ratios

[Matty o]

hey does anyone kno wot the ratio for thinners to paint for acrylic paint as in mills and everything, also insted of priming the whole car, a spray painter suggested that i rub the clear a bit using 320 grit, then wet rubbing with 400 and then scotchbriting with a 1000. does that sound alrite. its not a pro repspray, just sumthin im trying to learn

[bangers]

use acrylic thinners. general thinners isn't always clear and can tinge the paint. you should mix about 50/50. you can mix more thinners in. the more thinners the quicker it dries and the easier to spray. try and get a gravity fed spray gun too. and from what i've been told you should use undercoat. my brother in-laws wasn't and his paint chips off REALLY EASY. the undercoat helps the paint to stick.

[Matty o]

so say for a litre i would mix 50 paint, 50 thinners, is that rite? also, wot did u say would happen if i used general thinners. wot is beta about gravity fed guns?

[Holden2gether]

so say for a litre i would mix 50 paint, 50 thinners, is that rite? also, wot did u say would happen if i used general thinners. wot is beta about gravity fed guns?

50/50 is about right,although I don't work to exact measurements,I usually mix it so it's slightly above the consistency of water (just lift your mixing stick out of the paint and watch how it runs off the stick, you'll see what I'm on about) & if you're spraying in warmer temperatures (not like the ones in NZ at the mo!!) you might want to add a small amount (approx 10%)of retarder thinner,but still end up with the right consistency which may mean 10% less thinners, just to slow the drying so the paint flows out before it drys,you end up with a smoother/flatter finish rather than the old orange peel look.
Always mix the correct thinners with the paint otherwise you'll regret it later when results don't match expectations different thinners use different solvents and different drying times,a general thinner would have slower drying solvents in it to allow for the different types of paints so you could end up with runs if not applied carefully enough.
Personally I use standard suction cup type guns for all top coats e.t.c and the gravity feed guns for the thicker paints(undercoats,spraying putty & primers) where gravity helps in getting the paint to the nozzle, also the gravity guns usually have a smaller capacity cup which means less amount covered per cup.But at the end of the day it's one of those personal preference things