How much do you want to spend,and do you have the tools?
The cost of materials can go from 5-20 bucks for rattle can
up to 1,000 for like House Of Kolor,Kameleon.House Of Kolor,and Metalflake are about all I use.You can do a 'Flake paint job for 300-400 in materials.
The work is in the prep.Sand out any nicks,scratches,etc with 180-220 paper.Use good 2 part primer.Block sand,reprime,spray a LIGHT coat of contrasting color(of the primer)and block sand until all of the contrasting color is gone.Clean parts with soap,and plenty of water,dry,wipe with tack rag spray your base color(if doing any art work{flames,pinstripes,etc.})mid coat clear,then your art work,candy,etc.Then final clearcoat 3-5 coats.Let sit for 3-10 days wet sand with 1,000 grit paper then 1,200-1,500 then 2,000.Then buff with a buffing compound then with polish compound then hand rub with a handglaze.
               This is just the short explination.  

a few more questions? What is block sanding? What grit should I use to sand down bondo for a dent I am fixing? how many coats of my color should I apply if I do a solid color other than chameleon? what is mid coat clear?

Sanding bondo,depends on how smooth you did the bondo job,if it's pretty rough start with 40 grit,get it shaped,then drop down to 80 grit,get it pretty much done with that,then 120-180 grit to get the 80 grit scratches out of the bondo,and feather edge the existing paint.Block sanding is using a rubber squeegee with your sandpaper wrapped around it,makes your work straighter.If you're going to use Chameleon,don't use cheap primer go to a body shop supply store and get good spray can primer.Depending on the size of the cans,I'm thinking probably 4.Go with at least 3 coats,and as many as 5 depends on how it covers.Midcoat clear is only if you're going to do artwork,it basically protects your colorcoat if you mess up on the artwork you can"erase it".If no artwork don't worry about it.While at the bodyshop supply store,ask if they have a good clear in a spray can.If not I would have a bodyshop spray the clear.Most spray can clears are not gas resistant,bodyshop will spray alot more clear on too,that way you have more to sand,and buff for a nice smooth shine.

On a MC,  since there is not much surface area, the little 4 oz detailing spray guns work.  They cover a little slowly but that helps prevent runs.  Actually is easier to use than a spray can.  Plus they will work on the smaller air comprssors.  Note: you can rent this stuff too....

Painted my son's antique Honda (SL-70) with auto paint.  One pint  plus a small bottle of "hardener" that helps prevent the gas from hurting the paint, approx $20.  Painted the fender & tank on his Rupp mini-bike too.  Still have a 1/3 of the pint left.  

I will never go back to spray can paint.  Next project is stripping the spray paint off my Rupp and redoing it with auto paint.

duplicolor has a new paint called paintshop(i think) and its only $20 a can, comes in a variety of colors and even some metalflake clears, you can get it at advance auto. its made for first timers, no mixing required.

rigidchop wrote on 06/23/08 at 16:00:22:


in terms of duplicolor, is the chameleon any good?