First Time Paint Job...in the Garage! What Could Go Wrong?

Finally got to the paint on the 1997 Firebird Formula. I've never painted a car before. Never used an HVLP sprayer.
What could go wrong...?
Despite all the challenges, most of which I caused, it actually turned out decent. Come see how it goes!
Online Paint Resource: www.automotivetouchup.com/tou...
Product Links:
Clear Coat: amzn.to/3Vy8Ire
Paint Gun I Used: amzn.to/4cguZRl
Upgraded LVLP Gun (for smaller compressors): amzn.to/4cgwnU3
Water Separator: amzn.to/4eAkpGA
Paint Gun Stand: amzn.to/3z9TjFT
Cup System: amzn.to/3VS1Juk
Cup Adapter: amzn.to/3z5UndN
Paint Gun Cleaner: amzn.to/4ce8UTu
Paint Strainers: amzn.to/3RFaQMF
Work Stand: amzn.to/4d98puP
Tack Rags: amzn.to/4b9aWTC
Microfiber Towel Roll: amzn.to/3VsasCc
Paper Shop Towels: amzn.to/3KVVXBM
Mixing Cups: amzn.to/4euQ63P
Sandpaper: amzn.to/4cbhdPM
Scuff Pads: amzn.to/4c8cGOn
Gloves: amzn.to/3RDhEKO
Respirator: amzn.to/3KVW40a
Spray bottle: amzn.to/45CGIHB
Grease/Wax Remover: amzn.to/3XzvpO9
Audio Video Equipment
GoPro Hero10: amzn.to/4d9C86X
Saramonic Wireless Lav Mic: amzn.to/3wb1eSf
Adjustable Tripod: amzn.to/4b7eUMU
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[@michaelm3381]

Everything is a work in progress. I give you a thumbs up for trying and posting.

[@rhynosgarage]

Thanks!

[@onefuriousfox6558]

I painted for over 20 years, and have NEVER used a 2.5 tip. A few pointers... 1. Always follow the paint directions. If they said 1:1, that's their formula. 2. Don't spray a hood side to side. Spray front to back, you can reach farther. And always keep a wet edge. 3. Wax and grease remover is not a good idea for plastics. They make an alcohol based solvent for plastic parts. 4. That fender should not show any breakthrough, if you're "ready for paint". You should at least have a sealer of some kind, to make it uniform, and for adhesion. If you were wetsanding your basecoat, then you would have been good to wait for more color...you should lightly recoat after color sanding, anyway. 5. Don't pull/hold the trigger the whole time, let up off the trigger at the end of the panel. 6. Gun setup is important...wide open is not the answer. Pour from the side and back of the gallon...you won't get that "glug, glug" sloshing of the paint/reducer. I don't know what you finish sanded in, but you should not see scratches under the new finish that you "hope clear will cover". Love those cars. Best of luck. If you have any questions on correction feel free to ask.

[@rhynosgarage]

First of all…thanks for a ton of info! Secondly, for my first ever paint job, that’s not too bad a list of the things I got wrong. Actually a lot of that I learned already…and then totally forgot all of it once I started. Like all the info just fell out my head. (facepalm)

[@joedowe9412]

I painted my bumper and fenders 94 Bird

[@rhynosgarage]

Nice. How'd it go (hopefully better than mine...haha)

[@joedowe9412]

@@rhynosgarage Did the hood twice, bumper twice and fenders once. Had solvent pop on the bumper and hood. Then I dripped sweat on them the second time. Been in the high 90's in NW Ohio. I'm also painting black single stage, fenders came out nice. Your bird is looking good.

[@rhynosgarage]

@@joedowe9412 yeah, in hindsight I should have just redone it. I ended up sanding and polishing and got it...good enough for now. But dang it was a lot of work to get there. Thanks!

[@dmvngs1008]

Lmao

[@dmvngs1008]

I have the same gun and did the same thing this past Saturday

[@dmvngs1008]

The guy you saw must have been paint society lol

[@rhynosgarage]

I think it was, actually!

[@LuisGarcia-ei5dj]

You need to improve your spray painting technique. Additionally, that gun has high air consumption. The gun is not applying the clear properly. It's a lie that the first coat of clear looks bad. The reality is that it should look pretty good and the second one, which is wetter, should improve it. As I said before, the gun settings and technique must be reviewed. The problem with doing things in our homes, such as painting a car, is that we do not have an appropriate guide to do it. And learning only from mistakes is costly economically speaking. People who make videos on KZbin and say that anyone can do it easily are liars. Preparing the paint gun, knowing its different uses and developing a good application technique takes a lot of time and resources. And considering that you have to apply primer, then paint and finally clear coat, multiply that time by three. And if you add sealer it is multiplied by 4. It took me three years painting small things like riding mowers to be able to know everything and try to take on the challenge of painting car panels and much later dare to paint an entire car. And that's just painting, if we add body work there it's a completely different world of knowledge. And the combination of both is worse. So the advice I give to all those who want to learn on their own is to have a lot of money saved and acquire as much knowledge as possible before painting a car.

[@rhynosgarage]

yes, that would have been ideal. But the car had to be painted by a certain time, and I didn't have the budget to pay someone to do it. There's what you "should" do...and what you "have to" do. Just gotta get it done sometimes, even if it's not ideal.