Paint setup and advice.

[busastars]

I've read the Paint DIY on the forum and have a fair few questions just to see if my understanding is right, that is if I want to have a play with spraying.

What I need?

Already have a 25L Sealy compressor.
Water filter & Regulator
Spray gun, probably a touch up or a gravity gun.
Carbon face mask

Setup?

Mount the Water filter/Reg as high as possible.
Set the Reg on the compressor around 45-50 psi and the Reg on the filter around 40 psi.


What to use?

I'm guessing best to use for me Cellulose paint.

Now the how too's........ Bearing in mind it will be for plastics & metal tank on Bikes......

I'm guessing the Cellulose paint has to be mixed with thinners, has it got to be any particular thinners and at what ratio?

If spraying plastics does any primer need to be used, should you primer over the top of the original spray paint, should i just Key the surface. Also what about metal as in fuel tanks?

How many coats roughly with Cellulose needs to be done, 2? 3? 4?

How long between coats, guessing a day?

Should you flatten every coat or just final coat? I'm guessing Final coat is the one before Clear coat?

Best thing for doing a flatten, wet & dry OR Flatten paste?

Would I need a Mop or can it be done easy by hand?

What is the best thing or what can I use for preperation / cleaning before I spray.


SORRY for all the stupid questions and being long winded, just covering all things in my mind so I am 99% on if I can do this. I can useraly turn my hand to most things and I realise preperation is the key here.

 

[pedrobedro]

If I was you I would read some more and then just have a go on something that doesn't matter like the back of the garage door or some cardboard for starters. Enough paint is when it's all the same colour for me. Cellulose is generally thinned 50/50, plastic primer is available but if there is already paint on it should not need any. Not all paint needs clear coat and coats can be applied straight on top of each other if the conditions are good. A flatten, is this rectifying paint after spraying or rubbing down before? Cutting paste or Farecla type compounds are best with a buffer but if you are just doing bits for yourself then hand rubbing is alright but takes longer. Wipe down with thinners on a lint free rag then tack rag to remove dust before paint. Spray guns are a matter of preference, I like a gravity gun nowadays as you can mix as as you like little but used a syphon for years with no problems. I also just bought a cheap gravity 125ml touch up gun and it is a delight to use. Edit to add, I used to spray boiler parts in a factory and only ever paint my own bits and bobs so don't take anything as gospel and find what works best for you.