chris, any chance you could link me to what i'd need (halfords or where ever).

Ideally the smallest amount possible as I doubt it'll need much. I have no idea what i'd need... cheaper the better!

Thanks in advance

I just popped out the chrome surround(on plastic clips)

wet and dryed it for a key then sprayed it with plastic filler primer,wet and dryed it again so all stone chips had gone ,then fired on the paint >matt black cause my cars black and must admit its sorted blends in with the rest of the grill

couldnt seem to get hold of black magic from halfords (only in touch up stick) and matt easier to paint becuase you dont need lacuar or rubbing compound to get a decent final finish

cost wet and dry

Did you try the service counter to see if they could mix some up? My understanding of the lacquer was it was there to protect the paint - could be wrong though.

And yeah Cheezemonkhai's list is spot on. Depending on where you do it, you might also want some dust masks as the paint can be pretty potent (and you'll want some white spirit if you decide to do it in the lounge and overspray onto the laminate flooring ).

Also don't try and rush the coats

Chris

I would defiantly apply a clear coat as matt black fades in sunlight very quickly.

IMHO best option would be to get a small can of black magic now and do it over the top then let it dry and clear coat it.

If you don't clear coat it you will end up with a very faded grill in about 6 months.

The normal solid black colours in a single spray tend to have a lacquer type substance mixed in with the paint which helps resist the fade.

I would defiantly apply a clear coat as matt black fades in sunlight very quickly.

IMHO best option would be to get a small can of black magic now and do it over the top then let it dry and clear coat it.

If you don't clear coat it you will end up with a very faded grill in about 6 months.

The normal solid black colours in a single spray tend to have a lacquer type substance mixed in with the paint which helps resist the fade.

never had any issues with matt black fading used it on many cars on bumpers etc when i worked at a bodyshop.any way for the hour it took to do id just do it again when it gets stonechipped.,suppose its down to personal preference concerning colour choice.as for using 2 pack paint(base/lac)

youve got to order the paint, wait a day or more

remove and prep the chrome grill insert by wet and drying it(for a good key)

prime it(hoping for no reactions or silicon spots), flat it down

base coat it (hoping not to get any c@@p in the base coat (best wait 24hours before applying lacquer as you may cause a reaction between the base coat and lacquer forcing you to start again doh)

lacquer it(heavily as aerosol lacquer is so thinned you need a alot of coats)

24 hrs later lightly flat(sand)down new lacquer with p800 and then rubbing compound it for the glass finish

then take it out on the road and start collecting stone chips wippeee and hope your lacquer does start to peel:thumbdwn: (preventable by touching up stonechips)

back to black> perfectly works on matt black and cuts most of the job down to size,so even the most challenged cannot go wrong

Fair enough, every time I have used the matt black you get in a can it seems to fade really quickly. The stuff i got from a decent supplier lasted fine on wiper arms though